Monitoring Oracle Databases in a SIEM like Splunk or Microsoft Sentinel
Effectively monitoring Oracle Databases with a SIEM system involves honing in on key aspects and events that are critical for safeguarding the database’s security and integrity. Below are some specific areas to focus on for monitoring:
- User Authentication and Authorization Events: Pay close attention to logs for failed login attempts, unauthorized attempts to access sensitive tables, or changes to database user permissions. Frequent failed logins could suggest a brute force attack, while unexpected modifications in permissions might indicate unauthorized changes.
- Query Anomalies: Monitor for unusual query patterns, such as unexpected high-volume data queries or queries accessing sensitive data. These could be signs of data leakage or an indication of an insider threat.
- Database Configuration Changes: Keep a close eye on any alterations made to the Oracle Database configurations. Unauthorized changes could reduce database security or signal internal threats.
- System Errors and Warnings: Track system-generated errors and warnings in the Oracle environment. Persistent errors may point to potential system issues, misconfigurations, or efforts to exploit system vulnerabilities.
- Network Activity: Monitor network traffic to and from the Oracle Database for any anomalies. Unusual patterns in inbound or outbound traffic can be indicative of cyber attacks or data breaches.
- Data Modification Tracking: Observe changes to data within critical tables, especially if the modifications occur without proper authorization or during irregular hours. Unauthorized data changes can jeopardize data integrity.
- Compliance Violations: If operating under specific regulatory standards, monitor for any actions that might violate compliance requirements, such as unauthorized data sharing or failure to maintain data encryption standards.
By targeting these specific areas, a SIEM system can deliver a comprehensive overview of the security and operational state of Oracle Databases, facilitating prompt detection and response to potential security threats.
