While basic methods won’t keep out an experienced hacker, they will provide a level of safety similar to that provided when you childproof your home. This article contains more sophisticated tips appropriate when your users start going to Microsoft Access advanced training.

Startup and Shutdown Macros
Your users learn many exciting new features of the software in Microsoft Access advanced training, possibly too much for their own good. They can now find things like security features and macro code and may decide to “help” by changing some things. An AutoExec macro can reset security settings once a database is opened.

When a database is opened, Access looks for a macro named AutoExec. If it finds it, it automatically runs it before displaying the database. Create an AutoExec macro and have it call a startup function created by you which will examine and reset security settings to what you want them to be. For example, your startup function might set properties such as StartupShowDBWindow to false to prevent the database window from being displayed.

You can do something similar in a close task in order to immediately reset any security setting a user might have changed. A common use for this is to set AllowBypassKey to false to prevent users from using the Shift key to bypass the standard startup processes.

Error Handling
Microsoft Access advanced training introduces the concept of creating macros. These open up a new world of functionality and a new world of security problems. All but the simplest macros should include their own error handling to close one of these problems.

If a macro hits an error it displays an error message that includes a Debug option. A user fresh from Microsoft Access advanced training might decide to fix the macro so they click on the error message. However, even in the unlikely event the user can fix it, changes of this nature should go through the database administrator.

By including a simple error handler, the error is still reported but without the Debug security hole. The message can be phrased in more user friendly fashion than the default Access error message and include instructions unique to your organization on how to handle the problem.

Execute Only Databases
An extreme way to prevent changes is to create a front end that is execute-only. Under Database Tools you will find either Make MDE File or, for Access 2007, Make ACCDE File. These convert the database into an object that can only be executed, similar to the way a compiler converts interpreted code to complied code.

Users won’t have access to objects or VBE code so can’t make changes even if desired. Execute-only status doesn’t protect many objects, such as tables or relationships, so is not complete protection against intrusion.

Author is a freelance copywriter. For more information on microsoft access advanced training, please visit http://www.microsofttraining.net

[tags]microsoft access advanced training[/tags]

Business rely on their ability to quickly scan and access information that is stored on the corporate servers and computers of their employees when those systems fail and data is lost the company can be crippled by the effects of lost time and revenue while files are rebuilt and information is collected once more for the important work of the business. Being able to retrieve stored data and modify existing documents with little reentering of information is vital aspect of commerce today. Having a reliable backup system for servers and workstations is a necessary part of business acumen.

While backing up vital data to discs or DAT tapes is a common practice for the close of business in many corporations those storage devices can be compromised by fire or other disaster that may affect an office. Even data that is stored on backup files utilizing discs or tapes are susceptible to corrosion from exposure to the elements or inefficient and outdated storage devices that do not stay current with the progress of digital media and computer capabilities.

For businesses that rely on data storage as a vital part of their day to day operations in business the need exists for downloadable offsite backup servers to hold the information that can be easily accessed online and downloaded to servers that are dedicated to data storage for offsite use. Earthquake, fire and other natural disasters may not be commonplace for most businesses, yet the threat of these disasters is real enough for businesses to plan ahead and take the necessary precautions to store and retrieve their data in the unlikely event that the onsite servers suffer a loss from a disaster.

With virtually unlimited storage space available downloadable online backup servers make it easy to transfer sensitive data and information to a secure server on a secure network and allow businesses to save space, time and money on their daily storage backup needs. By backing up data at the close of each business day company can easily retrieve all of their information to whichever computer is convenient through a password encrypted network and have access anywhere in the world to the important information that is not readily available from tape and disc backup options.

With the world getting smaller and international business relations becoming more commonplace for many executives and managers being able to access a secure server for backup operations while traveling abroad is yet another advantage of online server backup systems that makes traveling internationally easier and more secure.

Essential Data Solutions, LLC http://www.idatasure.com/) backs up servers and hard drives. Art Gib is a freelance writer.

[tags]backup servers, backup server, online server backup[/tags]

So you’ve decided that you want to contract a fully managed hosting service to take over your information technology infrastructure and free up your IT team for more pressing tasks. That’s a good decision to make, but there are still some other very important decisions to be made. Primarily, you need to figure out which of the many managed services data centers is going to work best for you. You want to find a service that is reliable, responsive, and flexible. While such services aren’t inexpensive, they are well worth it if you make the right choice.

