How to Access your Business Database Online and Remotely

Modern businesses rely on databases as the backbone of their operations, storing everything from customer records to financial data. As remote work expands, accessing these databases securely and efficiently has become a priority for IT teams and decision-makers. However, traditional methods often introduce complexity, costs, and security risks. This article explores the best ways to access your business database remotely and shows how TSplus offers a streamlined, secure alternative. Step up to a secure and cost-effective way to web-enable your database applications and protect sensitive data, thus providing seamless access for your teams.

Why Businesses Need Remote Database Access?

Databases are central to nearly every business function. Whether it is sales, accounting or customer management, employees need real-time access to keep operations running smoothly. Enabling secure access to databases outside the office has become essential for both productivity and business continuity. Remote database access also helps businesses stay resilient in unexpected situations, such as office closures, travel restrictions or sudden IT incidents.

Supporting Remote Work and Mobility
Centralising Data for Efficiency
Ensuring Security and Compliance

Databases - Some Basics

A Layered Structure

A relational database application is generally made up of three layers. These tiers are the data, the interface and the logic.

Data consists of tables in which data is stored.
Interfaces consist of forms through which your users interact with the data in the tables.
Logic is the code which allows you to automate tasks and manage both data and interface objects.

Tools to Manage Business Databases

For over 30 years, management applications have been developed using 4GL (4 ^th Generation Language software development kits such as PowerBuilder, WinDev, FoxPro, Uniface, Visual Basic or Delphi.

These tools make it possible to generate Windows applications, installing them on each user PC. The application is what communicates with the company’s centralised data bank. Such a database can be hosted on company premises or online.

SQL to Manage Databases Online

The Database Management System (DBMS) could be Oracle, MS-SQL, My-SQL, PHP, .net, SQL Server, SQL Azure... The tasks programmed in these classical environments use SQL queries to view, process and transfer information between the graphical app on the user’s workstation and the database on the server which has as primary function the centralisation of company data. Should the data be kept on an IBM proprietary computer, the graphical application would then be an IBM terminal emulator (3250 or 3270).

A Brief History About Bringing MS Access Databases Online

Access, in its original build, was ONLY viable in a Windows environment. It was meant to be run on a wired LAN and not made to work over the Internet. Thus, both Access web databases (Access 2010) and Access web apps (Access 2013) were attempts to add interface objects that would make it possible to manipulate databases on the Web. Microsoft clearly abandoned those paths and followed a different route.

Legacy Access:

If you still have an Access database and wish to access it online, the place to start is by web-enabling the front-end (the application used to access the information in the database). This needs to be done so that the tables are in the “back-end” and the forms, queries, reports, etc. are in the “front-end” and accessible to all. Once that is done, whether you keep the back end on servers on your company’s premises or move everything into the cloud is up to you.

“Front-End” of a Business Database

In a previous article I wrote about the pros and cons of web-enabling apps versus re-writing them for the web. We broached potential instabilities and the time-consuming aspect of re-engineering stable applications. Additionally, an important point was the risk of ending up with a rather static front-end while most people are now so used to intuitive and fluid interfaces. This also applies here.

Of course, having heavily invested in software, it can be difficult to let it go, and not just because this can mean investing in training, as well as any replacement you may choose. The question of migrating a database or changing its front-end can bring up similar issues such as questions of compatibility, migration, compliance and more. Still, is an alternative solution better in cases where aspects of the database need not be touched?

What is a “Client-Server” Architecture?

In Support of a Client Server Architecture

With centralized applications, the Data Server can also act as an Application Server. Nevertheless, most businesses prefer to opt for a “client-server” architecture. Indeed, that enables them to share the load by using local memory and power for all the “front-end” data treatment, leaving the central server to only handle the back-office tasks. In this configuration, each PC generates a Graphical User Interface (GUI) to enable the data to be processed according to each user’s requirements.

What are some limitations of a direct client-server database structure?

This “client-server” structure is the most commonly used method for business administration applications (payroll, accounting, stocks, billing…) but its limitations are beginning to show. Indeed, the client part being by definition Windows-based, it cannot be installed on Android tablets or smartphones. Moreover, it forces companies to accordingly manage the PC parks they deploy, with individual updates of each workstation for every new version of the client-side software installed on each PC.

What Are the Common Methods to Access a Database Remotely?

