Microsoft Access is a robust database but as Access experts, we know the limitations of the tool. Your application may be at the point where it doesn’t make sense to keep it in Access. It may become unstable and slow from large amounts of data. There are several free databases like Microsoft’s SQL Express or Sybase’s SQL Anywhere.

Our strategic partner, Strategic Enterprise Solutions, Inc, is a trusted local San Francisco based IT consulting company that specializes in very large and complex databases that aren’t appropriate for Microsoft Access.

We  safely transform and migrate your company’s most valuable data to the appropriate technology, safely, reliably and with zero downtime between conversions, which can all be done onsite or where appropriate.

Here are a few additional reasons why you might want to consider migrating to a more robust RDBMS (Relational Database Management System):

  • Security – Although MS Access can be encrypted and password protected, it does not have the level of security that SQL Server has. If data security is a critical issue for you, SQL Server is definitely a better choice since it provides 128-bit encryption as well as a remote storage location separate from the application and user data.
  • Data Integrity – SQL Server has more robust recovery and integrity capabilities than MS Access due to features such as transaction logs, triggers and repair processes. Due to portability of MS Access, the databases can become corrupted or may require ongoing maintenance to ensure optimal performance. The centralized nature of SQL Server provides better integrity and stability.
  • Backups – Although backing up Access databases is easy, it can require user intervention and initiative. Additionally, you cannot backup Access databases while users are actively updating data. For critical databases used 24/7, this can become a major issue. SQL Server Admin tools offer additional features such as automatically scheduling backups to run anytime, even during user activity.
  • Transaction Logs and Rollbacks – SQL Server’s triggers and rollback transaction features allow you to undo changes and identify who made the modifications. Once a transaction is committed, MS Access does not allow rollbacks.
  • Network Bandwidth – MS Access passes the entire data table across your network, while SQL Server only passes the needed data, resulting in significant performance improvements.