Steps to Register Target Database on Oracle AVDF Server

In this article, we’ll go through the step-by-step procedure to register a target database on the AVDF Server, including configuring the required user, audit data collection, and firewall monitoring settings.

Prerequisites

Before you start, make sure the following prerequisites are met:

• The Audit Vault Server and Database Firewall are installed, configured, and accessible.
• The Audit Vault Agent is already deployed on the target database server.
• You have administrative privileges on both the Audit Vault Server and the target database.
• The network connection between the Audit Vault Server and the target database is properly configured.

Step 1: Prepare the Target Database Server

1. Begin by logging in to your target database server.
2. Create a dedicated user that AVDF will use for communication and data collection from the database.

• Next, navigate to the specified directory on the target server and execute the oracle_user_setup.sql script as shown below.

This script automatically creates the necessary roles, privileges, and configurations required for communication between the target database and the AVDF server.

Step 2: Log in to the AVDF Console

Access the Audit Vault Server Console using the ADMIN credentials.

Step 3: Register the Target Database

Once logged in:

1. Go to the Targets section of the AVDF console.
2. Click Register to add a new target database.
3. Enter all required database details — such as hostname, port, service name, and user credentials.
4. Use Test Connection to confirm connectivity between AVDF and the target database.
5. Click Save to complete the registration.

Step 4: Configure Audit Data Collection

After successful registration, set up Audit Data Collection to define how audit logs will be captured.

1. Navigate to the Audit Data Collection tab.
2. Click Add Audit Trail and choose the appropriate trail type.
3. Enter the relevant details.
4. Save the configuration.

Step 5: Configure Database Firewall Monitoring

To enhance database protection, configure Database Firewall Monitoring:

1. Open the Database Firewall Monitoring section.
2. Click Add to create a new monitoring entry.
3. Provide details such as the monitor name, IP address, and port.
4. Save the configuration.

Step 6: Add Network Audit Trail

• To enhance visibility and tracking, include a Network Audit Trail under the Audit Data Collection configuration.
• This allows AVDF to monitor network-level activities and provide detailed insights into connection-level events.

Once the Network Audit Trail is configured, click Save to apply and complete all the settings.

Step 7: Complete the Registration

After all configurations are successfully saved, the target database is now officially registered with AVDF.
You can verify the registration status in the Targets dashboard of the AVDF console. From here, AVDF will begin collecting and analyzing audit data from the target database.

Conclusion:

Registering a target database in Oracle AVDF is a critical step in securing enterprise data environments.

By following these steps, administrators can seamlessly configure audit trails, set up database firewall monitoring, and enable continuous audit data collection.

This process not only enhances database security but also simplifies compliance management through centralized monitoring and reporting.