Can ransomware encrypt SQL databases?

Can ransomware affect SQL?

Ransomware attacks are highly effective, but they aren't the most sophisticated attacks. The attack functions just like Transparent Data Encryption (TDE) does in SQL Server, except that you don't have the have the encryption key. Typically, variants will attack your MDF, NDF, LDF and your backup files (BAK and TRN).

Can you encrypt a SQL database?

Transparent data encryption (TDE) encrypts SQL Server, Azure SQL Database, and Azure Synapse Analytics data files. This encryption is known as encrypting data at rest. To help secure a database, you can take precautions like: Designing a secure system.

Does ransomware encrypt data?

Ransomware attacks work by gaining access to your computer or device, and then locking and encrypting the data stored on it.

Are SQL databases encrypted by default?

All newly created databases in SQL Database are encrypted by default by using service-managed transparent data encryption.

What to do if the ransomware encrypts the SQL Server database?

The most effective option is to restore the SQL Server database from the last backup. However, what if the server could not be restored from the backup? What to do if the ransomware also encrypts the backup? Viruses spread due to various bugs in programs, operating systems, and through social engineering.

Does ransomware need a share to encrypt files?

Ransomware needs standard access to files in order to encrypt them. That means for a network location, it needs a share to access. If accessing shares are blocked, then ransomware can’t affect the files on that system. In reality, users typically only access SQL Server through the SQL Server listening ports. They don’t need access to shares.

Does antivirus protect SQL Server from ransomware?

Given that, antivirus programs have some ability to spot known ransomware executables and signatures and prevent them from running. As a result, they can provide protection immediately should something get on a SQL Server. Antivirus isn’t fool-proof.

What happens if you don't encrypt SQL server backups?

This leaves your SQL Server in an inoperable state, because the SQL Server service can no longer open master.mdf -- and then things go downhill from there. While the encryption of your data and log files is really bad, the killer is that you can lose access to your backups.