Protecting Your AWS RDS MSSQL Database: Essential Security Measures

Cloud is no longer an option for many companies; it’s a necessity. Many are already taking advantage of the countless benefits the cloud can offer. And Databases are one of the primary assets being moved to the cloud — after all, no company exists in a vacuum, without data. Securing those assets is now a priority. In this article, I will briefly discuss three important ways to secure these cloud based database assets. Let’s dive into them together

The Authentication

Traditionally, MSSQL authentication relied on Active Directory or SQL logins, with security depending mainly on password complexity and rotation. This method worked well when all communication was confined to internal networks. However, as applications increasingly connect to databases over the internet, with more open ports for proper communication between Active Directory and MSSQL, this approach has become less secure.

AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM) integration with RDS MSSQL provides a more secure alternative to traditional credentials. Instead of relying on usernames and passwords — which are vulnerable to brute-force attacks or credential leaks — you can use IAM roles for authentication. This allows for fine-grained access control based on AWS IAM policies, offering greater control over who…