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, obfuscation, redaction, or scrubbing.

Data masking is essential 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 actual 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 with other security measures, such as access controls, encryption, and auditing.