One important consideration you must make has to do with the potential growth of your business. Say that your business is just getting off the ground and so you want to hire a managed hosting service to install and maintain your IT infrastructure. This will help you improve your web presence and make your business more efficient overall. The question is, what happens when your business expands?

If you haven’t chosen a managed services provider that is ready for that expansion, there could be trouble. As your business expands, you’ll need more security and better performance. You want a provider that is on the cutting edge of new technology and able to meet your expanding needs without costing a fortune. That is one of the hallmarks of a good managed services provider.

Additionally, reliably is a key component of a good managed services provider. Optimally, you want a provider that is going to not only be available 24 hours a day to respond to problems, but one that is actually monitoring your system at all times. This way, they’re ready to respond to any potential problems before you even realize that you have them. It also ensures that your information is safe from attack by malicious programs or hackers. A provider that cannot be counted on to solve your problems quickly and get your business back to normal operation is not worth their fee.

Another important factor is the provider’s backup capability. You want a company that has extensive backup facilities that will ensure that even in the most catastrophic situations, all your most vital data remains safely protected. The best services will not only have reliable backups, but will automatically perform recovery operations in the event of a major problem. With those services, you may not even realize a problem occurred until you receive a report from them informing you of what happened.

Beyond those three primary factors that go in to choosing a managed services provider, the final considerations come down to extra features and great customer service. The value of any additional services depends on the needs of your business. You may want a business that cannot only help you recover data, but also help you quickly replace faulty on-site hardware. Or you might want a service that can provide you custom software to help your business run smoothly. The contractor’s ability to build or to migrate your IT infrastructure may also be a major point of issue. Carefully consider all of these many factors before you decide on a managed services provider.

A SAS 70 Type II compliant fully managed hosting provider services your mission-critical infrastructure and receives only the highest level of attention, who will help you get the most out of your advanced PCI compliance provider.

[tags]SAS 70 Type II, PCI Compliance, VMware, fully managed hosting[/tags]

Many businesses today rely on the small database product from Microsoft called Access for much of their data management needs. Access is a great product, and is primary designed for small desktop applications. It’s a great fit for a variety of reasons. It comes with some versions of Microsoft Office, so it’s easily on hand when the need for a database arises. Also, it’s been designed in a way which makes it pretty easy to build some simple databases even for those who don’t have any skills in actual database programming. It’s also pretty easy to find local training courses to help beginners with the basics.

However, there are several major reasons why Access won’t work in the long term, assuming your business grows. And, since businesses either grow or die you’ll likely be in this situation before too long. I’ll highlight the biggest reason here.

Access is designed to be used for a small set of users, typically from one to twenty or so. Beyond that it’s recommend that you should move the database up to the actual database server called Microsoft SQL Server. This system is designed for high volumes of users. The difference between a desktop database product like Access and a database server product like Microsoft SQL Server is great. The former is built for only small jobs, the later for everything bigger.

Without upgrading performance can degrade to the point of not being able to use the application. In fact it’s pretty much required if you want to make any of your data available via the internet, as a web application will crash under the high numbers of users that websites can attract. The best advice is to move the database to SQL Server before you begin running into performance problems. Otherwise you’re under the gun waiting for a problem.

Upgrading can often be difficult however, as the two products aren’t seamlessly compatible. Microsoft has provided an “upsizing” wizard within Access. However, in real world use the built in wizard has its problems. It doesn’t do a perfect job of handling all of the technical differences between the two systems. There are third party software products however which can do a better job of analyzing the structure of the Access database to pin point any issues before the transition. Those issues still have to be fixed first however before you can migrate.

So even though Access is a great product, you have to use it with a vision of upgrading it in the future or risk potential down time. The best answer of course is to upgrade to a SQL Server system before you run into any problems. The side benefit is that your data can be ready to use on the internet if your business needs it.

Daniel Burge is the founder of the custom software programming company Burada, Inc. Burada specializes in developing high end web applications and database systems for businesses. For more information visit http://www.buradainc.com/

[tags]software, Access, SQL Server, database, custom software, programming[/tags]

Data is money to modern business and should be guarded from even casual intrusion. A few basic security steps will user-proof your database. This is not to say your users are deliberately destructive, only that a level of protection is comparable to childproofing your home. It acts as a safety barrier against innocent curiosity but is not protection against deliberate malice.

Out Of Sight, Out Of Mind
A little knowledge is a dangerous thing and basic Access training can convince your users they are database administrators. Hiding as much of the database is possible will cause the users to focus in your interface objects and interact with the database through them as intended.

