The dangers of Microsoft Access in 2026 (and how to move off it)
Access 2016 lost support in October 2025. Here is what the status quo costs your operations, and how to move off it without stopping the business.
Data and cloud
Glossary
Relational database
A system that organizes data into tables linked by keys, keeping it consistent and queryable in SQL, as PostgreSQL, MySQL or SQL Server do.
A relational database stores information in tables: a customers table, an orders table, a products table. Every row carries a unique identifier, and tables link to one another through foreign keys. An order points at its customer; an order line points at its product. That structure is what lets you answer a question such as "which Sherbrooke customers ordered this product in 2025" without duplicating a single piece of data.
Why the model still dominates
The relational model dates back to the 1970s and remains the foundation of most business software. It enforces constraints (types, uniqueness, referential integrity) that keep orphan records and inconsistent values out of the system. SQL, a standardized language, lets any reporting tool read the data.
The usual engines for an SMB
PostgreSQL and MySQL are open source and free; SQL Server is the reference in the Microsoft ecosystem. All three come as managed cloud services (Amazon RDS, Azure SQL Database), which takes backups and upgrades off the internal team's plate.
The sign it is time to switch
When several people edit the same Excel file or the same Access database, conflicts and data loss pile up. A central relational database behind a web application is the usual answer. At Witify, every custom application runs on PostgreSQL or MySQL, accessed through the Laravel framework.
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Related terms
Frequently asked questions
Excel is a spreadsheet: a grid with no constraints, edited by one person at a time. A relational database enforces a structure, supports hundreds of simultaneous users and keeps a history of changes through the application built around it.
Both work. PostgreSQL offers more advanced features (JSON types, full-text search, window functions); MySQL remains very common with hosting providers. The choice mostly depends on the team that will maintain the system.
Volume matters less than the number of users and the value of the data. As soon as several people enter or consult the same information, a relational database prevents duplicates and contradictory versions.
