One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that secures a database configuration from undesired modifications. This system allows a security officer to issue a configuration-locking command, which activates a lock for the configuration of a database object. When a configuration lock is activated for a database object, the system prevents a user (e.g., a database administrator) from modifying the configuration of the database object, without restricting the user from accessing the database object itself. The security officer is a trusted user that is responsible for maintaining the stability of the database configuration, such that a configuration lock activated by the security officer preserves the database configuration by overriding the privileges assigned to a database administrator.