In database hardening, what is the most important consideration for an IS auditor?

In the context of database hardening, changing the default configurations is crucial for an IS auditor because default settings often come with vulnerabilities that can be easily exploited by attackers. Many database systems come with standard configurations that are well-documented and known to potential attackers. By changing these default configurations, organizations can minimize the risk of unauthorized access and enhance overall security.

This involves a range of practices, such as modifying default usernames and passwords, disabling unnecessary services, implementing stronger authentication mechanisms, and configuring security parameters to align with best practices. The idea is to create a more secure environment by ensuring that the database does not resemble its out-of-the-box state, thereby reducing the attack surface.

While other considerations like encrypting stored procedures, changing service ports, and data normalization can contribute to a secure environment, they are secondary to the fundamental step of addressing default configurations. If these configurations are not changed, vulnerabilities remain, and other measures may not be effective. Ensuring that the default configurations are modified is a foundational aspect of any security strategy for databases, making it the most important consideration for an IS auditor during the hardening process.