1. © J Street Technology, Inc. 2008 1 So Many Choices Selecting the Right Architecture for Your Database Application Armen Stein J Street Technology, Inc.

2. © J Street Technology, Inc. 2008 2 So Many Pieces n Access (front-end, back-end) n SQL Server (back-end) n SharePoint (front-end, back-end) n ASP.NET (front-end) n Terminal Services/Remote Desktop n SQL Server Reporting Services

3. © J Street Technology, Inc. 2008 3 Questions to Ask Your Client n How many users will use the system? n How much data will you have? n Do you have remote WAN users? n How much security do you need? n How much functional density do you need? n How robust does your system need to be? n How involved is your IT department? n How available and friendly is your IT staff? n How much time and money do you have?

4. © J Street Technology, Inc. 2008 4 Access-Access Pros n The simplest approach n Very rapid development n Easy deployment n No IT support needed n Basic skills n Millions of apps Cons n Limited users & data n Poor security n No WAN connections n No web applications n Low IT respect

5. © J Street Technology, Inc. 2008 5 Access-Access ( on Terminal Services) Pros n Still simple to develop n Very rapid development n Fairly easy deployment n WAN connections w/TS Cons n Limited users & data n Poor security n No web applications n Low IT respect n Needs Terminal Services and IT help (but SBS can help)

6. © J Street Technology, Inc. 2008 6 Access-SQL Server (Linked Tables and Passthroughs) Pros n Still rapid dev (+10%) n Use Access skills n Lots of users & data n Much more robust n Better security n Web apps possible n Free SQL Express n WAN connections possible Cons n Suboptimal security (Windows or SQL auth) n Needs some SQL skills n Skeptical IT respect n Needs SQL Server n Needs IT support? n More complex deployment

7. © J Street Technology, Inc. 2008 7 ASP.NET/SQL Web App Pros n Most users & data n Free SQL Express n Integrate with SSRS n Great security n Zero install web app n IT respect Cons n Browser compatibility n High dev cost (3-5x) n Different skills n Needs IT or hosting n Complex deployment

8. © J Street Technology, Inc. 2008 8 Hybrid Access/ASP.NET/SQL Pros n Lots of users & data n Rapid dev in Access n Free SQL Express n WAN connections n Great security on web n Zero install for web app Cons n Suboptimal security in Access n Costly dev in ASP.NET n Needs IT or hosting n Complex deployment

9. © J Street Technology, Inc. 2008 9 Access-SQL Server (Web Services*) Pros n Still rapid dev (+50%?) n Use Access skills n Free SQL Express n Great security w/SSL n Lots of users & data n Web apps possible n WAN connections Cons n Needs SQL skills n Needs Web dev skills n Needs SQL Server n Needs Web Server n Needs IT or hosting n Complex deployment n More complex app * Warning – experimental technique, use caution

10. © J Street Technology, Inc. 2008 10 Access/SharePoint Client App Pros n Lots of users n Rapid dev in Access n Data controlled by IT n SP Security model n Auto FE deployment n WAN connection with offline mode & sync Cons n Access 2010 (V1) n Anonymous access? n Lifecycle issues n SharePoint Enterprise n Needs IT or hosting n Limited data

11. © J Street Technology, Inc. 2008 11 Access/SharePoint Web App Pros n Lots of users n Rapid dev in Access n Data controlled by IT n SP Security model n Office365 is coming n Zero install web app Cons n Access 2010 (V1) n Anonymous access? n Lifecycle issues n SharePoint Enterprise n Needs IT or hosting n Macros, layout view n Limited data n App protection issues n Limited functionality * * But you can mix in Access Client functionality, see previous slide

12. © J Street Technology, Inc. 2008 12 Alternatives and Future Options n SQL Server Reporting Services n Silverlight n PHP/MySQL (aka LAMP) n EQLData (Access on web) n Iron Speed Designer (App generator) n LightSwitch (MS App generator) n Pure HTML 5 application

13. © J Street Technology, Inc. 2008 13 Thank you! Armen Stein J Street Technology, Inc. www.JStreetTech.com Armen@JStreetTech.com 425-869-0797 x107