Pete Finnigan's Oracle Security Forum


    
      
        Pete Finnigan's Oracle Security Forum
        (http://www.petefinnigan.com/forum/yabb/YaBB.cgi)
      

        Database Security >> Database Security >> A virusscanner on every Windows db server?
        
(Message started by: Pete Finnigan on Feb 7^th, 2008, 12:35pm)

Title: A virusscanner on every Windows db server?
Post by Pete Finnigan on Feb 7^th, 2008, 12:35pm

I'm involved in a discussion whether Windows database servers should have a virusscanner installed.

It was a bit of a tricky question for me. After all, as a DBA I'm used to work on Unix database servers since the last four years.

My answer eventually was that, when a Windows server is protected along the guidelines of the Center of Internet Security and with some common sense (no shares made available, only DBAs and system administrators may enter), no database servers have need for a virusscanner.

Also, virusscanners cost performance, even when your database files are on an exclusion list.

What do you think?

Title: Re: A virusscanner on every Windows db server?
Post by Pete Finnigan on Feb 7^th, 2008, 4:07pm

Hi Marcel-Jan,

I would agree with you in principal but i think the answer can in some cases be more complex. You must also consider what the application is doing (with help from the database) - For instance a lot of applications generate and receive emails and SMS messages, mostly send email and SMS rather than recieve I would say but i have seen applications that receive them, or rather something at the database or OS layer does.

Also if the application is accessing the OS and writing or reading or doing anything else with files then there is a potential that a virus could be deployed to the server. I have not heard of a case but I suspect it could be interesting to see if a virus could be deployed via an application knwoing that the database will write a file or email. I also suspect that it could be possible to have issues with worms as well.

So in summary, you are probably right BUT before you make a final decision you should inspect what the application and database do in respect to all the normal virus / worm attack vectors, i.e. email, sms, files...

cheers

Pete