A concept that was introduced back in the late 70s to early 80s, was this of trusted computing. We call this the trusted computing base. Now the trusted computing base is the sum total of all the hardware, software, firmware, and controls existing within it, meaning that this TCB represents the most carefully controlled managed and indeed, most sensitive and protection worthy information. Interfaces, software, firmware, and other elements, are considered by default untrustworthy until proven otherwise.

So across the perimeter, will be one set of controls to safeguard what enters or leaves, so that the TCB's integrity and security can be maintained, at its assigned level. It doesn't prevent its interacting with anything outside of the TCB, but it makes sure to safeguard the connection so that in separating TCB from non TCB objects, it keeps the security policy enforced. We have of course our much-feared and much-hated malware.

Now, software designed to operate in target systems with negative effects makeup the vast majority of what malware would be. And this can be anything from malfunction, interoperability to data losses, and worse. Now the typical types are rather well-known. We have our viruses, which require host programs to transport them, worms, which are self-transporting, we have ransomware, of course, the distributed denial of service, and the direct denial of service. We have our botnets, which can be used for a wide variety of things, including the distributed denial of service, and we have our advanced persistent threats, software that creates a presence, which keeps a very low profile until its driver so to speak, returns to check on the latest and take advantage of its presence, to give them access and usage of the system to acquire whatever information objectives they may be seeking.

Database security poses some interesting and unique characteristics that require a great deal of security. These are organized systems, of course, that store and manipulate information and they serve as the bank or the safe where the gold of the data exists. They are therefore the targets of most hacking and other attacks due to their very existence.

Now, encryption outside of a database can cause a problem. The implementation of encryption must be successfully done to deny access, of course, to prevent the exfiltration of data by hackers and the encryption in doing its job can render that data unusable, unreadable, or indecipherable to an unauthorized person.

Now, proper operation security or OPSEC procedures and configuration management must be in place in order to ensure that the secure operations maintain the assigned level of security. Another way that a database can be used to implement security is through the use of views. These will both enable and control access to information by pre configuring a way that an authorized user may be able to see the information in accordance with their privileges and yet block them from getting access to other elements for which they are not authorized.