title: Security risk with remote access to sql server?
body: <p>I wish to access a company sql server database externally. I can access the database currently through use of Remote Desktop Connection, but this is not adequate for certain database tools running off my computer. </p>
  
  <p>Before I enable external access to the sql server... (<a href="http://blogs.msdn.com/b/walzenbach/archive/2010/04/14/how-to-enable-remote-connections-in-sql-server-2008.aspx" rel="nofollow">http://blogs.msdn.com/b/walzenbach/archive/2010/04/14/how-to-enable-remote-connections-in-sql-server-2008.aspx</a>)</p>
  
  <p>are there any security hazards I should be aware of? The server has multiple users, and I can double check to ensure that all have strong password protection. Beyond that, is there any risk that I am unaware of? Is there any particular reason why one should not allow external access to an sql server?</p>
  
  <p>Thanks</p>