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Karl_Fischer's avatar
Karl_Fischer
Copper Contributor
Nov 23, 2022

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

Hi,

 

I work at a Property Management firm that operates with a Microsoft Access Database. Unfortunately our technician passed away and we are unable to fix issues and "rollover" the database to next year. We can't even input data into December of this year.

As such, we decided to seek help from freelance developers on Upwork, and have reached the point where the freelancers have requested a copy of our Database so they are able to try resolve the issues and potentially improve the system.

Naturally, the data on our database is sensitive information, and we simply can't share it. Therefore, we would like to create a test environment / development server of our database, which contains dummy data (preferably automatically generated).

We are not sure what the best approach for this is, but we suspect it is a matter of copying the backend and frontend database file --> run the copied files on a PC that is NOT connected to the local server --> delete and purge all the data from the copied files --> (manually?) add new test data.

This seems like the most straightforward and logical approach, but we're not 100% sure. Would like to hear what Access experts recommend in this situation.

Thank you!

access
Access Web Database
admin
developer
office 365

1 Reply

  • Karl_Donaubauer's avatar
    Karl_Donaubauer
    MVP
    Nov 23, 2022

    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).

     

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    Karl
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