Open the options menu introduced in Access training. Uncheck “Display Database Window” so that database itself remains invisible. Also uncheck “Use Access Special Keys” so users can’t use F11 to bring up the hidden window. Under Access 2007, hide the Navigation Pane rather than the database.

Set the properties of non-interface objects such as tables and queries by opening their Properties windows and checking Hidden. The ultimate goal is to prevent users from seeing anything other than the objects they will need to do their jobs, but nothing more.

Split The Database
Another way to protect vulnerable parts of the database is to split it into a back end and a front end. Splitting is easily done using the Database Splitter wizard included in Access which was probably demonstrated in your Access training.

The back end will reside on the server. Anything that the users shouldn’t touch such as tables or relationships should be on the back end, out of harm’s way. There are other benefits to splitting the backend such as the fact the database will be included on the regular server backups.

The front end is the piece installed on each user’s computer. This is a separate database that contains the interface object and communicates with the back end database through linked tables.

Don’t Compact on Close
Database compaction is a critical maintenance function to keep your database clean, efficient and robust. It’s so important that Access includes a Compact on Close function that will automatically perform this procedure every time a user finishes with a database. Unfortunately this is a giant security hole.

Compact on Close creates a number of temporary files on the user’s computer and isn’t efficient about cleaning those up. You can have all the password protection you like on the server containing the back end, but if copies of your information are in the temp directory of every client out there you have a problem. Don’t automate compaction; do it manually then go in and clean up the temporary files afterward.

Again, these steps will do little to protect against deliberate intrusion but will go a long way to keep out well-meaning amateurs fresh from Access training from destroying your data with a single click.

Author is a freelance copywriter. For more information on access+training, please visit http://www.microsofttraining.net

[tags]access training[/tags]

Amongst the many topics that will be covered by a Microsoft Access training course, one of the key subjects will be data validation. Validating data in MS Access allows you to check data whilst it is being entered by the database operator and will prohibit the data from being saved if it breaks any validation rules or routines.

Errors and omissions easily occur when data is being entered by a user, so the need to check the data when it is being entered is important. Allowing invalid data to be entered into a database ensures that the database and the data available will become less valuable or corrupt, and it will be more difficult for the user to make use of.

The two most important types of data validation are:

Field level validation
Field level validation allows for data validation in an individual field. MS Access will not allow you to store the incorrect type of data in a field if the data type is not appropriate for the field’s pre-defined/ built-in data type.

For example: a field that needs to be filled that refers to ‘Name’ could have the following validations: it should not be left blank; it should exclude numbers or other special characters; it should have a maximum length. These validations are performed to ensure that incorrect information is not accepted by the database.

You would choose field level validation when:
- You require a specific type of information to be entered into a field
- You want to validate the data entered into a specific field independently of any other data in the database.

Record level validation
Data is validated from more than one field with reference to each other so as to ensure correct data input. An example in an ‘employee details’ database would be where the retirement date of an employee cannot be the same as the start date, or in another database where a value in a field is always greater than another in the same record.

You would choose record level validation when:
- You want to limit or control the type of data a user can enter in a database or record
- You want to compare the values of two or more fields in the same database or record to ensure they comply with the rules for the database

Microsoft Access provides several methods of how to check the data being entered, two of which are the ValidationRule property and the Required property.

ValidationRule property
This can be used to specify requirements for data entered into a record or a field. If data entered violates the validation rule a specific message, set by using the validation text property, can be displayed to let the user know of the incorrect entry. If the validation text option is not selected a standard error message will be displayed.

Required property
This function can be used to specify whether a value is required in a field, thereby ensuring that the field to be filled in is not left empty. MS Access will display an error message when a required field is left blank or data is removed from a field where data should be entered.

Author is a freelance copywriter. For more information on ms access training, please visit http://www.microsofttraining.net

[tags]ms access training[/tags]

Have you ever thought about how many documents you have on your computer that you don’t have printed, but access frequently? Do you have all of your bills or budget on your computer? Do you count on your computer for your calendar and daily schedule? Have you ever stopped to think about how important your computer and the data you have on your computer are to you?

Often times we take our computers functioning for granted. We figure that when we turn on our computer our information will be there for us. At times we can say that our brain is attached to our computer. If something goes wrong we might feel like our brain is gone.

So, maybe you have thought about having your data backed up. You have taken the time to back up your data on a floppy, CD or thumb drive. You know that if something happens to your computer you have a backup of your files. That is a comforting thought, but do you take the time to back up your files everyday and every time you create or make changes to a file? That can become very time consuming.

