Licensing Oracle Audit Vault and Database Firewall & Oracle Key Vault

Licensing Oracle Audit Vault and Database Firewall & Oracle Key Vault

Oracle Audit Vault, Database Firewall, and Oracle Key Vault are critical security solutions for securing sensitive databases and maintaining regulatory compliance. Understanding their licensing models, costs, features, and best practices is essential to effectively managing licensing, optimizing spending, and maintaining compliance.

This article covers:

• Oracle Audit Vault and Database Firewall licensing and costs
• Oracle Key Vault licensing and costs
• Key features of both products
• Practical examples of licensing calculations
• Compliance considerations and best practices
• Common licensing mistakes and how to avoid them

Read more about the Oracle price list.

Oracle Audit Vault and Database Firewall Overview

Oracle Audit Vault and Database Firewall (AVDF) provides advanced database protection by combining centralized audit log management with real-time monitoring of SQL traffic.

This comprehensive security tool protects against database threats like SQL injection and unauthorized data access while streamlining audit processes to maintain regulatory compliance.

Key Capabilities:

• Centralized Auditing: This method collects and consolidates audit logs from various database platforms (Oracle, SQL Server, MySQL, etc.) and operating systems into a single, secure repository.
• Real-Time Database Firewall: This firewall inspects incoming SQL statements over the network in real time, blocking unauthorized queries or malicious activity.
• Compliance Reporting: This service simplifies regulatory compliance reporting (e.g., SOX, PCI DSS, HIPAA) by providing comprehensive auditing and detailed analytics.

Licensing Costs and Metrics for Oracle Audit Vault and Database Firewall

Oracle Audit Vault and Database Firewall can be licensed using two primary metrics:

• Processor Licensing: $6,000 per processor
• Named User Plus (NUP) Licensing: $120 per Named User Plus

Processor-Based Licensing

This model calculates licensing fees based on the number of processor cores (with Oracle’s core factor applied) on the server(s) where the AVDF software runs.

Processor Licensing Example:

• You deploy AVDF on a server with two Intel processors (8 cores each = 16 cores total).
• Intel processors typically have a core factor of 0.5.
• Processor calculation:
  • 16 cores × 0.5 = 8 processor licenses
• Total Licensing Cost:
  • 8 processor licenses × $6,000 = $48,000
• Annual Support (approx. 22%) ≈ $10,560/year

Named User Plus (NUP) Licensing

This model counts the number of named users or devices authorized to access or protected by Audit Vault and Database Firewall. Oracle requires a minimum number of NUP licenses based on the processor cores used.

Named User Plus Licensing Example:

• Your AVDF server has 1 Intel CPU with 8 cores (core factor 0.5):
  • Processor count: 8 cores × 0.5 = 4 processors
  • Minimum required NUP licenses (25 per processor): 4 × 25 = 100 NUP licenses
• Total Licensing Cost:
  • 100 NUP licenses × $120 = $12,000
• Annual Support (22%) ≈ $2,640/year

Oracle Key Vault Overview

Oracle Key Vault (OKV) is a specialized, security-hardened software appliance for centralized key management. OKV simplifies the secure storage, management, and distribution of encryption keys, wallets, certificates, and credentials.

Key Capabilities:

• Centralized Key Management: Securely stores and manages encryption keys, passwords, certificates, and Oracle wallets.
• Integration with Oracle Security: Seamlessly integrates with Oracle’s Transparent Data Encryption (TDE) and other security features.
• Compliance Simplification: Helps comply with security mandates by centralizing control and auditing key management activities.
• Security Hardening: Designed as a software appliance with built-in security best practices.

Read Licensing Oracle Database Gateway for Sybase.

