Customer Reviews

Real World Microsoft Access Database Protection and Security

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book is exactly what it proports to be. It covers all the Access versions being used in the development world - 97 to 2003. It does not spend half to 2/3 of the book on basic Access tables, querries, reports or vb code that developers already know, but from the first page to the last covers security and protection.

It uses real world examples and code to demonstrate how developers who are proud of their work can protect and secure their Access database so it operates as designed and your intellectual property is not avialable for all to see and use.

Well written from a developer who is obviously using these techniques in his own business every day, the code and screen dumps are easy to follow and can be migrated straight to your current work.

If you are a Access developer selling your work or having others use your work, this book is a must have. It will save time and money in the future by not having to maintain database that have been deliberately or inadvertantly changed. It is an area usually left to last in the development cycle then dropped at the end as too difficult with no return on your investment. This book shows with planning and little effort how easy it is to secure Access databases.

A must have for any Access developer or power user.

Garry Robinson's book is well written and clear. He covers the security issues thoroughly. As one reads the book, it becomes clear that Microsoft has not and apparantly has no plans to beef up security for Access. It is plagued with holes. But the book provides methods for plugging these holes. Purchasers of the book can download an accompanying database with forms that assist developers with implementing security. These forms have saved me countless hours in programming. These savings alone pay for the cost of the book many times over.

I spent quite a bit of time researching Access security through the Microsoft website and this was a complete waste of time. There are holes in the security that MS doesn't even mention (what a surprise).

This book is well worth the money for anyone who is serious about securing their proprietary efforts.

I recently purchased Garry's book. It provided me security solutions that I never read in any other Access book before.

Every subject is described in great detail and the downloadable sample forms and functions make it easy to quickly create a secure database.

When I got stuck on an issue, I emailed Garry and asked his team for some advice. I wasn't sure if anyone on his team would even respond. However, Garry himself answered the question within less than 1 hour and provided me the answer to the problem.

Now -- in my opionion -- that absolutely awesome!!!

This has got to be the best MS Access resource book that I have purchased. Like others, I have found MS Access security hard to understand but with Gary Robinson's help I am now getting a grasp on how I can keep sensitive data secure. The book is aimed at those who are new to security as well as those with experience. Also, the downloable database, with forms and code that you can easily use in your own applications, is a real time saver.

I especially like how he has broken down the overview for each chapter with segments aimed at Developers, DBA's and the IT Managers. In these overviews he explains what in the chapter is important to the reader by their role. The book is arranged so you can easily locate the information you need and not have to go through the whole book to be able to accomplish your security goal. But I recommend that you do read the entire book as it has so much to offer! I am on my second read through.

Somehow I find myself responsible for security of an Access database and am learning as I go. Until I found this book, workgroups were a mystery and very easily messed up.

The way this book is written is precisely what I needed, as a novice to much of this stuff. Being able to set up and maintain an Access database on one PC is a totally different animal from using SQL and a front-end on a network and making it all secure. First the author says what he's going to teach, then he outlines how he will present the information and why, and then he proceeds to the real meaty stuff. Because of this you understand which sections particularly apply to what you are doing. My copy already opens automatically to Chapter 8 where I have to admit I needed to start more than once. That is more a function of my lack of knowledge than of the way the chapter is written. The notes and tips are all gems. The instructions are clear and don't leave out any steps. There are details and screen shots all the way along that make it clear if you have made a mistake before you get too far past it. For example, page 262, step 7 my copy has a note added in pencil by me, first time through 'This didn't happen' - should have been a warning but I kept going. Had to go back later and correct things. It taught me to trust the instructions to the letter and not to proceed until what I am doing matches what is in the instructions.' I told you I was a novice! Too many computer manuals are written for the advanced expert - we're not all advanced experts! This book has been exactly what I needed.

Maybe it's because Garry hails from down under. Maybe New Zealanders and Australians think differently - whatever it is, this ex-pat Kiwi is glad to have found this book.

