Microsoft Access Networking 2: Maximum Security

Set up your work environment on the F drive, download five files, and copy front end and back end from backup into a work folder to minimize disruption.

Create a backend users table with fields for user, key word, and user level. Use a combo box lookup and primary key, then encrypt database and build a login form.

Learn to encrypt the backend database by closing it, opening exclusive mode from the work folder, and selecting encrypt with passwords using the password you set to connect front end.

Relink front end to the encrypted back end by linking all tables, then address security risk of memorized passwords and introduce a login form to secure the front end.

Create a login form in Access using a username combo box bound to the Users table with limit-to-list. Use VBA to pull the password and user level for credential validation.

Add a password box to the form beside the username. Rename the label to bad word and the box to P-word; plan to use the Open event.

Create a VBA subroutine for the login form to clear the username and password, hide the bad password label, and focus the username on open.

Add an exit button to the login form and configure a VBA onclick routine that shows a yes/no message box to confirm exit and close the form.

Add a test entry function to the login form to validate the username and password, returning true or false, and call this function from the login button.

Create a login button in Microsoft Access, rename and caption it, attach an on click event with a test entry check, and display message boxes guiding username and password validation.

Finish building the test entry function by validating the password against the selected username from the combo box, showing a bad password message, focusing the password field, and testing login.

Add an exit button on the customer form to return to the log in form, using do commands to close and open forms and confirm exit.

Enhance login form security by configuring Access form properties, disable resizing, scrolling, and navigation, set a 'please log in' caption, and remove the ribbon and menu for a partial-screen login.

Switch from tabbed to overlapping windows, resize the login form to a partial screen, and save the size after closing and reopening the database.

Create a startup routine in vba that centralizes settings, checks version, hides the menu and ribbon, and opens the login form, with autoexec modification and a bypass key for admins.

Modify the login form to unhide the ribbon and nav pane when an admin user logs in with the correct password. Turn off shortcut menus globally and set database properties.

Examine the set startup properties subroutine to configure the database, including show the database window, show the status bar, built-in toolbars, and shortcut menus, using bool properties and defaults.

Create a custom blank ribbon in Access by adding a system table for ribbons, entering one record with the ribbon name and code, and preparing to install the toolbar.

Install a custom ribbon, hide it at startup, and finalize security by editing startup properties, bypass key, login, and exit behavior to enforce front door access controls.

Discover how backdoor vulnerabilities in a Microsoft Access database arise from autoexec, import tables and macros, and exporting steps to front end, and learn to close these security holes.

Eliminate the import auto exec problem by redesigning startup: open the login form first, call startup from login, and remove the auto exec to secure the database.

Learn to secure a Microsoft Access database by implementing a hide tables function, managing startup properties, and preventing table imports through VBA automation.

Lock your VBA project with a password to secure the code and protect modules and forms, then consider runtime on network computers or converting the back into Microsoft SQL Server.

Review how to password protect the back end, use an encrypted database, and implement a login form with a user table for passwords and user levels.