Now, let’s also think about some situations that the backed up data on a separate disc or thumb drive wouldn’t do any good for you. Recently in the news there was a report of a house that started on fire and that there was over a million dollars worth of damage to the home. The father of the family ran a photography business out of his home.

With this situation you could only imagine that a floppy disc or a thumb drive could not have survived the fire. At that point you could only imagine that all of the files and data that he thought were backed up were really not. Now on the news they reported that he did not lose any of his client’s files.

As they reported that information it came to mind that having data backed up is not a matter of a floppy disc, but that there is a much better back up system that can truly secure our data. There are companies that can sync with your computer and have an exterior data backup system.

With having them backup your data at an outside source you can take comfort that in case of any kind of an emergency that your data is backed up and you don’t have to worry about that with everything else you have to worry about.

iDataSure (http://www.idatasure.com) is a data center with a state-of-the art class A facility with direct fiber connections to AT&T, Comcast, Qwest, XO, ELI, and MCI. It is a storage for highly sensitive data for industry regulation compliance. Art Gib is a freelance writer.

[tags]computer data storage[/tags]

A data centre is a facility where computer systems and their associated components are physically housed. Data centres include a backup power supply, redundant data communications connections, environmental (climate, etc.) controls, and security devices. Any business that relies upon a computer network and web-based applications can reasonably expect to require the use of a data centre.

Some companies build their own data centres on their premises. Many other companies, (especially those with complex business functions that rely heavily on technology) elect to outsource their infrastructure and web hosting to a service that includes use of the vendor’s data centre. The latter has several different benefits, including:

- Greater value with managed hosting options
- Better use of your time and resources
- Business continuity and quick responsiveness in disaster recovery situations
- Bonus added-value features

Shopping for a Data Centre

Once you’ve made the decision to outsource your hosting and data centre needs, you must start the grueling process of searching for a vendor. There are many different factors to consider when evaluating infrastructure-hosting vendors. Not the least of these factors is the actual data centre itself. Take the time to evaluate the data centre properly and make sure you are thorough about assessing if it will meet your organization’s needs. Below are some guidelines to help get you started.

Identify Your Needs

It seems logical, right? Well, you would be surprised to learn how many IT managers search for outsourced data centre space or services without really taking stock of their data’s physical needs. If you are a small or large company that doesn’t quite transmit much data your needs will be much different than they would be for a huge online business that sees thousands of web transactions daily. Think about what your needs are before you start meeting with vendors.

Inspect the Facility

At the very least, good data centres must possess certain physical qualities and properties. When you first walk into a data centre, you may not find it to appear very interesting. Generally, you will see a large or small room (or it can be as large as an entire building) with row upon row of 19-inch rack cabinets, which contain (mostly) servers and some other communications or storage equipment.

You should confirm that backup power (at least one, but more is better) in the form of uninterruptable power supplies or diesel generators are present. In order to prevent power failure to any part of the system, you should confirm that all elements of the electrical system (including backup power) are fully duplicated.

The data centre should be carefully climate-controlled with air conditioning so that the temperature ranges from 20-25 degrees Celsius (68-75 degrees Fahrenheit) and humidity ranges from 40-55%.

Physical security is a crucial component in a good data centre. Make sure physical access is restricted to selected staff and select a data centre that offers video camera surveillance and permanent security guards 24 hours a day.

Don’t Forget About Service

Though there are many other considerations when inspecting data centre facilities, the most important ones are the redundant power supply, climate control, and security. You must consider, however, that the data centre is only part of a larger package. Don’t forget to analyze all the aspects of the hosting solution you are considering.

Talk to different vendors and try to get a sense of the value that’s added to their overall service. If you can, try to speak with current and/or former clients of the hosting provider to ask questions about their experience with the service.

Any business that relies heavily on computer based applications can use data centers to help their business. Managed services help your business during times of crisis in disaster recovery situations.

[tags]managed services, data center, data centres Toronto[/tags]

Despite the fact that almost every American has an email address, people in the United States still consume thousands of tons of paper every year, if not millions. In fact, it is projected that paper consumption in the U.S. will grow from 43.7 to 65.6 million tons between the years 1995 to 2015. Because the paper we use may contain important records or classified information, what we do with that paper is essential.

