Database software like Microsoft Access?

[iTeleport]

I have a database of client information, which is quite valuable to us. My business is going to be using an out of office third-party who will need to use this database. Currently we have it just stored in Excel - so we don't want to just hand it over to them in this format since they can easily copy it.

I've worked with Microsoft Access in the past and know that I can at least make it a bit difficult for them to entirely copy the database - and to make it at least secure.

Are there any good database programs I should be looking at? Hopefully there's something really simple that I can just build a template and feed in the CSV file. It would be also ideal if the database can be exported onto the web, so the database isn't physically on their machine.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

 

[liamwillib]

Sounds like filemaker might work for you. Not sure how it handles CSV but am pretty sure i read that it will let you to allow someone to view the database via a web browser. They have quite a few demos and trials on their site. Think its actually made by apple, it's cross platform and exports to excel etc...

 

[angelwatt]

Well, most DB apps will let you export as CSV, so trying to "protect" the database by having it in a DB app is just pointless. Try working with someone you feel you can trust.

 

[teleromeo]

I do not use these features in Filemaker myself but you can assign privileges on different levels for the users of your database, so this might work for what you need.

 

[iTeleport]

Well, most DB apps will let you export as CSV, so trying to "protect" the database by having it in a DB app is just pointless. Try working with someone you feel you can trust.

I was thinking I could create a separate App that just had a database interface with limited privileges (such as no export). I'm sure I could do something similar with Access.

Though I think I'll just go down the route of publishing the database on the web for now.

It's also quite easy to form an understanding of trust between external companies, but so many things can and do go wrong. Our database has quite a high monetary value and for us to just hand it over in a raw format is not something we want to do, hence my exploration for secure alternatives.