How to ensure that backend database cannot be copied out?

[fannylim]

I have a frontend which is secured with a user password. If someone is to
copy the front end database and bring it out of the office, it is not usable
as the tables are linked to a backend database. How can I secure the backend
database such that it can be accessed by the front end users and yet cannot
be copied out? Currently, it can be copied out wholesale....

any advice appreciated,
Fanny, Singapore

 

[Scott McDaniel]

Users must have read/write permissions on the folder hosting the backend
files in order to use the database; if they have read/write access, there's
little you can do to prevent them from copying the files contained therein
.... you can implement User Level Security and secure your data that way,
thus if someone were to take it offsite they'd have to either (a) have a
user/pass combo or (b) pay someone to crack the security for them. If
someone is willing to go to that length, I doubt you'll stop them with
Access.

If your data is extremely sensitive, or could be damaging if it got out in
the wild, then it may be time to consider moving to a more robust data
engine like SQL Server, Oracle, etc. These provide for much better security
(and you can control OS permissions much more closely - you can deny users
access to the actual folders containing the data, so there's little chance
the data could get out).