Is it possible to prevent databases from being copied?

Hi,

We have a point of sale application (C# .NET 2.0) and a Sql Server 2005 database back end.

Our customers are concerned that employees could create a backup of the SQL Server database (or even of the MDF file) and use it to steel customer data.

Very often, the application is running on a single PC in a shop using Sql Server Express Edition 2005 under Windows XP. The users usually log on as local administrator. It's hard for us to force our customers to change their local security policies.

Ideally, I would like some form of security mechanism that prevents a backup from being restored on to another PC without either a password or some other form of authentication.

Is this possible?

Regards,

Sigol.

I'm assuming you meant 'steal' (to take), rather than 'steel' (to harden).

There are several issues.

1. As you noted, a backup 'could' be restored on another server. Various third party backup programs allow passwords and encryption for backups. Any SQL Admin can create a backup that can be restored elsewhere.
2. A SQL administrator could take the database 'offline' for a few minutes and copy the data file (*.mdf)
3. A local administrator could shut down the SQL Service for a few minutes and copy the data file (*.mdf).
4. Even with an Encrypted database, or tables, or even specific columns, a local SQL Administrator can usually get around the protections.

Don't allow any local administrators to be in the SQL Admins role.

So if you are concerned about protecting a database, the 'best' solutions, in a situation where you can't control the local administrators, is to look into database encryption using encryption keys, or better yet, certificates.

|||

Thank you for your comments, Arnie. This was very helpful to me.

Regards,

Sigol.

|||

Arnie Rowland wrote:

I'm assuming you meant 'steal' (to take), rather than 'steel' (to harden).

Having a grammatically bad day, Arnie!

sql

is it possible to just restore particular tables from a back up of a database

Hi,

I backed my sql server database on Fri at 3:15pm and then tried importing some tables individually from a different database and but that didnt work out too good, so is there a way i can just restore particular tables from the backup.

any help will be appreciated.

regards,

Karen

AFAIK, you need to restore the db first to retrieve any information from the files.|||I don't think it is possible to just restore one table. What I have done in the past is to restore the backed up database with a new name and then copy the table from the backup to the operational.|||

Restore database with different name and next copy data from tables you need to your destination

Thanks

|||

thanks a lot for your answers i just restored the database to it previous state

Regards,

Karen

sql

Is it possible to get the .rdl file back from the report server

Hi All
We have uploaded the .rdl file to the report server and some how our dev
team has lost the original .rdl file, is it possible to get back the version
currently uploaded on to the report server.
Please advice
ThanksHi Rahul,
Yes, you can get the RDL from report server.
Goto Report Manager, select Report and then click Properties - In that page
click the Edit button in the Report Definiton area.
Sam
"Rahul Agarwal" <agarwal_rahul@.hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:OjOIFSchEHA.904@.TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...
> Hi All
> We have uploaded the .rdl file to the report server and some how our dev
> team has lost the original .rdl file, is it possible to get back the
version
> currently uploaded on to the report server.
> Please advice
> Thanks
>

Is it OK to Copy Database Backups to Tape Using Compression?

Hi, I back up SQL Server 2000 and SQL server 2005 databases to hard disk using the SQL Server Backup Wizard and maintenance plans. Then, I copy the resulting backups to tape using third party tape backup software and compression by the backup software and hardware. I do not use the SQL Server Agent available for the third party backup software. Is this acceptable, or does the compression performed by the third party backup system introduce opportunities for database corruption or other negative effects?

Thanks

Hello,

This is completely acceptable - provided of course that the software you are using is reputable and that you have tested restoration succesfully.

