Prompts to convert older databases must be enforced.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-17603	DTOO137	SV-52773r1_rule		Low

Description
When users open databases that were created in the Access 97 file format, Access 2013 prompts them to convert the database to a newer file format. Users can choose to convert the database or leave it in the older format. Disabling this setting ensures Access 2013 prompts the user, and is therefore unlikely to cause usability issues. Otherwise, if Access 2013 was allowed to automatically convert the database, it may be converting outdated code which is not compatible or tested with the newer version. In addition, if the database is used by multiple users, there is the potential of making the database inaccessible to other users who may not be using Access 2013.

Description

When users open databases that were created in the Access 97 file format, Access 2013 prompts them to convert the database to a newer file format. Users can choose to convert the database or leave it in the older format. Disabling this setting ensures Access 2013 prompts the user, and is therefore unlikely to cause usability issues. Otherwise, if Access 2013 was allowed to automatically convert the database, it may be converting outdated code which is not compatible or tested with the newer version. In addition, if the database is used by multiple users, there is the potential of making the database inaccessible to other users who may not be using Access 2013.

STIG	Date
Microsoft Access 2013 STIG	2018-04-03

Details

Check Text ( C-47102r1_chk )
Verify the policy value for User Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Microsoft Access 2013 -> Miscellaneous "Do not prompt to convert older databases" is set to "Disabled". Procedure: Use the Windows Registry Editor to navigate to the following key: HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Office\15.0\access\settings Criteria: If the value NoConvertDialog is REG_DWORD = 0, this is not a finding.

Check Text ( C-47102r1_chk )

Verify the policy value for User Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Microsoft Access 2013 -> Miscellaneous "Do not prompt to convert older databases" is set to "Disabled".

Procedure: Use the Windows Registry Editor to navigate to the following key:

HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Office\15.0\access\settings

Criteria: If the value NoConvertDialog is REG_DWORD = 0, this is not a finding.

Fix Text (F-45699r1_fix)
Set the policy value for User Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Microsoft Access 2013 -> Miscellaneous "Do not prompt to convert older databases" to "Disabled".