Licensing Costs for Oracle Key Vault

Oracle Key Vault is licensed differently from other database security products and is priced at a fixed rate per server:

• Per Server Licensing: $100,000 per server

Oracle Key Vault Licensing Example:

• Your organization deploys two Oracle Key Vault servers (primary and standby):
  • 2 servers × $100,000 per server = $200,000
• Annual Support (22%) ≈ $44,000/year

Practical Licensing Scenarios and Examples

Scenario 1: Licensing AVDF for a Mid-Sized Enterprise

• Environment:
  • 2 Intel-based servers, each with 16 cores (32 cores total)
• Licensing Calculation:
  • 32 cores × 0.5 = 16 processor licenses
  • Total Licensing Cost: 16 × $6,000 = $96,000
  • Annual Support: $96,000 × 22% = $21,120/year

Scenario 2: Licensing AVDF with Named User Plus Model

• Environment:
  • Single-server, 12-core Intel CPU (core factor 0.5)
• Minimum NUP Requirement:
  • Processor licenses: 12 × 0.5 = 6 processor licenses
  • 6 × 25 NUP minimum per processor = 150 NUP licenses
  • Total Licensing Cost: 150 × $120 = $18,000
  • Annual Support: $18,000 × 22% = $3,960/year

Compliance Considerations and Best Practices

To remain compliant and manage Oracle Audit Vault, Database Firewall, and Key Vault effectively, organizations should:

1. Maintain Accurate Infrastructure Documentation

• Regularly track all hardware configurations (cores, CPUs, servers).
• Document the relationship between licensed components and their infrastructure.

2. Clarify Licensing Scope and Definitions

• Ensure clarity regarding user-based licensing and minimum licensing thresholds.
• Clarify Oracle’s definition of “Named User” to avoid compliance mistakes.

3. Monitor SQL Traffic and Audit Logs

• Review audit logs and database firewall reports regularly to detect unauthorized access and potential license violations.
• Implement continuous monitoring solutions to verify AVDF coverage of intended databases.

4. Plan for Infrastructure Changes

• Any hardware upgrades (CPU cores, new servers) require a reassessment of licensing obligations.
• Notify Oracle proactively when expanding server environments or adding processors.

5. Budget for Ongoing Support

• Oracle’s annual support is essential for receiving critical updates, patches, and product assistance.
• Factor support costs (~22%) into your financial planning to maintain compliance and security.

Common Licensing Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Mistake #1: Failing to Account for Core Factor Adjustments
Solution: Always apply Oracle’s core factor table when calculating processor licensing.

Mistake #2: Overlooking Minimum Named User Requirements
Solution: Calculate and document the minimum Named User Plus licensing requirement.

Mistake #3: Deploying New Instances Without Additional Licensing
Solution: Obtain necessary licenses before adding new servers or expanding AVDF environments.

Mistake #4: Underestimating Oracle Key Vault Licensing
Solution: Remember that OKV licensing is strictly per server. Add additional licenses upfront when deploying high-availability solutions.

Mistake #5: Not Keeping Accurate Usage Records
Solution: Conduct regular internal audits and maintain precise license deployment and usage records.

Read Oracle TimesTen In-Memory Database Licensing and Costs.

Real-World Licensing Example

A financial institution deploys AVDF and OKV to secure its database infrastructure:

• AVDF deployed on one Intel server (12 cores):
  • 12 cores × 0.5 = 6 processor licenses required
  • Cost: 6 × $6,000 = $36,000
  • Annual Support: $7,920/year
• OKV deployed on two servers (primary + standby):
  • 2 × $100,000 = $200,000
  • Annual Support: $44,000/year

Total Initial Cost: $236,000
Total Annual Support Cost: $51,920/year

Summary of Oracle Security Licensing Insights

• AVDF provides centralized auditing and real-time protection against SQL attacks.
• Key Vault simplifies secure key management, which is critical for TDE and compliance.
• Always plan for licensing and support costs proactively.
• Conduct regular compliance reviews and maintain accurate licensing documentation.

By following these best practices and accurately calculating licensing requirements, your organization can effectively use Oracle Audit Vault, Database Firewall, and Oracle Key Vault to enhance database security and compliance while efficiently managing costs.

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