SQL6-D0-003400 - SQL Server must implement cryptographic mechanisms preventing the unauthorized disclosure of organization-defined information at rest on organization-defined information system components.

Information

SQL Server's handling data requiring 'data at rest' protections must employ cryptographic mechanisms to prevent unauthorized disclosure and modification of the information at rest. These cryptographic mechanisms may be native to SQL Server or implemented via additional software or operating system/file system settings, as appropriate to the situation.

Selection of a cryptographic mechanism is based on the need to protect the integrity of organizational information. The strength of the mechanism is commensurate with the security category and/or classification of the information. Organizations have the flexibility to either encrypt all information on storage devices (i.e., full disk encryption) or encrypt specific data structures (e.g., files, records, or fields).

The decision whether and what to encrypt rests with the data owner and is also influenced by the physical measures taken to secure the equipment and media on which the information resides.

NOTE: Nessus has provided the target output to assist in reviewing the benchmark to ensure target compliance.

Solution

Where full-disk encryption is required, configure Windows and/or the storage system to provide this.

Where transparent data encryption (TDE) is required, create a master key, obtain a certificate protected by the master key, create a database encryption key and protect it by the certificate, and then set the database to use encryption. For guidance from MSDN on how to do this: https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb934049.aspx.

Where table/column encryption is required, enable encryption on the table/columns in question. For guidance from the Microsoft Developer Network on how to do this with Always Encrypted: https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/mt163865.aspx.

See Also

https://dl.dod.cyber.mil/wp-content/uploads/stigs/zip/U_MS_SQL_Server_2016_Y24M01_STIG.zip

Item Details

References: CAT|II, CCI|CCI-002476, Rule-ID|SV-213927r879800_rule, STIG-ID|SQL6-D0-003400, STIG-Legacy|SV-93823, STIG-Legacy|V-79117, Vuln-ID|V-213927

Plugin: MS_SQLDB

Control ID: e5163f8e04e4e8b4cb6234762257f6cd0e95257cfccd77e4f5580920bee90a0b