Microsoft® SQL Server™ 2008 All-In-One Desk Reference For Dummies®

Chapter VIII.3. Security: Keeping SQL Server Safe

For harried administrators faced with keeping users happy on an evertightening schedule (while simultaneously grappling with shrinking budgets), setting up and managing database security are often the last things that come to mind. Unfortunately, the damages that result from lapses in security can wreak havoc on an organization (and those stressed administrators, too), usually at the most inopportune time. Fortunately, SQL Server ships with a collection of powerful yet easy-to-configure security capabilities, which is what this chapter is all about.

To begin, because securing your database does add to your workload, we point out why you should care about this important topic. We then cite the broad range of database objects that you can lock down. When the overview is complete, we show you how to perform some of the most commonplace security tasks.

Before getting started, keep in mind that this isn't a comprehensive guide to all the possible SQL Server security permutations. That would fill a book! Instead, the focus is on getting productive quickly and handling the most common types of security-related tasks.