Secure object-oriented databases

D.Phil. (Computer Science)The need for security in a database is obvious. Object-orientation enables databases to be used in applications where other database models are not adequate. It is thus clear that security of object-oriented databases must be investigated..

Building a secure database using self-protecting objects

In current database systems the responsibility for enforcing security is often given to the various application programs. Even where the Database Management System (DBMS) does supply security mechanisms, a single application program often handles sensitive transactions for some users and therefore needs a high clearance for accessing data - this may render the provided mechanisms inadequate. Furthermore, the user's identity is often concealed because the user has many 'software agents' acting on its behalf - especially in distributed environments. A simple mapping between subjects and objects is no longer possible. We propose a model for extending Object-Oriented Database Systems to enable objects them­selves to ensure security - i.e. to protect themselves. This extension is based on the concept of 'baggage' - baggage is collected from all components involved in any request; this baggage may then be verified by the object against its personal security profile before any method is executed

Secure object-oriented databases

D.Phil. (Computer Science)The need for security in a database is obvious. Object-orientation enables databases to be used in applications where other database models are not adequate. It is thus clear that security of object-oriented databases must be investigated..