Intelectual property protection

Is there a way to protect database structure when hosted on a customer server?

This thread seems to indicate that you can't go father than encrypting the stored procedure:

http://bytes.com/groups/ms-sql/14363...database-files

However if it is not feasible from whithin, maybe it is feasible from outside by adding an additional layer for instance.

Anybody knows about this?

re: Intelectual property protection

Yes. But it wouldn't be easy.

You can hide the way your application connect to your db. You're going to have to use local authentication and closely guard the rights of each. You may also create a group for easy management.

Your application should not directly access the table. You're going to have to use VIEWS, FUNCTIONS and STORED PROC to read and write on your data. You also have to guard the admin access rights.

-- CK