At a glance
| Supported databases | SQL Server 2012 SP1 to 2022, Azure SQL Database, Amazon RDS for SQL Server |
| Auditing and activity monitoring | Security configuration and permissions auditing; no query-level activity monitoring |
| Masking | Not part of SQL Secure |
| Encryption or tokenization | Not part of SQL Secure |
| Privileged access | Finds over-privileged users and their effective access paths; not a vault |
| Policy enforcement | Assessment against policy templates; does not block activity |
| Compliance reporting | PCI and HIPAA templates, report card and baseline reports |
| Deployment | Windows install with SQL Server repository |
| Licensing | From US$647 per instance; 14-day trial |
SQL Secure is a focused, comparatively low-cost way for SQL Server DBAs to answer "who can access what" and to track security settings against a baseline. It is an assessment and reporting tool, not an activity monitor, so pair it with SQL Server Audit or a DAM product if you must record every query.
Overview
IDERA SQL Secure collects security snapshots from SQL Server instances and stores them in a central repository database. It works out effective permissions through roles, groups and nested access paths, detects weak or blank passwords, orphaned (unresolved) accounts and over-privileged users, and checks server and operating system settings such as ports, protocols and authentication mode. Results feed a Security Report Card and policy templates at basic, balanced or strong levels, plus compliance templates that IDERA names for PCI and HIPAA.
The product installs on 64-bit Windows 10, Windows 11 or Windows Server 2012 to 2022 and needs a SQL Server 2012 to 2022 repository (any edition except Express). It can audit SQL Server 2012 SP1 through 2022 on premises, on Azure VMs or Amazon EC2, as well as Azure SQL Database and Amazon RDS for SQL Server. IDERA describes the collection as agentless.
Key features
- Effective permissions analysis across roles, groups and nested access paths
- Detection of weak or blank passwords, unresolved accounts and over-privileged users
- Checks of server and OS security settings such as ports, protocols and authentication mode
- Policy templates (basic, balanced, strong) and a Security Report Card score
- Compliance templates for regimes such as PCI and HIPAA
- Baseline comparisons of security snapshots over time, with customizable reports
- Agentless collection into a central SQL Server repository
Integrations and ecosystem
Pros and cons
Pros
- Published starting price per instance
- Clear focus on SQL Server permissions and configuration risk
- Covers on-premises SQL Server, Azure SQL Database and Amazon RDS for SQL Server
- Baseline comparisons show security drift over time
Cons
- SQL Server only
- No activity monitoring, blocking or masking
- Requires a Windows host and a SQL Server repository database
Pricing
IDERA's product page says SQL Secure starts at US$647 per instance, with volume pricing from IDERA sales; the page does not say whether that is a perpetual licence or a subscription, or what maintenance costs. A 14-day fully functional free trial is available.
Pricing checked on the vendor's official page on 7 November 2026. Prices change; confirm before buying.
Who it is best for
SQL Server DBAs and auditors who need repeatable permission reviews and configuration checks at a modest per-instance price.
Typical use cases
- Quarterly user access reviews showing who has effective rights to sensitive databases
- Finding weak passwords and orphaned logins before an audit
- Tracking security configuration drift against a baseline
- Producing PCI or HIPAA-oriented SQL Server security reports
Who should look elsewhere
- Teams that must record and alert on every query: see Microsoft Defender for SQL for threat alerts or DataSunrise for multi-engine audit.
Verdict
IDERA SQL Secure is a practical, SQL Server-only assessment tool for permissions and configuration risk, with a published entry price. It complements rather than replaces activity monitoring, so plan for SQL Server Audit or a DAM product if you need query-level trails.
Frequently asked questions
How much does IDERA SQL Secure cost?
IDERA lists a starting price of US$647 per instance, with volume pricing on request, and offers a 14-day fully functional trial.
Does SQL Secure monitor queries?
No. It takes security snapshots of permissions and configuration and reports on them; it does not record or block individual queries.
Which SQL Server versions does SQL Secure support?
SQL Secure 4.7 documentation lists SQL Server 2012 SP1 through 2022 as audit targets, on premises or on Azure VMs and Amazon EC2, plus Azure SQL Database and Amazon RDS for SQL Server. SQL Server 2000, 2005 and 2008 R2 are no longer supported.
Sources
- IDERA SQL Secure product page
- SQL Secure documentation (version 4.7)
- SQL Secure product requirements
- SQL Secure release notes
Checked November 2026.
Listed in: Database Security & Auditing.
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