Data Masking

Data masking is a cybersecurity technique that protects sensitive data by replacing it with artificial, but realistic, versions. It's also known as data anonymization, data obfuscation, redaction, or scrubbing.

Data masking is important because it:

• Protects sensitive data: It safeguards confidential information like financial records, personally identifiable information (PII), or proprietary business data.
• Complies with regulations: It helps organizations meet data protection regulations.
• Maintains data privacy: It allows organizations to use their data for operational purposes while keeping sensitive information private.
• Preserves data integrity: It preserves the original dataset's integrity.

Here are some techniques used in data masking:

Substitution

Replaces data with similar values. For example, a user's real name can be replaced with a fake name.

Reorganization

Randomly rearranges characters to replace the original content. For example, an ID number in a production database could be replaced by a different number in a test database.

Example

Name: J***** H******

Data masking is typically used in combination with other data security measures, such as access controls, data encryption, and auditing.