Records management is a field of information technology that has become increasingly important in the last few decades. Records management is sometimes referred to by the acronym RM or IRM, which stands for Information and Records Management. This field is the practice of maintaining records from the time of their creation to disposal. This may include all levels of management including classifying, storing, securing, and destruction or preservation.

In the past, records management referred mostly to the management of records that were no longer in use and needed storing and archiving. However, the more modern use of record management is more involved. Record management today includes the entire life cycle of the document from creation to destruction or storage.

Storing and archiving records is an important aspect of record management. Important records must be stored in a way that is both accessible and safe from any environmental damage. Extremely important records might be stored in special rooms with environmental controls such as temperature and humidity. Even more sensitive records might need to be stored in facilities that are both environmentally controlled and safe from disasters like earthquakes, fire, or flooding. The storage of some important documents is even more extreme, like the Declaration of Independence in Washington D.C. The Declaration is housed in a case that makes it both environmentally safe and viewable by the public.

The disposal of records is also another vital aspect of record management. In some cases, the documents may contain personal information like financial or health records. When it comes time for disposal of these records, it is essential that they are not simply dumped into the trash so that no important and secure information is disclosed. Many organizations used processes like paper shredding, incineration, or pulverization to dispose of important documents. And often, once shredded, the paper will be recycled and used again.

With all of the important information that is stored on paper documents, record management is a vital field in information technology. Record managers ensure that when the time comes for disposal, important documents remain secure. They also ensure that important records stay archived and intact.

R4 Services (http://www.r4services.com) is a Chicago document destruction, record management, and records storage company for businesses. Art Gib is a freelance writer.

[tags]destruction services Chicago, record management Chicago, records storage Chicago[/tags]

Quality website hosting is a key element in operating an effective business website. Locating and implementing the appropriate type of website hosting requires research and evaluation. The two main types website hosting are managed hosting and shared hosting.
Determining which hosting is right for a business will depend on the particular criteria that meet a business’ specific needs.

Managed Hosting is when a web host maintains and monitors their dedicated servers, operating system, and supported applications. Businesses or individuals who are lacking a system support staff choose managed hosting. Shared hosting is when the web hosting provider rents web space to a number of users. Internet connectivity, hardware, bandwidth, domain name, and disk space are shared among users so the price is either very inexpensive or free.

When evaluating and determining the best web hosting for your specific needs, it is important to consider the following criteria:

Shared Hosting Criteria

1. Performance: There must be strong and reliable internet connectivity. Advanced testing will determine the reliability of the connection. Failing to connect to your site will result in low traffic and low conversion rates. There are online network tools that can monitor a site hosting provider’s performance. You need a host that can provide very minimum downtime. Ask about the number of SQL databases, pre-installed CMS, and shopping cart / merchant services.

2. Scripts: You need to make sure that the website scripts are compatible with your computer system. Some scripts are compatible with Linux OS and others only compatible for Windows OS. It is vital that you make sure the web host supports the scripting language that you will be using

3. Disk Space and Traffic: You need to know if the website host has the amount of disk space that you will require to meet your site traffic requirements. You should also know how much bandwidth you will need.

4. Email Accounts: Make sure the web host site can provide the number of email accounts that you will need.

5. Host Support: It is important that you have 24/7 technical support. Some shared providers may have a support system that may not have a fast response time. Ask how fast and easy it is to reach technical support.

Managed Hosting Criteria

1. Infrastructure: Check the quality of hosting provider’s technology. They should have the most current technology that supports the latest applications. Check to see if there is a backup of remote data, security monitoring, and effective IT services. Ask about the number of SQL databases, pre-installed CMS, and shopping cart / merchant services.

2. Connectivity: Internet connections should be successful over 98% of the time. As with shared hosting, quality site performance is essential.

3. Hosting Packages: Make sure that your hosting package contains all of the features that you will need for your business. Being able to upgrade to a better package in the future is an essential requirement as your business grows.

4. Host Support: It is important that you have 24/7 technical support

The right web hosting is essential to running a successful website. It is essential that you keep your business needs in mind when selecting a web hosting provider. Make sure that you are acquiring everything that you need to operate an effective and efficient site. It is important to have a set of criteria in mind when evaluating managed hosting and shared hosting so that you can select the right hosting that will fulfill all of your business needs.

Managed Services address your key business issues such as managing IT complexity, mitigating risk and reducing cost structures. Operating through a network of data centres and offices guarantees that your applications will be always available and always secure.

[tags]managed hosting, PCI compliant, data centres, SAS 70, CICA 5970[/tags]