Securing the cloud is a big task, no matter what particular element you are looking at. MongoHQ announced this week that they are adding a host of new security features to their powerful platform.  MongoHQ provides . First off, the newly introduced security feature package gives customers the tools to control and see who accesses their account. They are also including two-factor authentication, security auditing tools and a best-practice security handbook for startups. This powerful security functionality will help customers boost their MongoDB security, helping to assure customers that their data is safe and that best practice security measures are in place. In addition to these features, MongoHQ will be open sourcing their two-factor authentication tool and the handbook, allowing the startup community to benefit from their security practices.

“We’re excited to announce these new security features today and highlight the steps we’ve taken to help our customers manage their security,” says Kurt Mackey, co-founder of MongoHQ. “This security package provides our customers with the tools needed to better manage and monitor access to their database configuration tools.”

From the release, this official rundown of the security features illustrates the powerful value propositions being introduced:

• Security Auditing is a new tool that allows database owners to see any login activity and changes through the MongoHQ web user interface in real time. This provides developers with the ability to oversee who is accessing their account and monitor sensitive application features, allowing them to address suspicious activity early.
• Two-factor Authentication allows users to add an extra-layer of security to their login details. In addition, account owners can require two-factor authentication for all users on their account.
• The MongoHQ Security Handbook is a best practices internal security policy, specifically designed for startups. Developed in partnership with external security firm, Matasano, the handbook focuses on practical guidelines for early stage companies to ensure company systems are as secure.
• Open Source Security Features. As part of the new security package, MongoHQ is releasing their two-factor authentication service as open source to help other startups implement two-factor authentication with less friction. The tool, known as Authful, was developed in house and underwent a security audit from Matasano. MongoHQ will also release the Security Handbook as open source.

More control, more security

These new security features give MongoHQ’s customers a heightened level of control over access to the application used to manage their database. Additionally, new open source features are designed to address security concerns of databases within the cloud and allow MongoHQ to provide enhanced security tools to startups that may not otherwise have access.

Now MongoHQ is doing something really unique here, and this ties into the whole open source movement that is so critical in today’s technology climate. Gone are the days of massive, shifting proprietary requirements and subsequent costs. These are open, established standards that are being implemented and set foot into the wild. That’s something that a business of any size can actually rely on, for one thing that the community cannot and will not suddenly change their mind, and change things up just to extract new and extravagant licensing fees, or force upgrades and you guessed it – licensing fees. That’s a key facet in the proposition of MongoHQ’s announcement that should resonate well in these bleeding-edge database communities and open source is a fundamental element across their entire product.  MongoHQ offers the highest level of security available for managed hosted open-source databases and is deeply committed to providing its customers with the best service possible, providing 24/7 customer support to all of its users.

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