This document discusses data encryption, user authentication, data logging, and other LiteSpeed's security features and describes how to evaluate LiteSpeed’s security features in connection with the NIST’s recommended federal information security standards promulgated under the Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA).
LiteSpeed® for SQL Server®, or LiteSpeed, is a fast and flexible backup and recovery solution that allows database administrators to easily maintain complete control over the backup and recovery process. LiteSpeed's low-impact, high-performance compression and encryption technology helps reduce storage costs and protect data, while maintaining a high level of recoverability.
While providing robust encryption and compression functionality, this cutting-edge database backup solution profoundly reduces the time needed to execute database backups. It supports the use of the FIPS 140-2 compliant encryption algorithms AES and 3DES for encrypting database backup files. LiteSpeed installs extended stored procedures on the SQL Server which it uses during backups and restores.
Below follows a set of security features provided by LiteSpeed for SQL Server.
A backup of a database will include all sensitive information stored in the original, and it is therefore prudent to offer a level of protection of the backup. LiteSpeed supports concurrent encryption during the creation of database backups and supports the following symmetric key encryption algorithms and key sizes:
|
Encryption Algorithm |
Key Sizes (in bits) |
FIPS 140-2 Approved |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft AES | 128, 192, 256 | Yes |
|
AES |
128, 196, 256 |
No |
|
3DES |
168 |
Yes |
|
RC2 |
40, 56, 112, 128 |
No |
|
RC4 |
128 |
No |
LiteSpeed uses Microsoft’s Cryptographic API (CAPI) to provide AES, 3DES, RC2 and RC4 algorithms. The alternative AES encryption algorithm uses the LibTomCrypt library which is not FIPS 140-2 approved but does support the Microsoft Cryptographic Service Providers in Windows 2000.
The customer has the choice of only using FIPS 140-2 approved algorithms. The choice of encryption is specified through the backup wizard in the LiteSpeed UI Console. The user chooses the specific encryption algorithm and the corresponding key size. These parameters can also be included as part of script files.
When choosing to enable encryption of backup files, the LiteSpeed user is prompted to enter a password. This password gets converted into a cryptographic key (password based encryption). Since the security of the key relies upon the password, the user should choose a strong password. The user is prompted to re-enter the password upon restore of an encrypted backup. Neither the key nor password are persisted with the backup file.
LiteSpeed relies upon SQL Server for user authentication and access control.
During installation, LiteSpeed requires the user to have Administrator rights on the local machine and SYSDBA access on the SQL Server. Only SYSDBA access is required during operation of LiteSpeed.
LiteSpeed users can enable the Activity Logging feature causing activity data to be logged to a Local Repository database on each server instance on which Activity Logging is enabled.
LiteSpeed does not require any network connectivity during installation or operation. Backup files can be stored on local disks. Therefore, no network ports are required to be opened for LiteSpeed to work, meaning that the server’s firewall settings can remain unchanged.
It is possible to initiate backups from the LiteSpeed UI Console by connecting to a database on a remote machine, assuming that LiteSpeed has been installed on it. When initiating encrypted backups from the console, we recommend that the SQL Server administrator enforces secure communication on the SQL Server, as doing so would prevent sending the encryption password in the clear over the network. The database backup files are created on the machine hosting the SQL Server. LiteSpeed uses tabular data stream packets (TDS) to communicate with the remote SQL Server.
Note: TSM backups conducted through LiteSpeed are transferred to and then stored in and/or managed by the Tivoli Storage Manager. The TSM handles the backup file from then on, managing expiration date, storage location, etc. Please refer to the TSM product documentation for further details.
Cyclic Redundancy Checks (CRC) can be used to ensure the integrity of the backup files. CRC is used for detecting corruption during the file copy operation. LiteSpeed uses the Adler-32 checksum algorithm.
The LiteSpeed UI Console validates user input by checking for matching data type (no characters in a numeric only field) and length of inputs, such as to prevent against users attempting to enter malicious commands.
LiteSpeed’s configuration parameters are stored in the LiteSpeedSettings.ini file and are configurable through the LiteSpeed UI Console. Other parameters specific to backup files such as those required during restores are stored in the files themselves.
LiteSpeed will not be affected by the changes introduced by the Daylight Savings Time (DST) Extension (U.S. Energy Policy Act of 2005). It relies upon the Operating System for time management and does not implement any special logic around DST settings. Therefore, if the Operating System is DST compliant then so is LiteSpeed.
The Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA) was passed by the U.S. Congress and signed by the U.S. President, and is part of the Electronic Government Act of 2002. It requires each federal agency to develop, document, and implement an agency-wide program to provide information security for the information and information system that support the operations and assets of the agency, including those provided or managed by another agency, contractor, or other source. See http://csrc.nist.gov/groups/SMA/fisma/overview.html for more information.
