Question

Need Solution for SQL Server

Asked by: CipherIS

I developed an internet application that is being hosted.  A couple of companies have approached us in regards to utilizing the application but want to utilize it on their intranet instead of the internet.  Our SQL server has  proprietary information that we do not want customers to see.  

Any ideas how I can put on their server and not allow them access to the dbase?

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Asked On
2009-06-29 at 08:24:44ID24530326
Tags

SQL Server 2005 or 2008

Topics

SQL Server 2008

,

SQL Server 2005

,

MS SQL Server

Participating Experts
4
Points
500
Comments
13

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Answers

 

by: jimpenPosted on 2009-06-29 at 08:28:28ID: 24737059

>> Our SQL server has  proprietary information that we do not ...


When you say proprietary information are you referring to stored procedures and how your system operates?

Could you compile the sp's into DLL's and then make them xp_MyProc?

 

by: CipherISPosted on 2009-06-29 at 08:46:25ID: 24737257

No we cant.  Yes the stored procedures, table structures, etc....  We want to prevent any reverse engineering.

 

by: jimpenPosted on 2009-06-29 at 09:07:55ID: 24737462

There is really no way to do it. Especially once it at the remote site.

SQL Server has to have a database owner that is local and can't be prevented from seeing the structure and data in the tables.

 

by: 8080_DiverPosted on 2009-06-29 at 09:20:15ID: 24737551

AS has already been pointed out, having it on a local intranet is going to, basically, require exposing the database.  The only solution that I can come up with is to, in effect, host the database locally instead of on the internet.

In other words, suppose you set up a server and the database on site but retain full control over and the only non-programmatic access to the database and server.  (Of course, you would need to escrow  the SA name/password, etc., in case you and your company get squashed on the freeway. ;-)  The idea being that you will maintain the server and the database via remote connections but it will be, "in-house" and on their intranet for all practical purposes.  

Of course, since you will have additional expenses involved in dealing with the remote locations for the servers and databases, you will need to charge a bit more for the services but, if the companies are that paranoid, they will probably pay for it.  If they opt not to and, instead, opt for the secure internet rather than intranetoption, then you aren't out any more trouble than preparing the proposal. ;-)

 

by: CipherISPosted on 2009-06-29 at 09:53:14ID: 24737896

Let me try to be a little more clear.  We have an internet site which will still be available for customers.

It is the customers who want an intranet solution that we are trying to address.  They will not use our functioning internet site.  We need to implement our code and dbase on their intranet.  We can take care of the code.  The issue is SQL Server.  We do not want them to have internal access to it if it is on their site.

 

by: PIERCGGPosted on 2009-06-29 at 10:07:18ID: 24738008

I would think that as long as you did not provide them with a Windows login nor a SQL login that they shouldn't be able to Connect the the dbs to see them?

 

by: PIERCGGPosted on 2009-06-29 at 10:11:18ID: 24738050

Additionally, if you provided even 1 user to have a SQL login, the DENY option in the permissions is a very powerful limiting option to keep people out of what you don't want them to see.  But first, I simply wouldn't give them any credentials to connect in the first place.  Let your code access the dbs only using a SQL login which SHOULD BE encrypted in your code or in the config file for the code.  Then just don't ever give those credentials to your customer either.

 

by: jimpenPosted on 2009-06-29 at 10:41:02ID: 24738306

>> We do not want them to have internal access to it if it is on their site.

Unless you deploy it as an appliance -- pre-installed SQL Server and web interface on your own server that is running at their site -- there is simply no way to do it.

The issue is the SQL Server will integrate to Windows server. And even then if you control all the passwords and such that go into the SQL Server Services, all someone has to do is shut down the SQL Server services, copy  the mdf/ldf files to another SQL Server and attach them. Then they have the DB.

 

by: CGLuttrellPosted on 2009-06-29 at 10:56:56ID: 24738457

have you looked into the WITH ENCRYPTION options of stored procedures, functions, views, and triggers?  that will let them work but not be viewable or editable.

 

by: 8080_DiverPosted on 2009-06-29 at 11:06:09ID: 24738538

@CipherIS

Let me try to be a little more clear.  We have an internet site which will still be available for customers.

That was not precluded by my recommendation.  

To restate as briefly as possible:

  1. Install the Database on a server at the customer location; 
  2. Do not provide any logins to the customer; 
  3. Only allow access to the database's data via the application which has the only "local" access to the database; 
  4. You and/or your company will have maintain the server and database via remoteing into the box (which, of course, will mean that the custoemr wll need to provide you with the necessary access through their firewalls, etc.). 

Thus, you maintain your security on your database and the customer maintains their security on thier world.

Whether or not you have a version of the database set up on one or more local sites in this manner has zero impact on your internet site . . . although it does somewhat complicate the application and database maintenance.

 

by: PIERCGGPosted on 2009-06-29 at 11:10:37ID: 24738576

However, if the customer is tech-savvy or hires someone who is, then what jimpen stated would seem to be true.

 

by: CipherISPosted on 2009-06-29 at 11:50:53ID: 31597971

Thx

 

by: jimpenPosted on 2009-06-29 at 11:52:16ID: 24738938

Glad to be of assistance. May all your days get brighter and brighter.

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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