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Overview of SQL Server Security (ADO.NET)

A defense-in-depth strategy, with overlapping layers of security, is the best way to counter security threats. SQL Server provides a security architecture that is designed to allow database administrators and developers to create secure database applications and counter threats. Each version of SQL Server has improved on previous versions of SQL Server with the introduction of new features and functionality. However, security does not ship in the box. Each application is unique in its security requirements. Developers need to understand which combination of features and functionality are most appropriate to counter known threats, and to anticipate threats that may arise in the future.

SQL Server 2005 introduced many improvements to the SQL Server 2000 security framework, but the basic security architecture remains unchanged. A SQL Server instance contains a hierarchical collection of entities, starting with the server. Each server contains multiple databases, and each database contains a collection of securable objects. Every SQL Server securable has associated permissions that can be granted to a principal, which is an individual, group or process granted access to SQL Server. The SQL Server security framework manages access to securable entities through authentication and authorization.

  • Authentication is the process of logging on to SQL Server by which a principal requests access by submitting credentials that the server evaluates. Authentication establishes the identity of the user or process being authenticated.

  • Authorization is the process of determining which securable resources a principal can access, and which operations are allowed for those resources.

The topics in this section cover SQL Server security fundamentals, providing links to the complete documentation in the relevant version of SQL Server Books Online.

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See Also

Concepts

Application Security Scenarios in SQL Server (ADO.NET)

Other Resources

Securing ADO.NET Applications

SQL Server Security (ADO.NET)

ADO.NET Managed Providers and DataSet Developer Center