Database Security and Hardening

Database security and protection have become the most important areas of data management in an ever-changing digital environment. With technology changing day by day and the adoption of cloud computing, Internet of Things (IoT) devices, and mobile apps increasing, database protection has become increasingly difficult. The need to protect sensitive data from unauthorized access, tampering, and breaches has never been greater. While a great deal of research work has been spent on tried and tested database security measures, e.g., encryption, access control, and auditing, the new threats posed by new technologies—primarily NoSQL databases, cloud-native platforms, and hybrid configurations—demand innovation. The literature review takes into account the key developments in database security and hardening from 2015 to 2024 from various points of view such as encryption algorithms, Zero-Trust security architectures, and AI-based intrusion detection. There are still gaps in addressing some of the threats such as insider threats, mobile application security, and distributed database security on multi-cloud environments. Besides, regulatory compliance such as GDPR is still challenging for database administrators to implement in order to guarantee that security controls are up to the standards required by law. The research highlights that while existing frameworks and technologies provide a strong foundation for database security, there is a pressing need for adaptive multi-level security solutions incorporating newer advancements in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and blockchain technology. The current paper highlights the need for more research on how the newer technologies can be implemented in database security systems to bridge existing gaps and strengthen defense against emerging cyber threats.