Need to create a test environment / development server of our business database to protect data

Hi,

As always: It depends. 😉

1. The first question is whether it is really not possible to provide the service for the database via remote access using Teamviewer or at least Teams, Zoom etc. You always do something like this with a copy of the real data, i.e. the backend, not on the productive data. Then the data would remain physically with you and the service providers only get optical insight. The technical advantage is that the database runs in the real system, therefore the tests and improvement works are closer to reality.

If you need to send a copy:

2. Sometimes it is enough to anonymize the really sensitive data. So a) locate and note down the sensitive tables and columns (address/personal data etc.) and b) "screw up" the data systematically with update queries and/or VBA.

3. If 2. does not fit or work, then first delete the data in a copy (can also be done via VBA/SQL) and replace it with artificial data. There is also professional software for this to create related data etc., e.g. the Advanced Data Generator (there's an Access edition, which I have induced to the tool author).

Servus
Karl
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