A major component of FISMA implementation is the publication by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), entitled “Recommended Security Controls for Federal Information Systems”, listed as NIST Special Publication 800-53. It lists 17 general security categories against which an information security control program should be evaluated, so as to measure its level of compliance with an agency’s obligations under FISMA. See http://csrc.nist.gov/publications/nistpubs/800-53-Rev3/sp800-53-rev3-final.pdf for more information. Under 800-53, these seventeen listed categories define general security control “families” (e.g., “AC”), and that each family in turn contains several subcategories (e.g., “AC-1”, “AC-2”, “AC-3”, etc.) that further detail related aspects of information security and assurance. Consult Appendix F of 800-53 for further information.
The following table describes how LiteSpeed addresses categories listed in NIST 800-53.
|
Category |
Applicable |
Description |
|---|---|---|
|
Access Control (AC) |
Yes |
LiteSpeed relies upon SQL Server for user authentication and access control. |
|
Awareness and Training (AT) |
No |
This category does not apply to LiteSpeed as it would be the responsibility of the customer who installs LiteSpeed on its systems to develop and review its own security awareness and training policy. |
|
Audit and Accountability (AU) |
Yes |
LiteSpeed users can enable the Activity Logging feature causing activity data to be logged to a Local Repository database on each server instance on which Activity Logging is enabled. |
|
Certification, Accreditation and Assessments (CA) |
No |
This category does not apply to LiteSpeed as it would be the responsibility of the customer who installs LiteSpeed on its systems to develop and review its own security assessment, accreditation and certification policy. |
|
Configuration Management (CM) |
Yes |
LiteSpeed’s configuration can be modified through the LiteSpeed UI Console. |
|
Contingency Planning (CP) |
No |
This category does not apply to LiteSpeed since it is the responsibility of the customer to design and implement their own contingency plans. As defined by NIST (publication 800-34), disruptive events to IT systems include power-outages, fire and equipment damage, and can be caused by natural disasters or terrorist actions. |
|
Identification and Authentication (IA) |
Yes |
LiteSpeed relies upon SQL Server for authentication and identification of users. Only users with sufficient privileges are able to execute commands within LiteSpeed. |
|
Incident Response (IR) |
No |
This category does not apply to LiteSpeed since it is the responsibility of the customer who installs LiteSpeed on its systems to develop and review its own incident response policy and procedures. |
|
Maintenance (MA) |
Yes |
Quest Software monitors developments and newly discovered security flaws in the software components and libraries used by ActiveRoles, and provides product and security patches to its customers when necessary. |
|
Media Protection (MP) |
No |
This category does not apply to LiteSpeed since it is the responsibility of the customer who installs LiteSpeed on its systems to develop and review its own media protection policy. |
|
Physical and Environmental Protection (PE) |
No |
This category does not apply to LiteSpeed since it is the responsibility of the customer who installs LiteSpeed on its systems to develop and review its own physical and environmental policy. |
|
Planning (PL) |
No |
This category does not apply to LiteSpeed since it is the responsibility of the customer who installs LiteSpeed on its systems to develop and review its security planning policy. |
|
Personnel Security (PS) |
No |
This category does not apply to LiteSpeed since it is the responsibility of the customer who installs LiteSpeed on its systems to enforce its personnel security policies. |
|
Risk Assessment (RA) |
No |
This category does not apply to LiteSpeed since it is the responsibility of the customer who installs LiteSpeed on its systems to develop and review its own risk assessment policy. |
|
System and Services Acquisition (SA) |
No |
This category does not apply to LiteSpeed since it is the responsibility of the customer who installs LiteSpeed on its systems to develop and review its own system and services acquisition policy. |
|
System and Communications Protection (SC) |
Yes |
LiteSpeed allows for encryption of the created backup files. The FIPS 140-2 approved AES and 3DES are amongst the supported encryption algorithms. |
|
System and Information Integrity (SI) |
Yes |
LiteSpeed permits the user to create an integrity check of the backup files that can later be used to verify the integrity of the files, for example after a file transfer. |
|
Note: A statement that a particular security category is applicable to LiteSpeed means only that LiteSpeed contains security features that are or may be relevant to some or all aspects of the security category in question. It does not necessarily mean that LiteSpeed fully meets all of the requirements described in that security category, or that the use of LiteSpeed by itself will guarantee compliance with any particular information security standards or control programs. Indeed, the selection, specification, and implementation of security controls in accordance with a customer-specific security program is ultimately dependent upon the manner in which the customer deploys, operates, and maintains all of its network and physical infrastructure, including LiteSpeed. For more information, see Customer Measures. | ||
The security features of LiteSpeed for SQL Server are only one part of a secure environment. The customer’s operational and policy decisions will have a great influence upon the overall level of security achieved. In particular, the customer is responsible for the physical security of the appliance and the security of the network from which the appliance is accessible. Administrators should also change default passwords and replace them by strong passwords.
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