It’s a wrap. The DOAG database conference has come to an end. As I sit on the train, I reflect on a week full of excitement and variety. In addition to the many fascinating technical presentations, I had the opportunity to catch up with old friends and colleagues. The conference started on Monday afternoon when the Oracle ACEs met for the ACE Adventure. We got to know a different side of the city on a guided tour of Nuremberg’s rock cellars. The day ended with a beer tasting and dinner together. In addition to the ACE dinner, the SOUG evening was certainly another highlight of the event. In addition to the various social events, there were also plenty of interesting and informative technical presentations at this conference.
My Talks in a Nutshell
Oracle Database Security 23c new Feature
In my first session, I presented Oracle’s new Database Security 23c features. It was a unique opportunity to present this in the large keynote room. One of the most important new features is undoubtedly the SQL Firewall. Oracle now offers a novel approach to protecting the database from unauthorized access, SQL injection and more. In addition, Oracle Database 23c also introduces smaller improvements such as new schema privileges, read-only accounts, immediate activation of audit policies as well as updates and adaptations to new security standards.
- Slides: Oracle Database Security 23c new Feature
- DOAG: Agenda, Recording and more DOAG 2023 Programm
Secure administration of Database users on a large scale
My second presentation, which I held together with Bettina Schaumer, Senior Principal Product Manager at Oracle, focused on Oracle Data Safe and Oracle Centrally Managed Users (CMU). Together we demonstrated how Data Safe can be used to analyze the current configuration of the database as well as the users, roles and permissions. We then presented a strategy for centrally managing users and roles with Oracle CMU and discussed its implementation.
- Slides: Sichere Verwaltung von Datenbankbenutzern im großen Maßstab
- DOAG: Agenda, Recording and more at DOAG 2023 Programm
Database security, but what about Performance 2.0?
The focus of my third presentation was “Database security and its impact on performance”. I covered various test results that included network access and the use of Transparent Data Encryption (TDE). A key aspect of my presentation was to demonstrate the considerations necessary to determine the direct impact of specific security measures on database performance. I conducted my tests in both on-premises and cloud environments. Swingbench was used for these tests, and I presented my custom scripting framework for automating Swingbench executions in various configurations. The complicated relationship between performance and database security is a challenge because every environment, application and database is different. However, this talk provides essential insights to kick-start your own investigations in this area.
- Slides: Database security, but what about Performance 2.0?
- DOAG: Agenda, Recording and more at DOAG 2023 Programm
- GitHub: oehrlis/secbench scripts and notes on my semi-automated performance tests with Swingbench
DOAG Training Day: Oracle Backup & Recovery Hands-On Lab
Once again this year, I couldn’t let it go and concluded my DOAG conference with a training day. In this session, we focused on backup & recovery strategies in companies. After an introduction to Oracle Backup & Recovery and RMAN, the participants had the chance to test their knowledge in a cloud-based lab. They worked on various tasks, from simple backup and recovery scenarios to complex disaster recovery cases, both independently and in groups. The aim was to gain practical experience in database recovery. This training was an excellent opportunity for participants to develop practical skills and exchange ideas with others to learn new approaches.
Conclusion
This year’s DOAG conference was a remarkable blend of technical enrichment, professional networking and social engagement. Beginning with the Training Day, which offered hands-on experience with Oracle technologies, the event was an in-depth exploration of the latest trends and practices in the Oracle ecosystem. Highlights included the ACE Adventure and the SOUG Evening, which not only showcased the historical charm of Nuremberg, but also provided ample opportunity to catch up with old friends and catch up with colleagues. The various sessions and discussions throughout the week emphasized the importance of innovation and efficient problem solving in the database field. This event was not only a learning experience, but also a chance to strengthen relationships within the Oracle community, and it left me invigorated and looking forward to future collaborations and gatherings.
Just one more thing: During the conference, I received a lot of positive feedback about the sketches and drawings I created using Excalidraw. For those interested, my library is available via Excalidraw, and many images can also be found in my GitHub repository oehrlis/sketches. These resources reflect my commitment to enhancing our understanding and visualization of complex Oracle systems.