Cheers
Rob

Is Excel really Excel

I have a client who uses Reporting Services for their reports. They
prefer Excel format, but what comes back doesn't seem to be a real Excel
file. It will only load in Office 2003 for the PC, everything else,
including Macs, thinks they are some XML file. For large reports,
several thousands rows that produce 52 MB files, do not load at all and
will cause desktops to crap out. What kind of Excel comes back from RS?Hi,
I think you need to install Service Pack 1 for Reporting services as it
introduces excel export for excel pre Office 2003.
Although Service Pack 2 is out now so you can just install that (it already
contains Service Pack 1).
"No One" wrote:
> I have a client who uses Reporting Services for their reports. They
> prefer Excel format, but what comes back doesn't seem to be a real Excel
> file. It will only load in Office 2003 for the PC, everything else,
> including Macs, thinks they are some XML file. For large reports,
> several thousands rows that produce 52 MB files, do not load at all and
> will cause desktops to crap out. What kind of Excel comes back from RS?
>|||Is this chosen with the same format specifier or a different one?
NH wrote:
> Hi,
> I think you need to install Service Pack 1 for Reporting services as it
> introduces excel export for excel pre Office 2003.
> Although Service Pack 2 is out now so you can just install that (it already
> contains Service Pack 1).
> "No One" wrote:
>
>>I have a client who uses Reporting Services for their reports. They
>>prefer Excel format, but what comes back doesn't seem to be a real Excel
>>file. It will only load in Office 2003 for the PC, everything else,
>>including Macs, thinks they are some XML file. For large reports,
>>several thousands rows that produce 52 MB files, do not load at all and
>>will cause desktops to crap out. What kind of Excel comes back from RS?|||I dont understand your question.
"No One" wrote:
> Is this chosen with the same format specifier or a different one?
> NH wrote:
> > Hi,
> >
> > I think you need to install Service Pack 1 for Reporting services as it
> > introduces excel export for excel pre Office 2003.
> >
> > Although Service Pack 2 is out now so you can just install that (it already
> > contains Service Pack 1).
> >
> > "No One" wrote:
> >
> >
> >>I have a client who uses Reporting Services for their reports. They
> >>prefer Excel format, but what comes back doesn't seem to be a real Excel
> >>file. It will only load in Office 2003 for the PC, everything else,
> >>including Macs, thinks they are some XML file. For large reports,
> >>several thousands rows that produce 52 MB files, do not load at all and
> >>will cause desktops to crap out. What kind of Excel comes back from RS?
> >>
>|||When you choose Excel prior to the service packs it came out in an XML
format known and supported by Excel. But, it had to be Excel 2003. With the
service pack they went to binary format of Excel which is supported by Excel
2000 and greater. When you select Excel after the service pack is applied
you will get the binary format.
Bruce Loehle-Conger
MVP SQL Server Reporting Services
"No One" <aintnoway@.blahblahblah.com> wrote in message
news:adbml2-jp9.ln1@.gandalf.grey-net.com...
> Is this chosen with the same format specifier or a different one?
> NH wrote:
>> Hi,
>> I think you need to install Service Pack 1 for Reporting services as it
>> introduces excel export for excel pre Office 2003. Although Service Pack
>> 2 is out now so you can just install that (it already contains Service
>> Pack 1).
>> "No One" wrote:
>>
>>I have a client who uses Reporting Services for their reports. They
>>prefer Excel format, but what comes back doesn't seem to be a real Excel
>>file. It will only load in Office 2003 for the PC, everything else,
>>including Macs, thinks they are some XML file. For large reports,
>>several thousands rows that produce 52 MB files, do not load at all and
>>will cause desktops to crap out. What kind of Excel comes back from RS?|||Thanks.
Is there anyway to tell if the stream returned in empty?
Bruce L-C [MVP] wrote:
> When you choose Excel prior to the service packs it came out in an XML
> format known and supported by Excel. But, it had to be Excel 2003. With the
> service pack they went to binary format of Excel which is supported by Excel
> 2000 and greater. When you select Excel after the service pack is applied
> you will get the binary format.
>|||It also works in OpenOffice. Very good.
Bruce L-C [MVP] wrote:
> When you choose Excel prior to the service packs it came out in an XML
> format known and supported by Excel. But, it had to be Excel 2003. With the
> service pack they went to binary format of Excel which is supported by Excel
> 2000 and greater. When you select Excel after the service pack is applied
> you will get the binary format.
>