At 02:05 PM 10/04/2003 +0000, you wrote:

>OK - the ISC4.gdb is protected by the ops sys.
>
>If I want to protect our data structures against a competing software
>company (who may have recently become good mates with our soon-not-to-
>be-clients) - they can simply replace the isc4 gdb ( as the
>administrator will let them ) and export all our data etc. etc.
>
>Surely if some sort of link from the GDB to the isc4 was in place
>this would stop this kind of activity ?

What kind of link did you have in mind? the isc4 controls user access to
all databases on the server. It doesn't control access to any particular
database. Who owns the server (anyone with SYSDBA access) owns the databases.

So, if your customer is willing to hand over SYSDBA access to a new
supplier, nothing can stop the supplier from stepping into your shoes. It
then gets back to any legal rights in your contract with your customer, and
whether the customer will honour them.

heLen