Database Security Examples for Microsoft Access
Microsoft Access contains a feature-full security system. Access permissions may be set either on individual database users or on groups of users. These permissions extend to the tables, queries, forms, reports and macros. Permissions include read, insert, update and delete. There also special permissions which allow design changes and other database administration functions.
We will be adding new examples to this section from time to time so check back periodically.
You can also protect your visual basic code in several ways: Module passwords, Visual Basic password and creating an MDE file. The MDE file method is the most secure way to protect you VBA code because the code is compiled. Compiling changes the code to what is called Object code which cannot be read by a human without tremendous difficulty. A side benefit of creating an MDE file is that the database will be a little smaller and will be a little better optimized for memory usage.
When establishing user security and group permissions on a database the system will create what is called a Work Group Administration file (MDW). This file contains all the user and group definitions for your computer system. All the object level permissions are stored in the MDB or MDE file.
Aside: Note that you can implement a robust security scheme by creating a custom interface – including opening forms and permissions assigned programmatically in the form data interface. To see an example of such an interface examine our DB Security Method. A simple method to obtain low level security is to hide objects, such as the database window, hide or remove toolbar menu options, hide or disable form menu choices and tabbed form tabs.
Warning: We recommend that you do not use a Microsoft Access database for truly sensitive data – such as medical records, employee records, voting systems, etc. Programs exist which can break most Microsoft software security schemes.
Topics
Manually Setting Database Password
Programmatically Setting Access Password
Using Grant and Revoke
Microsoft Office VBA, MS Access 2003, 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016