Real World Microsoft Access Database Protection and Security

In this chapter, I concentrated on the options and attributes that will improve the protection of objects in the database. Though the default settings for these objects are generally safe, any user who can find Options on the Tools menu can easily change them. We learned that:

• The recently used file list and personal information can provide another person with information that we would like to hide.

• Compact on Close can produce copies of a database that are unknown to us. This option should be turned off.

• The confirmation settings on the Edit/Find tab should always be turned on.

• Manual methods can hide any objects in the Database window.

• VBA code can hide any objects in the Database window in Access 2000 and later.

• You can change table attributes to make them function like system tables. This capability provides them with more protection because they will be marginally harder to find than hidden tables and in read-only mode when they are viewed directly.

Understanding Access options is important, and you should consider putting VBA code in your database to make sure all that the options always reflect the manual settings. Also, hiding certain important objects in your Database window is a simple way to protect your database from most users. Finally, if you want a recommendation, I suggest that you start experimenting with each of these options one at a time and, as you become comfortable with them, start using these options in all your databases.