Re: External tables. Security concerns.

artmt_at_hotmail.com wrote:
> I am considering using external tables for my ETL processes.
> The DBAs are telling me that their policy is not allow any access to
> the file system via the database - due to security concerns. This
> means no external tables, no directory objects, no utl_file.
> Are their concerns valid?
> Is there a way to use these features securely?
>
> Thanks
> Art

Yes and no. they are correct to not allow uncontrolled use of UTL_FILE but directory objects are harmless and the only real risk with an External Table would be you dumping GB of into a file and using too much disk.

Most likely they don't understand the technology because if they did they would know that DIRECTORY OBJECTS are wholly internal to the database.

-- 
Daniel A. Morgan
University of Washington
damorgan_at_x.washington.edu
(replace x with u to respond)
Puget Sound Oracle Users Group
www.psoug.org