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What is Data Masking?

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Data masking is the process of replacing real data with structurally similar fake data for purposes such as testing and training. Creating test data from scratch is extremely resource intensive and may result in data that doesn't reflect production realities. As such, it is common for organizations to use real data for testing. Data masking is typically used to remove anything personally identifiable or confidential in data.

Example

Data masking is useful when the structure of the data needs to remain so that the data can be used for testing or training. For example, a phone number such as 000-000-000 may pass validations. In this example, an encrypted phone number or null phone number may cause application errors.

Reversibility

Data masking seeks to create outputs that are irreversible. Techniques such as encryption are difficult to reverse but often change the structure of data such that it no longer passes validations in applications. Data masking may use algorithms for shuffling and substitution that are designed to be difficult to reverse but maintain strict data formats.
Overview: Data Masking
Type
Definition
The process of replacing valid data with fake data for purposes such as testing and training.
Value
Protecting personally identifiable and business confidential information.
Also Known As
Data redaction
Related Concepts

Information Security

This is the complete list of articles we have written about information security.
Audit Trail
Canary Trap
Confidential Information
Critical Infrastructure
Cryptographic Keys
Cryptographic Salt
Cryptography
Cybersecurity Risk
Data Breach
Data Remanence
Data Room
Data Security
Deep Magic
Defense In Depth
Degaussing
Digital Identity
Failure Of Imagination
Geofencing
Hardening
Honeypot
IoT Security
Key Stretching
Network Security
Non-repudiation
Nonce
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Overlay Network
Password Entropy
Password Fatigue
Proof Of Work
Sandbox
Secure Code Review
Security As A Service
Security Controls
Zero-day
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