11 Steps to Secure SQL in 2024 | UpGuard

**Executive Summary:** This document provides 11 concise, actionable best-practice steps to secure Microsoft SQL Server and MySQL database servers — covering isolation and network segmentation, tailored/minimal installations, timely patching, running DB services with restricted privileges, restricting SQL traffic, enforcing least-privilege permissions, strong admin passwords, login auditing, secure backups, protections against SQL injection (prefer stored procedures), and continuous configuration visibility.