Speak to IT security experts and ask questions about what they consider to be one of the most difficult challenges they face and coming quite close to the top of the list, along with user education, will probably come encryption key management.
Not normally associated with the role of the DBA, encryption keys enable us to secure databases but still provide managed access to approved users.
Even though it's still struggling to close the purchase, Oracle has laid out a five-page plan (here in PDF format) for all to read on what it will do with Sun Microsystems' hardware and software products once the deal gets the regulatory seal of approval.
No product is overlooked and Oracle (NASDAQ: ORCL) pretty much promises to increase investments in everything Sun has. Oracle announced plans to buy Sun (NASDAQ: JAVA) in May of this year but the deal has dragged on with no clear end in sight. The U.S. Department of Justice took its time before signing off, but then the European Commission (EC) decided to investigate the potential impact on MySQL, the popular open source database Sun owns.
http://www.internetnews.com/bus-news/article.php/3846761/Oracle+Outlines+Sun+Software+Plans.htmMicrosoft Corp. said today it will make a preview of SQL Server 2008 R2 available this month that is features complete, including new business intelligence integration tools and master data management features.
In addition, Microsoft said it will deliver two highly scalable editions of SQL Server 2008 R2 (formerly code-named Kilimanjaro) in the first half of 2010 when it ships the next version of the database server.
Most organizations have database discovery and maintenance plans, but surprisingly lack a database security plan. A piecemeal approach to securing the database is costly, inefficient, and creates gaps in protection and regulatory issues. View this webcast for tips from Forrester on how to design a comprehensive database security plan.
In booth #200 at the 2009 PASS Summit, Idera, a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner and leading provider of management and administration solutions for Microsoft SQL Server, today announced SQL toolbox(TM), a collection of powerful, easy-to-use products containing more than 25 essential tools for SQL Server database administrators (DBAs) and developers. SQL toolbox combines more than 25 tools for SQL Server database backup, virtual data recovery, database comparison and database administration, all in one value-priced bundle.
Attunity last week unveiled a collection of new data replication agents designed for use by organizations that are basing their business intelligence environments (and, by connection, their data integration processes) environments on Microsoft's SQL Server database and, specifically, SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS). The new agents provide change data capture (CDC) functionality on DB2/400, DB2 for z/OS, and Hewlett-Packard's NonStop platform.
Earlier this year, Attunity launched the first of its SSIS-focused agents for the Oracle database. The product was designed to provide an efficient and low cost way to move new data from an Oracle environment over to SQL Server, with SSIS overseeing the data integration and data transformation services.
Oracle withdraws its petition to obtain antitrust clearance to do business in Russia after its acquisition of Sun Microsystems. The Federal Antimonopoly Service of Russia requires that once it is notified of a merger or acquisition that may infringe upon antitrust laws, the companies involved have a maximum of 90 working days to complete the deal. Oracle does not believe the acquisition will be sanctioned by EC regulators within the 90-day window.
The European Commission's roadblock slowing the Oracle acquisition of Sun Microsystems has led to another international problem for the world's second-largest software company.
more at http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Database/Oracle-Withdraws-Petition-to-Russian-Antitrust-Commission-288426/
