Thought I’ll share the results of my research in comparing two Database Management Systems (DBMS) – PostgreSQL 9.3 and Microsoft© SQL Server 2012. I mainly focused on database security aspect.
These tables are just a part of whole report and they are just a brief summary of my non-expert research, so please feel free to add your’s two pence as a comment below.
Security
Database Security group
| DBMS |
PostgreSQL 9.3 |
| Vendor |
PostgreSQL |
| Features |
Comments |
Rating |
| Database security group |
| Authorization |
SSL, password encryption and strength checks, Kerberos/LDAP/RADIUS support, separate DB and server (Linux) users |
8 |
| Access Controls |
Built-in SE-PostgreSQL enhancement and native PostgreSQL allows DAC/MAC approaches (Linux only), access control for columns and rows, Role-Based Access Controls (RBAC) |
8 |
| Views |
Read-only views supported |
9 |
| Backup and Recovery |
SQL Dump, file system backup, Continuous Archiving and Point-in-Time Recovery (PITR), journalling (WAL) |
10 |
| High Availability, Load Balancing, and Replication |
Shared Disk Failover, File System (Block-Device) Replication, Transaction Log Shipping, Trigger-Based Master-Standby Replication, Statement-Based Replication Middleware, Asynchronous Multimaster Replication, Synchronous Multimaster Replication, Data Partitioning, Multiple-Server Parallel Query Execution, Commercial Solutions |
10 |
| Integrity |
Data Checksums |
8 |
| Encryption |
Password Storage Encryption, Encryption For Specific Columns, Data Partition Encryption, Encrypting Passwords Across A Network, Encrypting Data Across A Network (SSL), SSL Host Authentication, Client-Side Encryption |
8 |
| Main OS security |
Linux |
9 |
| Totals |
70 |
Database Security group
| DBMS |
Microsoft© SQL Server 2012 |
| Vendor |
Microsoft |
| Features |
Comments |
Rating |
| Database security group |
| Authorization |
SSL, Kerberos support, supports contained database authentication, password encryption, password strength, length, age and history checks, separate DB and server (Windows) users |
8 |
| Access Controls |
DAC/MAC approaches supported by Windows OS Mandatory Integrity Control (MIC), contained databases/users support, Role-Based Access Controls (RBAC) |
7 |
| Views |
|
9 |
| Backup and Recovery |
Integrated high availability and disaster recovery solution – SQL Server AlwaysOn, SQL Dump, file system backup, journalling, Continuous Archiving and Point-in-Time Recovery (PITR) |
10 |
| High Availability, Load Balancing, and Replication |
SQL Server AlwaysOn, Log Shipping, Database Mirroring, Third-Party Solutions |
9 |
| Integrity |
CHECKDB, SQL Server Maintenance Solution |
6 |
| Encryption |
Extensible Key Management (EKM), Password Encryption, Encryption For Specific Columns, Data Partition Encryption, Encrypting Data Across A Network (SSL), SSL Host Authentication, Database Encryption |
9 |
| Main OS security |
Windows |
7 |
| Totals |
65 |
Other aspects
Other Features group
| DBMS |
Microsoft© SQL Server 2012 |
| Vendor |
Microsoft |
| Features |
Comments |
Rating |
| Other features group |
| Internationalization |
UTF-16 |
10 |
| Value for money |
Price: ~ £10,000.00 |
7 |
| Compatibility with existing systems and software |
CSV import |
9 |
| Totals |
26 |
Other Features group
| DBMS |
PostgreSQL 9.3 |
| Vendor |
PostgreSQL |
| Features |
Comments |
Rating |
| Other features group |
| Internationalization |
UTF-8 |
10 |
| Value for money |
Price: free (some third party tools may cost) |
10 |
| Compatibility with existing systems and software |
CSV import |
9 |
| Totals |
29 |
Some of resources used
- The PostgreSQL Global Development Group, n.d., PostgreSQL 9.3.2 Documentation [online] Available at: http://www.postgresql.org/docs/9.3/static/index.html [Accessed 10 January 2014]
- The PostgreSQL Global Development Group, n.d., PostgreSQL: Feature Matrix [online] Available at: http://www.postgresql.org/about/featurematrix/ [Accessed 10 January 2014]
- Jorgensen, A., Wort, S., LoForte, R., Knight, B., 2012, Professional Microsoft® SQL Server® 2012 Administration, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana.
- Connolly, T. and Begg, C., 2005, Database Systems: a practical approach to design, implementation, and management 4th edition, Addison-Wesley, London
- Mistry, R. and Seenarine, S., Microsoft SQL Server 2012 Management and Administration [e-book] Available at: http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=1-Y97uVgxDIC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false [Accessed 20 January 2014]
- Microsoft, n.d., SQL Server: High Availability [online] Available at: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/sqlserver/solutions-technologies/mission-critical-operations/high-availability.aspx [Accessed 22 January 2014]
- MSDN, n.d., Features Supported by the Editions of SQL Server 2012 [online] Available at: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc645993.aspx [Accessed 12 January 2014]
- MSDN, n.d., Securing SQL Server [online], Available at: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb283235.aspx [Accessed 14 January 2014]
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