SQL Server Security Checklist for PCI DSS Compliance
In my previous article, How to Secure SQL Server, I discussed several practical measures that can help strengthen the security of a SQL Server environment.
In this article, as promised, I’m sharing a SQL Server Security Checklist. This checklist is based on the SQL Server security reviews and assessments I have performed for client environments. It focuses on controls that can be reviewed directly at the SQL Server and database layer.
If your SQL Server environment stores, processes, or transmits payment account data—or can otherwise impact the security of the cardholder data environment—SQL Server security controls can form an important part of your overall PCI DSS security program. PCI DSS provides baseline technical and operational requirements designed to protect payment account data.
The checklist below focuses specifically on SQL Server and the database layer. It is not a complete PCI DSS compliance checklist. PCI DSS compliance involves broader infrastructure, network, application, operational, and organizational controls.
I’ve shared the checklist below so that SQL Server DBAs, database administrators, security teams, and infrastructure teams can use it as a practical starting point when reviewing SQL Server security.
Download SQL Server Security Checklist review this for your environment, in case you find an important control missing, let me know. I’m happy to consider adding it to a future version.
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