NetBackup Access Control (NBAC)

The NetBackup Access Control (NBAC) functionality incorporates the NetBackup Product Authentication and Authorization into NetBackup, increasing security for the master servers, media servers, and clients.

See About NetBackup security and encryption.

Important points about NBAC include:

Authentication and Authorization are used together
NBAC uses authentication identities from a trusted source to reliably identify involved parties. Access decisions can then be made for manipulation of NetBackup based on those identities. Note that NetBackup Security Services are now embedded.
The NetBackup Product Authentication and Authorization consist of the root broker, authentication broker, authorization engine, and the graphical user interface.
Oracle, Oracle Archiver, DB2, Informix, Sybase, SQL Server, SAP and EV Migrator are not supported with NBAC.
NBAC is not supported on Appliances.
The NetBackup catalog backup is supported with NBAC.

The following table describes the NetBackup components that are used in security.

Table: NetBackup components used in security

Component	Description
Root broker	The NetBackup master server is the root broker in a data center installation. There is no provision to use another root broker. The recommendation is to allow trust between root brokers. The root broker authenticates the authentication broker. The root broker does not authenticate clients.
Authentication broker	Authenticates the master server, media server, graphical user interface, and clients by establishing credentials with each one of them. The authentication broker also authenticates a user when operating a command prompt. There can be more than one authentication broker in a data center installation. The authentication broker can be combined with the root broker.
Authorization engine	Communicates with the master server and the media server to determine the permissions of an authenticated user. These permissions determine the functionality available to a given server. The authorization engine also stores user groups and permissions. Only one authorization engine is required in a data center installation. The authorization engine also communicates over the WAN to authorize other media servers in a multi-datacenter environment.
graphical user interface	Specifies a Remote Administration Console that receives credentials from the authentication brokers. The graphical user interface then may use the credentials to gain access to functionality on the clients, media, and master servers.
Master server	Communicates with the root broker and authentication broker, graphical user interface, authorization engine, media server, and clients.
NetBackup administrator	Specifies a user who has been granted administrator permissions to access and manage the NetBackup functionality from within the data center.
Media server	Communicates with the master server, root broker and authentication broker, authorization engine, and clients 1 through 6. The media server writes unencrypted data to tape for client 5 and encrypted data to tape for client 6.
Clients	Specifies that clients 1 through 4 are standard NetBackup types. Client 5 is a web server type located in the DMZ. Client 6 is a client side encrypted type also located in the DMZ. All client types are managed by the master server and have their data backed up to tape through the media server. Clients 5 and 6 communicate to NetBackup using NetBackup only ports through the internal firewall. Client 5 also receives connections from the Internet using HTTP only ports through the external firewall.
Tapes	Specifies that the tape security in NetBackup can be increased by adding the following: Client side encryption Encryption of data at rest Unencrypted and encrypted data tapes are produced in the data center. The unencrypted tape data is written for clients 1 through 5 and stored on-site at the data center. The encrypted tapes are written for client 6 and are transported off-site to a vault for disaster recovery protection.
Encryption	Specifies that NetBackup encryption can increase security by providing the following: Greater data confidentiality The loss of physical tape is not as critical if all the data is effectively encrypted The best risk mitigation strategy For more information about encryption: See Encryption security questions to consider.
Data over the wire security	Includes the communication between master servers, media servers, clients, and communication using ports through firewalls and over WANs. For more information about ports: See About NetBackup TCP/IP ports. The data over the wire part of NetBackup can help increase security in the following ways: NetBackup Access Control (NBAC) Classic NetBackup daemons employ authentication when NBAC is enabled CORBA daemons use the fully encrypted channels that support confidentiality, and provide data integrity Firewalls Disabling the unused ports in NetBackup and in other products: See Enabling or disabling random port assignments. PBX and VNETD dedicated ports provide increased NetBackup security Central set of ports to monitor and open through firewalls Note: Communication between NetBackup 8.1 and later hosts is secure. See About secure communication in NetBackup.
Firewall security	Specifies that the NetBackup firewall support can help increase security. Important points about firewall security include the following: It is recommended to use firewall and intrusion detection protection for NetBackup. Firewall protection relates to general network security from a NetBackup standpoint. It focuses on reducing the possible "door locks" for a thief to try to pick. It may be helpful to review the possibility of blocking NFS, telnet, FTP, email ports. They are not strictly needed for NetBackup use and can provide an "open door" for unwanted access. Secure the master server as much as possible Firewalls can include internal firewalls and external firewalls, as follows: Internal firewall - allows NetBackup to access web server client 5 and encrypted client 6 in the DMZ. Only selected NetBackup ports and possibly other application ports are enabled for data communication through the internal firewall and into and out of the DMZ. The HTTP ports are open in the External Firewall and are not allowed to pass through the internal firewall. External firewall - allows external users to access the web server client 5 located in the DMZ from the Internet over HTTP ports. NetBackup ports are open for web server client 5 to communicate through the internal firewall to NetBackup. The NetBackup ports are not allowed to pass through the external firewall to the Internet. Only the HTTP ports of web server client 5 can pass through the external firewall to the Internet.
Demilitarized zone (DMZ)	Specifies that the demilitarized zone (DMZ) increases security as follows: The DMZ is a restricted area in which the number of ports that are allowed for specific hosts is highly controlled The DMZ exists between the external firewall and the internal firewall. The common area in this example is the web server. The external firewall blocks all ports except for the HTTP (standard) and HTTPS (secure) web ports. The internal firewall blocks all ports except for NetBackup and database ports. The DMZ eliminates the possibility of external Internet access to internal NetBackup server and database information. The DMZ provides a "safe" area of operation for the web server client 5 and encrypted client 6 between the internal firewall and external firewall. The web server client 5 in the DMZ can communicate to NetBackup through the internal firewall using designated NetBackup ports. The web server client 5 can also communicate through the external firewall to the Internet using only HTTP ports. Figure: Example firewalls and DMZ shows an example internal and external firewall with DMZ.

The following figure shows an example of the internal and the external firewall with DMZ.

Figure: Example firewalls and DMZ

NetBackup Access Control (NBAC)

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