Oracle tries a 'vaulted' approach to its e-business database security

In an effort to step up its approach to "unbreakable" databases, Oracle today announced its Database Vault technology can now be used in conjunction with its E-Business Suite.

Oracle previously launched the Database Vault software suite in April 2006, hoping to limit insider security threats and other issues that may arise during typical database operations. Using time of day, PC and database IP addresses, and authentication, Database Vault is able to pick and choose what rights the database administrator has while not interfering with the system administrator's everyday tasks.

Most importantly, Database Vault aims to ensure outsiders are kept out while protecting databases from even accidental changes made by legitimate users.

"The certification of Oracle Database Vault with the Oracle E-Business Suite is new," Oracle spokesperson Eloy Ontiveros told BetaNews this afternoon. "Oracle Database Vault is now certified with both the Oracle E-Business Suite and Oracle's PeopleSoft Enterprise applications. Oracle Database Vault was certified with PeopleSoft Enterprise last year."

Oracle positions its E-Business Suite as the single stop for enterprise software tools, including financial, logistical, and database management tools.

Although Oracle is well known for acquiring smaller enterprise software vendors to expand its business services, some security expects over the past few years still have strongly criticized the company's lack of database security, whether home-grown or acquired. The announcement of Database Vault two years ago was seen as a step in the right direction, though until today, Oracle was perceived to have a wide variety of enterprise services that remained vulnerable, including its E-Business Suite.