TL;DR
PostgreSQL offers Row Level Security (RLS) for fine-grained access control at the database level. MySQL lacks native RLS, requiring application-layer security. Both support encryption, role-based access, and SSL connections. PostgreSQL has the edge for multi-tenant applications needing database-enforced isolation. MySQL is simpler for basic RBAC needs.
Access Control Comparison
| Feature | PostgreSQL | MySQL |
|---|---|---|
| Row Level Security | Yes (native RLS) | No |
| Column Level Permissions | Yes | Yes |
| Role-Based Access | Yes (extensive) | Yes |
| View-Based Security | Yes | Yes |
| Schema Separation | Yes (multiple schemas) | Database-level only |
Row Level Security (PostgreSQL Advantage)
PostgreSQL's Row Level Security is a significant security feature that MySQL doesn't have:
- Define policies that filter rows based on user context
- Policies apply automatically to all queries
- Can't be bypassed by the application (unless using superuser)
- Essential for multi-tenant applications
- Integrates with authentication systems via session variables
Why RLS Matters: With RLS, even if your application has a bug that forgets to filter by user ID, the database will still enforce the policy. This defense-in-depth approach significantly reduces the impact of application-layer vulnerabilities.
In MySQL, you must implement equivalent security in your application code or use views, which can be more error-prone.
Authentication Methods
| Auth Method | PostgreSQL | MySQL |
|---|---|---|
| Password (md5/sha256) | Yes (scram-sha-256) | Yes (caching_sha2) |
| Certificate Auth | Yes | Yes |
| LDAP | Yes | Yes (Enterprise) |
| Kerberos | Yes | Yes (Enterprise) |
| PAM | Yes | Yes |
| RADIUS | Yes | No |
Both databases support modern authentication methods. PostgreSQL's SCRAM-SHA-256 and MySQL's caching_sha2_password are both secure defaults.
Encryption
| Encryption Feature | PostgreSQL | MySQL |
|---|---|---|
| SSL/TLS Connections | Yes | Yes |
| At-Rest Encryption | Via extensions (pgcrypto) | Yes (InnoDB native) |
| Tablespace Encryption | Yes | Yes |
| Column-Level Encryption | pgcrypto extension | AES functions |
| Key Management | External (Vault, etc.) | Keyring plugin |
MySQL has native transparent data encryption (TDE) for InnoDB tables. PostgreSQL requires extensions or external tools for equivalent functionality, though this is changing.
Audit Logging
PostgreSQL
- pgaudit extension for detailed audit logging
- Configurable logging levels
- Statement-level and object-level auditing
- Session and command tracking
MySQL
- Enterprise Audit plugin (commercial)
- General query log (basic)
- Binary log for replication (not security-focused)
- Community audit plugins available
Note: Comprehensive audit logging in MySQL typically requires the Enterprise edition or third-party plugins. PostgreSQL's pgaudit is free and open source.
SQL Injection Prevention
Both databases are equally susceptible to SQL injection when used improperly. Prevention is primarily an application responsibility:
- Use parameterized queries (prepared statements) in both
- Both support stored procedures for encapsulating logic
- PostgreSQL's stricter typing can catch some issues earlier
- MySQL's loose typing can hide type-related vulnerabilities
Neither database protects you from SQL injection automatically. Use your ORM's query builders or parameterized queries.
Network Security
| Feature | PostgreSQL | MySQL |
|---|---|---|
| Host-Based Access | pg_hba.conf (flexible) | User@host grants |
| IP Filtering | CIDR notation | Wildcard patterns |
| SSL Enforcement | Per-connection configurable | Per-user configurable |
PostgreSQL's pg_hba.conf provides more granular control over connection authentication methods per host, database, and user combination.
Which Should You Choose?
Choose PostgreSQL If:
You need Row Level Security for multi-tenant apps, want database-enforced access control, prefer open-source audit logging, or are using Supabase/Neon which are PostgreSQL-based.
Choose MySQL If:
Your security can be handled at the application layer, you need native transparent data encryption, you're using PlanetScale or traditional LAMP stacks, or your team has more MySQL expertise.
Is PostgreSQL more secure than MySQL?
PostgreSQL has more built-in security features, particularly Row Level Security. However, both can be equally secure when properly configured. The difference is that PostgreSQL provides more tools for database-level security, while MySQL often requires application-level implementation.
Can I implement RLS-like security in MySQL?
You can approximate RLS using views with security definer, triggers, or application-layer filtering. However, these approaches are more error-prone and don't provide the same guarantees as PostgreSQL's native RLS which applies to all queries automatically.
Which has better encryption?
MySQL has more straightforward native encryption with InnoDB tablespace encryption. PostgreSQL requires extensions for equivalent functionality. For field-level encryption, both have similar capabilities through built-in functions or extensions.
Which is better for compliance requirements?
PostgreSQL's audit logging (pgaudit) and RLS make it easier to meet compliance requirements for data access control and auditing. MySQL Enterprise has similar features but requires a commercial license.