There are several approaches businesses can use to connect to their databases remotely As you will read, each method comes with advantages and drawbacks:

Direct RDP Access to Database Servers
VPN Connections for Secure Tunnels
Cloud Hosting Solutions
Web-Enabled Applications as an Alternative
Remote Database Access Challenges

Direct RDP Access to Database Servers

Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) allows administrators to log into servers directly and manage databases. This is meant for in-house use by IT admins, as exposing RDP connections to the internet can create security vulnerabilities where not properly secured.

VPN Connections for Secure Tunnels

Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) establish encrypted tunnels between users and company networks. This approach enhances security but often requires complex configuration, ongoing maintenance, and licensing fees that may not suit small and mid-sized businesses.

Cloud Hosting Solutions

Some businesses migrate their databases to cloud providers like Microsoft Azure or Amazon Web Services. While this provides scalability and accessibility, it also brings recurring costs and the risk of vendor lock-in.

Web-Enabled Applications as an Alternative

A modern and efficient solution is to web-enable existing database applications. Instead of replacing infrastructure, businesses can provide employees with browser-based access, making the database available anywhere without requiring a full remote desktop session.

Some Challenges of Remote Database Access

To obtain these benefits, organizations must overcome challenges when providing remote access. Amongst them, security risks and vulnerabilities , performance and latency issues, or cost and complexity of setup rank highest. So, as a solution, how about trying out the TSplus suite?

A Solution to Remotely Access Databases Online in All Simplicity

Increased need to Access Databases Remotely

Recently, remote work and mobility are becoming the expectation in more and more businesses as well as among employees. Meanwhile, solutions such as Microsoft RDS and Citrix remain complex and excessively costly. This reserves them for large corporations since SMBs seldom have the means to implement them.

A Simple Solution for Accessing Databases Remotely

The TSplus Remote Access solution in its Web Access form is ideal to enable all businesses, whatever their size, to address this issue. Indeed, merely by installing TSplus Remote Access on one master PC or server (where the database front-end client is hosted), you have operational architecture in a few minutes. The main advantage is your way of using existing applications remains unchanged. The addition of TSplus Advanced Security and 2FA rounds up with robust security. By simply using your Web browser, you will from then on be able to access your business database, online, from any device you allow, whether locally or remotely.

Virtually no change to access your business database online and remotely

TSplus Remote Access automatically turns your current field proven IT infrastructure into a seamless web portal-based remote access solution. It is truly simple, easily installed and more than reasonably priced. Also, it will prove rapid and adaptable as the solution to equip your remote staff and users. The database and any other app will open just as before, while the only real change amounts to the secure login process.

Speedy Remote Access to Business Databases with TSplus

Cut the Lagging of Standard Access to Business Databases

You may be interested in knowing how TSplus software improves the performance of your Accounting or Retail Access database, adding fluidity of use.

This is where TSplus Remote Access shines. By making the host where the Access database is stored accessible, in-house tests on a datafile of 1GB returned spectacular speed improvements. With a conventional set-up with the data on the server and the accounting application running on the user workstation, a particular report was processed in 8 minutes. Whereas, with the same data-file stored on a Remote Access server, the process was reduced to only about 40 seconds.

Using TSplus for Secure and Easy Database Access

TSplus provides an alternative which simplifies remote database access without sacrificing security or performance. Your main gains:

Web-Enable Legacy and Desktop Applications
Publish Only the Database Application
Strong Security Features
Cost-Effective Compared to Cloud and VPN Solutions

Best Practice for Remote Database Access

Even with the right solution, businesses should follow best practice to maintain security and performance. Below are some essential areas to target for reducing risks, improving efficiency and ensuring compliance with industry standards.

Implement role-based access control by restricting access to your database resources according to role-relevant authorisations. Part of reducing potential attack surface.
Encrypt data in transit and at rest by using SSL certification for your remote sessions and for database protection. Non-negotiable, so stolen data is unusable by thieves.
Monitor and audit access logs to keep track of access: who, when, how long, etc. Gain visibility and control, identify suspicious activity early on, as well as support potential forensic analysis in the occurrence of a breach.

Conclusion: Safe Databases Thanks to Remote Access by TSplus

Remote access to business databases has gone from optional to necessary. For a secure, simple and affordable solution, why not leave aside VPNs and RDS for a versatile scalable solution which avoids breaking the bank?

With perks worth noting like file integrity, added speed and secure any device anytime access, you have many reasons to test our solutions. Prior to switching to TSplus technology, clients came to us with problems concerning corrupt data. After switching over to TSplus, performance significantly improved and any further signs of corruption issues within the database desisted. So be it for stability or speed, TSplus is at hand and our teams are available for advice and help.