How to harden the bundled local database in MetaDefender Managed File Transfer (MFT)?

Overview

Please Note that the bundled SQL Express LocalDB included with Managed File Transfer (MFT) is intended for testing and evaluation purposes only. It is not designed for production-grade deployments and should not be relied upon for production use.

If you are planning to use Microsoft SQL Server in a production environment, it is highly recommended to migrate to a full-featured edition such as:

• Microsoft SQL Server 2019 Express
• Microsoft SQL Server 2022 Express

These editions offer more robust configuration, management, and hardening options to better secure your deployment.

Hardening Microsoft SQL Server Express

Even though SQL Server Express is a lighter version of the full SQL Server platform, it still supports many critical security features. Hardening focuses on reducing the attack surface, strengthening authentication, and enabling encryption.

Key hardening practices include:

• Limiting network access and exposing only necessary ports.

• Enforcing strong password policies and authentication modes.

• Encrypting communications using TLS.

• Granting only the minimum necessary permissions (Principle of Least Privilege).

• Regularly applying security patches and updates.

For a complete guide to hardening SQL Server Express, you can reference the CIS Microsoft SQL Server Benchmarks available here:

CIS Microsoft SQL Server Benchmarks

These benchmarks provide detailed, step-by-step hardening instructions and best practices for securing your SQL Server environment.

Additional Recommendations

• Regularly review and audit database access and activity.

• Monitor database for unusual or unauthorized activity.

• Backup databases securely and frequently.

• Where possible, consider using a managed database service with built-in security features.