How to Audit Sybase?

Keeping your Sybase database secure is essential for protecting sensitive data and complying with regulations like GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI DSS. This guide explains how to audit Sybase using isql and built-in tools. It also explores how DataSunrise enhances database auditing.

What Is Sybase?

Sybase, now part of SAP, is a relational database management system (RDBMS) built for large-scale applications. It supports transactional processing, analytics, and data warehousing. Because of its reliability, businesses use Sybase to manage secure and complex databases.

Native Auditing with Built-in Sybase Tools

Setting Up Auditing

Before enabling auditing, you must configure the environment. This includes installing auditing features, managing audit tables, and adjusting queue sizes. Once these steps are complete, you can activate auditing using system commands and administrative tools. For a step-by-step guide, visit the Sybase Security Administration Guide.

Using sp_audit for Custom Auditing

The sp_audit procedure allows administrators to track login attempts, data modifications, and object creation. As a result, all critical events are recorded for future analysis.

Example: Enabling Login Failure Auditing

sp_audit 'login_locked', 'all', 'all', 'on';

Example: Monitoring Data Updates

sp_audit 'update', 'all', 'default table', 'on';

Example: Viewing Logged Events

SELECT * FROM sybsecurity..sysaudits_01 WHERE event = 99;

For further details, refer to the Sybase System Procedures Documentation.

Restarting the Audit System

At times, the audit system may fail. If this happens, restart it using:

sp_audit 'restart';

For additional configurations, check the IBM Sybase ASE Configuration Guide.

How to Audit Sybase Using isql

The isql command-line tool makes it easy to run audits by querying audit logs. Here’s an example:

isql -U sa -P your_password -S your_server -Q "SELECT * FROM sybsecurity..sysaudits_01 WHERE event IN (1, 2);"

For more details, visit the Audit Logs Documentation.

Advanced Sybase Auditing with DataSunrise

Sybase includes auditing tools, but they may not be enough for large-scale operations or strict compliance environments. To address these limitations, DataSunrise enhances Sybase auditing with automation, scalability, and real-time security analysis. This solution provides centralized control while improving database protection.

Key Features of DataSunrise for Sybase Auditing

• Centralized Auditing: Manage audit policies across multiple Sybase instances from a single dashboard.
• Real-Time Monitoring: Detect and respond to suspicious activities immediately.
• Sensitive Data Discovery: Locate and classify sensitive data automatically. Learn more here.

• Data Masking: Prevent unauthorized access by hiding sensitive information. Explore dynamic data masking.

• Detailed Reporting: Generate compliance-ready reports easily.

For further details, visit the DataSunrise Data Audit Page.

How to Set Up DataSunrise for Sybase

To connect Sybase with DataSunrise, establish a secure connection and configure the required credentials. Once the setup is complete, administrators can define audit rules and monitor database activity in real time. This process strengthens security while simplifying compliance management.

With DataSunrise’s dashboard, administrators can easily review logs, analyze security events, and generate audit reports. Learn more about DataSunrise’s Real-Time Monitoring.

Benefits of Using DataSunrise

DataSunrise enhances Sybase security by offering advanced monitoring tools that detect threats immediately. Additionally, it simplifies compliance reporting with automated, detailed audit logs.

Because DataSunrise integrates seamlessly with Sybase, administrators can efficiently manage audits across multiple database instances. Its sensitive data discovery and masking features provide an extra layer of security, ensuring compliance with strict regulations.

Conclusion

Understanding how to audit Sybase is key to protecting sensitive data and maintaining compliance. While sp_audit and isql provide essential audit functions, advanced solutions like DataSunrise take security to the next level.

By combining Sybase’s native tools with DataSunrise’s automation and analytics, organizations can build a strong, scalable audit framework. This approach ensures compliance, enhances security, and enables proactive threat detection.

For expert guidance on database auditing, explore DataSunrise’s Audit Guide or schedule a demo via the DataSunrise Demo.