I have known Garry for quiet some time, and was surprised that he had a book in him! I have read many of Garry's journal articles and subscribe to his newsletter and have always found his comments and tips useful - I never thought this would amount to a book. I thought a book on Access security? And then I read it! There is no other resource available that has collated and explained everything you need to know about access database security. SO many other books spend a paragraph or two on how to manage work groups and then they and the other books casually mention that if you really want security move on to SQLServer. Well while that is all well and good some business can not afford SQlServer, and for some corporations, Access provides all of their business needs except the security part. So from a developer's point of view the pit falls and work arounds to finally secure Access Databases are presented in a well thought out and presented book. Good Work Garry!

A good book will find the reader. I would like to thank Mr. Robinson for a well written read. Besides all the other things I have in my life to do I was able to finish his work in about two weeks. I have read all the other reviews; there is nothing I can add. I can however tell you that if you are into Access database (and you know if you are) then this book is an imperative. I have had many books on Access database pass my way, nothing compares with Mr. Robinsons' book on security and protection.

Mr. Robinsons' is the first technical book on Access I have ever read from cover to cover with a never ending want to turn the page to see what Mr. Robinson was going to teach me next. I'm going to begin a reread of his work and this time I'm going to use the examples with both Northwind and my own database to incorporate his methods; especially enjoying combining the OS and workgroup security to provide my data a secure base from my clients, friends and enemies.

His book provided me ample margin to take copious notes along with my read, it will prove helpful in preparing for deployment. Mr. Robinson is a professional database administrator and this book is written as from such, you will think like he does at the end of this read and be the better for it. Mr. Robinson is a wonderful dbase admin, author, and now teacher. Again many thanks for his efforts and a heartfelt appreciation for my newly gained knowledge. Should Mr. Robinson ever have a worldwide tour on the subject, sign me up.

All of the reviews are positive, I suggest a review of Mr. Robinsons' Table of Contents and more important, the wonderful Index. A review of these documents will give you better insight into the level of Access database security Mr. Robinson clearly and distinctly explains. Mr. Robinson has the world's attention on this security subject and rightfully deserves it.

The Table of Contents and Index may be found at:

View the table of contents (http://www.vb123.com/get/AccessSecurityBook_TOC.pdf)in PDF format.
View the index file (http://www.vb123.com/get/mapindex.pdf) in PDF format.

Tom Pickett
May 9, 2006
Berea, South Carolina USA

This is the perfect book for MS Access Security since it caters to all levels of users and is extremely easy to follow.

In addition, the author is extremely responsive to any items needing additional clarification. In fact, I actually e-mailed Gary a question and he responded back to me with a solution within the same day.

This book is a must buy for customers interested in MS Access Security.

This book was a great resource in securing my databases. It walked me through everything I needed to do step-by-step. I highly recommended it to anyone looking to secure their databases.

I'm just starting my second read-through of this book.

Before ordering this book I had just gotten to the all important step of securing my Access Application and now I view this book as the blue-print to accomplish that task. I think that it will save me 50 to 100 hours of work and it gives me the confidence that my application will have the best available security.

It's loaded with code examples and the book contains links to the author's website that has sample files (by Access version). The book also contains cross reference to sites created by others.

The author's sample files contain forms (by Access version) that you can easily import into your Access application to toggle different security and user interface options. The book also contains instructions on how to test the implementation of various security strategies (to make sure you've got it right).

As the author points out, truly securing an Access application ranges from: controlling the user interface, to ensuring a consistent application, to thwarting hackers (or just curious eyes), to backing up the data within the application. Entire chapters are devoted to individual concepts (as opposed to the frustrating few paragraphs in other books or Access documentation).

I highly recommend this book to anyone developing an Access application or anyone responsible for maintaining an Access database. Read it before any roll out or if you have an active Access application, read it immediately to plug any undiscovered holes.

Walter M.
Greenlawn, New York