Protect your data

Security
If you are using Oracle or Sql Server as your database, you may wish to modify the standard scripts that are provided (see either MSSQL or ORACLE folders in the helpdesk installation directory) so that the user and object security is suitable for your organization.

The Access database could be secured, but we have chosen not to do so because we feel that this causes more problems than it solves.

Data
Access is not as robust as Oracle or Sql Server. It is more prone to corruption, which can be caused by e.g. faulty network cards, 'blue screens', out of date database drivers etc.

However, many people have used it for years without problems. Nevertheless it is vital you have a good backup policy in place. You can set the helpdesk system to back up your database every day (see Tools, System Options, General Options) but this is not meant to be a substitute for your own backups.

Sql Server and Oracle are much more robust, coping easily with 'blue screens' etc. However, you still need to have a backup policy which you know works (i.e. you have successfully restored a backup as a test).

Compacting your Access database
As your Access database grows, records are deleted and moved; you will find that you need to compact it to recover lost space. Doing so also can prevent corruption. To compact your Access database, select Tools, Compact Access Database from the main menu.

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