Secure Database Appliance Mandatory Access Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional user and role-based security models for access control are inadequate for ensuring consistent, flexible, and adaptable security, particularly in environments requiring compliance with multiple governance requirements, as they are difficult to implement, administer, and maintain, and often necessitate custom application code.
Innovation Solution
A secure database appliance that implements a consistent framework for database security, utilizing mandatory access controls and a multi-factored approach to provide adaptable security, minimizing the need for custom application code, by leveraging Oracle GRID architecture and integrating features like Real Application Clusters, Label Security, and Partitioning to enforce security policies across network domains.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional user and role based security model is used, then access control can be provided, but security consistency and adaptability deteriorate and administration complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments security policies into discrete, manageable units that can be independently configured and enforced. Security policies are divided into specific rules that can be applied to different data sets, allowing administrators to manage security in modular components rather than as a monolithic system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal security framework that handles multiple security requirements through a single system. The security appliance provides a unified interface that can enforce various types of security policies (lockdown, administration, integration, enforcement) without requiring separate systems or custom code for each function.
2Reliability
If high level security is implemented, then security protection is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The security appliance enables self-service security enforcement by automatically applying security policies to data based on configured rules. The system autonomously evaluates security conditions and enforces access control without requiring manual intervention or custom application code, reducing the operational burden on administrators.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent allows security parameters to be dynamically configured and adjusted through a standardized interface. Administrators can modify security policy parameters (such as access levels, data classifications, and enforcement rules) without changing the underlying system architecture or writing custom code, making high-level security adaptable and easy to operate.
3Reliability
If custom application code is developed to support security policies, then security enforcement capability is improved, but device complexity and maintenance difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The security appliance acts as an intermediary layer between the database and application code. It provides a standardized interface that handles security enforcement internally, eliminating the need for applications to contain embedded security logic. The appliance mediates all security-related operations through统一的APIs and policy mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements security policies as reusable templates or copies that can be applied across multiple data sets and applications. Instead of developing custom security code for each application, administrators can replicate and adapt standardized security policy templates, reducing complexity and maintenance requirements.
4Reliability
If multiple security features are integrated in existing database, then security coverage is improved, but difficulty of detecting and measuring security status increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple security features and functions into a single integrated security appliance. By consolidating authentication, authorization, auditing, and policy enforcement into one unified system, the patent simplifies the detection and measurement of security status. Administrators can monitor and assess security through a centralized interface rather than tracking multiple separate security mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
A secure database appliance leverages database security in a consistent framework provides consistent, flexible, and adaptable security using mandatory access controls in addition to user and role based security for access control and accountability. A database system communicatively connected to a plurality of network domains, each network domain having a level of security, the database system comprises at least one database accessible from all of the plurality of network domains, the database comprising data, each unit of data having a level of security and access control security operable to provide access to a unit of data in the database to a network domain based on the level of security of the network domain and based on the level of security of the unit of data.