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How to protect excel data from getting misused.

Hi,


I am facing one problem in my office. I have one file with confidential sales data which is shared to some of our team members. And it is updated on monthly basis.

Now, for the fear of data might be misused, we want that this data to be protected.

This file is kept at one of our office network resource.


Scenario 1 :- We want this file to be copied to users' PC, but when user want it to copy it from there and transfer to other machine, then at that machine (Might be of office network) it does not open and shows error. OR, it might not get copied and shows error.


Scenario 2 :- Even if someone succeeds in copying file, it gets auto-deleted after specified time period.


Thanks.

Shashi.
 
Hi, shasi.shekhar@gmail.com!

I wouldn't try to find it within Excel, I don't know how to do it.

But you can surely apply the NTFS file system's security and permissions and encryption. There are ways to restrict access on a UserId or UserGroup basis. Contact your network admin for details.

Regards!
 
As SirJB7 as mentioned, you need to use your network admin to setup security. With Excel, if someone can open the file, there's nothing you can do to ultimately stop them from copying the data out of it. =(


For instance, even if you setup a workbook to self-delete itself, a user could just copy the data out of it and into a new workbook.
 
Hi, shasi.shekhar@gmail.com!

It's absolutely true what Luke M wrote: once someone can open the file, you're dead.

And suddendly an idea crossed my mind, related to that.

It all depends on the amount and type of data and on the workbook structure, and it's not fully bullet-proof, but it's better than nothing if your IT guys can't help you.

A partial solution comes by the hand of adding VBA code, with many of the following points to implement:

a) you've got to split data in two workbooks, one for the owner (you), and other for the allowed users

b) in your book the data, both constants and formulaes, as normal

c) in user's book the whole data as UDF functions that reflects original data when proper pwd entered (using formulaes will be harder to implement) and scrambled thru a strong password... that's to say, if the allowed user doesn't enter the password, he won't see the original data

d) VBA project protected, but it's breakable, sorry to say... so the scrambling algorithm should be one-way, that's to say it shouldn't be reversible to prevent any eventual access to the code

e) you can avoid copying data, printing, saving as, moving or copying sheets... but you can't stop screen captures or retyped data: it all will depends on what skills might have your potential users non allowed, who still will need the access granted by an authorized user... and thar's a security issue against which you have no measure to apply.

Tt's just a few ideas, as an alternative to your IT boys' duty.

Regards!
 
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