Why don't you simply encrypt the Backend (BE) with a password? I do that and no one can access my BE at any time including non-blackout period. the only access to the BE is through my distributed FE.

Matt, you COULD do that, but then you'd have to distribute the re-linked front-end file in order for that to work during the blackout times and then distribute it again once it's over. Seems like a lot of work.

You could just pull everyone but admin's access rights to the server share. That'll keep em out. :)

I was thinking the VBA that would change linking back and forth would reside in the frontend.  The dummy database would contain empty tables and just be a valid placeholder to receive a temporary/useless link (TABLEPARKBtn) during blackout.  After blackout, the VBA would relink (TABLELINKSBtn) to the correct backend database.  I was playing with it with buttons and it seemed to work:

Private Sub TABLELINKSBtn_Click()
    Dim DB
    Set DB = CurrentDb
           DB.TableDefs("Tpoint_TEST").Connect = (";DATABASE=C:\Users\matt.hall\Desktop\MATT\test\FILES\TRIAL28.accdb")
           DB.TableDefs("Tpoint_TEST").RefreshLink
End Sub


Private Sub TABLEPARKBtn_Click()
    Dim DB
    Set DB = CurrentDb
           DB.TableDefs("Tpoint_TEST").Connect = (";DATABASE=C:\Users\matt.hall\Desktop\MATT\test\PARK.accdb")
           DB.TableDefs("Tpoint_TEST").RefreshLink
End Sub

I may just be misunderstanding what you are trying to tell me.

So you're saying the front-end knows during blackout to link to a dummy db instead that has no table data. I guess that would work, but if you lock down the database and prevent them from getting into it in the first place, they can't get to the tables.

In super secure databases, I never leave the tables linked at all. I connect to them on logon and disconnect before the database closes. Therefore even if someone breaks into the FE, they don't have any tables there. I'm pretty sure I talk about this in the Access Security Seminar.

I see what you guys are saying.  I have perused through the Access Security seminar but have not really focused on it.  I was hired for a specific project and have had to focus on getting the application correct and data scrubbed.  I haven't even split it yet.  Thanks for the feedback.  Thanks to Sami as well.