Method and apparatus for protecting data retrieved from a database

A method and apparatus enables remote access of data of a database system. Such access may be performed by a remote device, such as a client computer system. A custom defined data type is assigned to data stored in the database system, the custom data type associates an access restriction to the data. A request for the data may be received over a communication network, such as the Internet or a local area network (LAN). In response to the request, the database system prepares the data for transmission and provides the requested information back over the communication network. The data is accessed using a security restriction defined by the custom data type.