Advanced Threat Protection (ATP) is a feature of Azure SQL Database that helps to detect and respond to potential security threats to your database. Defender for SQL is the component of ATP that specifically focuses on SQL Server.
ATP and Defender for SQL use machine learning and other advanced analytics to monitor your database activity and detect anomalous behavior that may indicate a security threat. The system can detect various types of threats, including SQL injection attacks, data exfiltration attempts, and unauthorized access attempts.
Once a potential threat is detected, ATP and Defender for SQL can take automated actions to prevent the attack from succeeding. For example, the system may automatically block the offending IP address or user account.
Usage examples of ATP and Defender for SQL include:
- Detecting SQL injection attacks: ATP and Defender for SQL can detect and block SQL injection attacks, which are a common method used by hackers to gain unauthorized access to databases.
- Monitoring for data exfiltration attempts: The system can monitor outgoing traffic from your database and detect attempts to exfiltrate data. This can help prevent data breaches and protect your sensitive data.
- Identifying unauthorized access attempts: ATP and Defender for SQL can identify attempts to access your database from unauthorized sources or with invalid credentials.
- Blocking malicious activity: The system can automatically block malicious activity, such as blocking the IP address of a potential attacker or disabling a user account that is attempting unauthorized access.
ATP and Defender for SQL are valuable tools for organizations that need to proactively monitor and protect their Azure SQL databases from security threats. By using machine learning and advanced analytics to detect and respond to potential threats, organizations can reduce their risk of security incidents and protect their sensitive data.
