No matter what type of business or organization you run, cyber security should be a top concern for you.
We are no longer living in an era where only financial institutions or social media platforms are susceptible to hacks.
Any company/organization that stores data in some form can be attacked at any time. If you have not taken proper cybersecurity measures, it is a disaster waiting to happen.
One of the many threats facing us is SQL injections. If you have a database on SQL, you are susceptible to SQ injections. If you do not know what SQL injection is, we’ll be going over that as well. In a nutshell, it is an attack on databases that leads to data tampering and compromise.
Today we will talk about 7 ways you can defend your business against SQL injections. We will also be talking about the dangers of not taking preventive measures to protect against SQL injections.
7 Ways how to defend your business against SQL injections
Before heading into the ways to defend against SQL injections, keep in mind that only cybersecurity experts can execute this move. Anyone else tinkering with the cybersecurity system can lead to even bigger dangers. That being said, let’s begin.
What is an SQL Injection attack?
As the name suggests, SQL injection refers to injecting a piece of malicious code into an SQL database. Depending on the nature of the malicious code, the repercussions can be very severe. For example, it can erase data, comprise sensitive user information, and in severe cases, shut down the whole system.
SQL injections are very common, especially in PHP and ASP applications. It is among the ten most common website security risks according to OWASP. While financial institutions are particularly susceptible to SQL injection attacks, no business is completely safe. If you store data in a database, it can be attacked by code injections.
Part of the reason behind the prevalence of SQL injections is the fact that web applications on legacy code make it easier for code injections to attack. It is an inherent security flaw of the system.
Apart from that, hackers target databases because they are goldmines of sensitive data, like credit card numbers, account details, and so on. If your system is not protected, SQL injections can have a catastrophic impact. Even more scary is the fact that many businesses fail to recover from the intensity of the attack.
If you want to know how to prevent against SQL injection attacks, you are at the right place.
1. Hire someone with experience in database management and cybersecurity
Cybersecurity is not something you can learn by reading wikiHow articles. You need an expert to do the task, and that’s the reason we have put it as the first and primary preventive measure against SQL injections.
From sanitizing inputs to using parameterized statements, only an expert knows the right things to do to keep your system safe. However, that is not even the most important reason you should have an in-house cybersecurity expert or outsource it to a competent agency. The more important reason is that experts know how to react when things go south. If you have someone inexperienced, they might end up panicking at the time you need them the most. Someone with years in the business will not make the same mistake.
Before you go about doing anything else, make sure that qualified and competent people are at the helm of cybersecurity. That’s the first step that every business owner must take.
2. Choose third-party apps with caution
SQL databases often need to work with third-party applications to give the best results. However, third-party apps are a major source of security leaks and compromises. But that does not mean you have to stop using third-party apps altogether.
Instead, work with only trusted third-party apps. Make sure they are from a company or organization that has a clean track record. Consult cybersecurity experts if you have doubts about the safety of any third-party app. Most importantly, never use a third-party app that can pose security threats.
While this step may seem simple, it goes a long way to protect your databases. Doing this diligently will not only protect you from SQL injections but also a wide range of other cyber threats.
3. Third-party authentication tools
It might seem oxymoronic to caution against third-party apps in one sentence and recommend them in the next, but allow us to explain.
While we suggest using third-party authentication tools, we still strongly advise using only trusted and reputed applications. Never use a third-party app that you do not trust, even if it is for authentication.
The rationale behind using third-party authentication apps is that it makes things easier for the end-users while not compromising the safety of the system. If your developers had to write an in-house authentication application, it would cost a lot of time, and hence, money. A third-party authentication app is a shortcut to user convenience and security.
For users, not being required to remember their usernames and passwords is a big advantage. If you achieve this without compromising on security, that’s a win-win situation. That’s precisely what third-party authentication apps help you achieve. But again, never use something you don’t trust.
4. Do not ignore patching protocols
Every web application or system has some vulnerabilities. No coder or developer or team can create a system that has zero vulnerabilities from its very launch. It is a part of the agile methodology, now commonly used across developer teams, to continuously improve and work on flaws.
As a result, vendors release patching protocols frequently. Hackers are often the first group of people who check for these patches because the patches are tale-tell signs of where they attack a system. Many managers and admins neglect patching protocols or postpone them for the indefinite future. Doing so is a recipe for disaster.
In the IT industry, it is generally considered good practice to be prompt with patching protocols. The same goes for preventing SQL injections. It is a rather simple thing to do that requires only awareness and alertness.
5. Protect the credentials of your users
It goes without saying that encrypting passwords and other sensitive data is a good practice for ensuring cyber security. Despite knowing this, many individuals and organizations choose to ignore this aspect of data protection. Given the history of cyberattacks, it is the first thing that all businesses should do.
With modern encryption technologies becoming readily available, it is easier than ever to encrypt all stored data. Like many of the other things we talked about, encrypting data protects you from different types of cyberattacks and not just SQL injections.
Apart from encrypting sensitive data, it is also important to warn users about sharing their login credentials with scammers. These steps are critical because without them none of the code-based preventive measures would work. Make sure your business or organization has this aspect covered.
6. Source code analysis, web application scanning, and penetration testing
Source code analysis, web application scanning, and penetration testing are all ways of validating the strength and integrity of the code before launching an application. As we already said, hiring a competent cybersecurity expert or outsourcing the same will keep you away from technical issues. However, it is important to know about them.
While web application scanning scans the entire application and detects flaws, weaknesses, and vulnerabilities, penetration testing tests the integrity of the application through simulated cyberattacks. Source code analysis works at the level of the code and identifies any flaws or vulnerabilities.
It is a part of good cybersecurity practice to get your applications through source code analysis, web application scanning, and penetration testing. Any cybersecurity expert will take these steps without any external prompt. Make sure the same happens for all applications in your business.
7. Be aware of modern hacking methods
As technology has grown exponentially over the past couple of decades, so has the number of cyberattacks. Cybersecurity has improved a lot from where it was even ten years ago. However, it is important to understand that hackers do not exist in a vacuum. For every new preventive measure, hackers are working day and night to find a workaround. If you keep up with cybersecurity news, you must have heard of modern hacking methods that elude many cybersecurity professionals.
Apart from hiring a competent cybersecurity agency/professional, any business owner needs to be aware of what’s going on in the world of cybersecurity and cyberattacks.
It is also important to stay in the loop with your cybersecurity team about everything going on. These are small things that you need to do on a regular basis.
However, the overall results show up during moments of panic. If the concerned team and administration are on the same page, dealing with problems becomes much easier.
Conclusion
We hope these tips, ideas, and methods will keep you protected from SQL injections. Once you know the right things to do at the right time, you can protect your system, business, employees, and customers much better.
