Security of APP_Data Folder in ASP.NET

Question

My Microsoft Access DB file is in APP_DATA folder. my server is Windows 2003 and I like to know how is the best way to protect this file.

so which one is safer ?

./wwwroot/App_data/Database.mdb

or

./db/Database.mdb

Answer 1

Both methods are safe in the sense that the file won't get served to a remote client (unless you create a virtual path to the db folder. Files not served from a site are governed by the httpHandlers section in web.config:

<add path="*.mdb" verb="*" type="System.Web.HttpForbiddenHandler" validate="True" />

Any file type added here with type=HttpForbiddenHandler will not be served.

Where to put the Access file is a matter of taste and access. If you put it outside of your site i.e. in the db folder you will have to set up permissions for the application account you're using for your site/app. Placing it within the App_Data folder you're set to go. Also, if you're in a hosting environment you might not be able to place you're Access file outside of the site folder.

My 2 cents: go for the App_Data folder.

.håkan