Microsoft Access is a fantastic tool for businesses of all sizes. The fact you can build a database, then the front end screens and thenadd reports and even put in business logic and rules means you can build solutions quickly and cheaply. This was great for starters but then what happens when you’ve run it for couple of years and entered lots of data or you need to share it with a couple of people? Not so great anymore.
Microsoft then added the ability to “upgrade” your database to a SQL Server which meant you can access all the same backup, multi-user functionality that any bona-fied database / software developer would have. Unfortunately, however most people wouldn’t even have the first clue as to how to install, use or administer a SQL server – lets face it most of us still struggle to drive Outlook!!
However, now with Access Web Databases (a part of Office 365) all this has changed. I’m not sure how many people are aware of this feature but if you want to create a database and publish it so that multiple users can access it, from virtually anywhere and only requiring a web browser then this could be the solution for you.
