Setting the audit level

The AAO or DBSSO configures the level of auditing in the system. The AAO monitors the audit trail and handles all audit-record management.

The DBSSO has significant leeway regarding the auditing level of the database server. For example, a minimal audit configuration might involve auditing only DBSSO actions, database server utilities, and the start of each new database server user session. A maximal audit configuration involves auditing all security-relevant database server events for all users.

The AAO and DBSSO must coordinate efforts to determine the auditing level. For instance, to audit the DBSA actions, the DBSSO would use masks for the DBSA accounts, and the AAO would set the audit mode with the onaudit utility or the ADTCFG file.

To ensure that the appropriate database server activities are monitored, review the audit records that are stored in the operating-system audit trail, database server audit files, or Windows™ event log. You must configure the database server to monitor these events.

You can reconfigure auditing as usage changes and potential security threats are identified. For the onaudit syntax, see The onaudit utility: Configure audit masks. For information about the ADTMODE configuration parameter, see The ADTCFG file.

Important: Although database server audit-record generation might have a negative effect on database server performance and resources, you must perform more than the minimal database server audit. This additional audit improves the likelihood of detecting security violations and attempts to circumvent security mechanisms.

If you perform minimal or no auditing for database server users, it is virtually impossible to detect creative attempts to circumvent the database server security policy. If someone suspects a security violation or a particular user exhibits unusual behavior, you must enable full auditing of the suspect user to get a complete picture of the user's activities.

Balance the security requirements of your site and the performance and resource effect of different auditing levels. The auditing level at any given time has a direct effect on both the operating-system resources and the database server performance. The effect depends on the following factors:

  • Number of users or events audited, or both
  • Processor configuration
  • System load (number of processes and users)
  • Disk space
  • Work load (types of processes performed)
Tip: To specify disk space, use the Windows™ Event Viewer administration tool.

For more information about database server performance considerations, see your Informix® Performance Guide.