Voice of the DBA

Author: way0utwest

  • Password Ninjas

    For the time being, passwords are the way that we authenticate users and secure most of our systems. There might be a better system in the future, but for now everyone needs to manage a series of logins and passwords, even if you have authentication for many systems linked through an internal domain or external system, like OpenID.

    I think password managers are almost required these days to manage passwords for most people. I recently ran across an article on ArsTechnica where five security experts were asked how they manage their complex passwords across a multitude of services. Four of these experts use password managers of some sort, though there is quite a variety of them. One actually remembers passwords, though he tries to use proximity tokens and one time passwords when possible.

    Bruce Schneier, one of the security writers I’ve followed for a long time uses Password Safe, which is what I use. However he also likes to use his own advice of long sentences turned into passwords and keeping backups of passwords on physical paper. I don’t like writing down passwords, but if you can keep the paper secure (not stuck on a monitor or under a keyboard), it’s an easy solution to use.

    There are various ports on different operating systems and different methods to keep your files in sync, if you choose to do so. Two others use competing products (1Password and KeePass), but one uses a text file in an encrypted virtual disk image that he keeps on a USB key. I’m not sure I like that, but with proper backups, it’s not a bad solution.

    There is a variety of advice, but overall there’s one thing to keep in mind: security is serious business. All the more so as we use various services more and more to conduct business in our daily lives. Losing a password that you share across multiple services could severely compromise your life. Whatever method you choose, stick to it and be careful in choosing your passwords.

    Steve Jones

    Video and Audio versions

    Today’s podcast features music by Everyday Jones. No relation, but I stumbled on to them and really like the music. Support this great duo at www.everydayjones.com.

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  • The Stairway to Deployment

    logoNext week I travel to Sacramento, CA for the SQL in the City Seminar – Stairway to Deployment on Friday, July 26, 2013. It’s a half day event where Grant Fritchey and I will look to lead you through the idea of implementing continuous integration and continuous deployment for databases (as well as other code).

    I have the first two talks to get you started: Team-based Version Control and Automated Build and Test. Grant will cover the Best Practices for Database Deployment and we’ll finish with a Q&A and a happy hour on us.

    We still have space, so register today if you can make it. The event is being held at the Courtyard Marriott Sacramento Midtown in The Orchid Room (4422 Y St, Sacramento, CA 95817) from 12:30-6:00pm.

    We will use some of the Red Gate tools to show you how to accomplish the tasks, but you don’t need them. The tools make the process easier, and that’s the job of our development and software tools, but really the important things to understand are the idea of automating your processes, integrating testing, and having a workflow that is constantly used, but doesn’t slow down your development process.

    Hope to see some of you there.

    Register today.

  • Data Philanthropy

    philanthropyThe idea of philanthropy is giving back to the world, doing some good because of the success you have had or gifts you’ve received. Imagine that we thought not about giving our time or money, but our data instead.

    I read this piece on data philanthropy that talks about the possibilities of improvement in the public service and applications we have from philanthropy. However the piece talks not about more resources, but more data, coming from the private sector. Data from cell phone companies, transportation companies, and more that can help us better understand how the world is functioning, how it interacts, and how that might affect the public goods and services.

    I like the idea of Open Data that exposes more information from our government to the private sector for incorporation in applications, for additional analysis by private entities, and for the transparency that our government is acting in our collective best interests. However you believe government ought to function, without more data about how it does function and uses its resources, we can’t know about which things we should seek to influence.

    However I think we have a tremendous amount of data being collected by companies that can help government run more efficiently, and making the corporate decision to share that data can help improve the communities in which a company does business. We know that much of our data has information, but we can’t take advantage of all the information, and may not want to. Perhaps donating some of this data to the collective good is a way to adhere to, and reinforce, the social responsibility many companies include in their annual reports.

  • Disable the Charms Bar – Making Windows 8 Better

    One of the things that’s bothered me is the way the charms bar frequent popping out as my mouse moves to the upper or lower right. I do this as I’m trying to reach the “x” to close a window or adjust time zones. The bar pops out and it’s annoying.

    I initially searched for a way to stop this, but didn’t find one. However I must not have searched correctly as I found an article recently that shows how to do this.

    It’s a registry hack, so hit the Start menu and type “regedt32” and hit enter. Nothing returns in search, but it runs. Follow the instructions, and the charms bar won’t appear as you move your mouse around.