Security & compliance

SQL Server delivers the most secure database among leading database vendors.

  • New Security Features and Audit Enhancements in SQL Server 2012
  • Automating SQL Server 2012 AlwaysOn Management

    SQL Server 2012 solutions provide everything you need to adhere to compliance policies - out of the box. SQL Server 2012 makes it even easier for organizations to meet compliance policies.

    What's New in SQL Server 2012

    • Easily manage permissions around data access with User-Defined Server Roles.
    • Increase manageability and decrease complexity of database schema through Default Schema for Groups.
    • Control database access to deployed applications while improving manageability through Contained Database Authentication.
    • Help ensure compliance and increase manageability related to auditing with audit resilience, filtering, and user-defined audit.
    • Built upon advanced security features (Transparent Data Encryption, Extensible Key Management, Kerberos authentication, and Policy-Based Management).

    Key Capabilities

    • Benefit from the Most Secure Database

      SQL Server has recorded the fewest number of vulnerabilities. [National Vulnerability Database]

      Most Up-to-Date Encryption Technologies Built on Trustworthy Computing Initiatives
      • 10 years of applying Security Development Lifecycle in Trustworthy Computing initiatives.
      • Take advantage of a built-in cryptography hierarchy.
      • Encrypt data seamlessly using Transparent Data Encryption.
      • Sign code modules.
      • Employ Extensible Key Management using the latest encryption standard AES256.

    • Enable Controlled Access to Data

      SQL Server manages authentication and authorization effectively and by providing access to only users who need it.

      Superior Integration and Management in Security
      • Increase flexibility, manageability and facilitate compliance towards better separation of duties.
      • Increase database compliance with Windows Group, rather than depending upon individual users.
      • Ease administration of database schema and decrease the complexity of database schema management through individual Windows users.
      • Increase compliance by allowing users to be authenticated directly into user databases without logins.
      • Enhance security models by providing control at row and column level.

    • Ensure Compliance

      SQL Server makes it easier for organizations to adhere to company policies and government regulations, such as HIPAA and PCI.

      Guaranteed Peace of Mind in Meeting Compliance
      • Enabling audit standardization using SQL Server Audit on all editions.
      • Gain the ability to recover auditing data from temporary file and network issues.
      • Automate the writing of custom events for applications directly into the audit log to allow more flexibility to store audit information.
      • Gain greater flexibility to filter unwanted events into audit logs.

    Related Solutions

    "We are excited about implementing contained databases with SQL Server 2012,” says Erickson. “By doing so, we can bring security to the database level so that we can increase control over each system - and simplify our global security model"

    Bob Erickson
    Executive Vice President of Software Development at Interlink Technologies

    White Papers

    Dig deeper into the capabilities of SQL Server through white papers written by top experts.

    Resources