Updated July 6, 2023
Introduction to Data Masking Tools
Data Masking Tools protects the sensitive data of an Organization from a potential data breach by obfuscating personal data like credit card numbers, social security number, bank account numbers, and location with fictitious characters and present the desensitized data safely in the non-production environment for development/testing team to test their program meaningfully. These tools establish the assurance that only authorized individuals can access sensitive data, effectively preventing unauthorized users from accessing it. They protect the organization from potential data breaches, damage to reputation, regulatory non-compliance, customer dissatisfaction, and business losses. Data obfuscation techniques, such as filling data fields with dummy characters, scrambled data, random text/numbers, and data encryption, achieve the desired level of data protection.
Data Masking Tools Features
The evolution of Data masking tools started with custom scripts developed by an in-house team with several flaws and operational issues. Stored procedures replaced custom scripts, and automated processes replaced manual activities. Later tools adopted extract, transform, and load concepts while copying the live data into a masked data area, and this method is known as static masking. The latest tool provides a virtual masking facility in which the data is delivered dynamically in a masked condition from the live database in real-time whenever demanded by the users, and this method is known as dynamic masking.
Features:
- Access to share all data sources available in the system.
- Provides realistic de-sensitized data for testing.
- Masking rules are easily configurable and are not controlled by codes.
- Masked data is made available to users on their demand.
- A variety of masking options is made available to users.
- Option to apply different rules for the main set and sub-set of data.
- An adequate system to track compliance as per the piracy law.
Top Data Masking Tools
Given below are the top tools:
1. Oracle – Data Masking and Sub Setting
It focuses on improved data security, accelerated compliance, and ensuring that masked copies are available to the testing and development team. This tool automatically identifies sensitive data and its child data within the database. It maintains a centralized library of masking formats that provides ready-to-use options, allowing users to mask any given data using multiple choices. Oracle provides comprehensive transformation procedures for masking data of different use cases with varied conditions.
Its performance is fast, secured and it manages heterogeneous data sources, including non-oracle databases. This tool adds little overhead to the system and consumes little amount of resources. It is an expensive product, and more training is needed to use this tool. This product is offered in the cloud, deployed in Mac, Linux, and Windows platforms, and supports Semantics Database Model (SDM), Database Deployment Manager (DDM), Data Virtualization, and Tokenization Model.
2. Delphix Data Masking
Delphix, the market leader in DataOps, brings agility and speed to data pipeline processes from collection to delivery. This product pioneered the on-demand delivery of data from the virtual environment it creates based on user demand, and it operates in a secured and regulatory-compliant environment. Another key feature in this versioning of data is similar to program codes.
It has more cloud offerings with the flexibility to move across various clouds and provide a strong interface with APIs for data services. This tool circumvents bottlenecks in data and injects growth into the organization. It started its mission with the Oracle database and expanded to SQL server, DB2, SAP ASE, SAP HANA, and other renowned DB platforms.
3. Informatica Dynamic Data Masking
High scalability, versatility to adapt to multiple database environments, increased security levels with a reduced data leak, encrypting sensitive data, dynamic masking, and effective user authentication procedure are the key strengths of this product. The solution offers cloud and on-premises deployment options and can interface with any external authentication solution.
This tool automates the data massaging and preparation process, and the user gets faster access to the sensitized data. The total cost of operation is lower, and being a renowned cloud services company, Informatica provides seamless interfaces with microservices through APIs. This product incorporates multiple AI features to leverage the benefits of enterprise data. It supports Semantics Database Model and Database Deployment Manager.
4. IBM InfoSphere Optim Data Privacy
It provides world-class data masking features and is an ideal solution for BFSI Industries, where upgrades and product enhancement are routine activities. InfoSphere provides the confidentiality and security of the data the BFSI industry demands, especially in the multiple vendor development/support ecosystem. It is a perfect tool for data environment and data privacy.
You can easily configure data extraction from the production database and masking procedures, requiring no coding effort. The conversion takes place at a faster rate in a secure channel. IBM assures improvement in business outcomes, risk management, data compliance, and operational efficiencies. The main strengths of IBM, namely strong product line up, efficient services backup, and consulting, are also applicable to this product. It supports Windows, Linux, mainframe and big data platforms, SDM, DDM, virtualization, and synthetic data generation technology.
5. Microsoft SQL Server Data Masking
High scalability, capability to manage large data volumes, and compatibility with any data sources and application platforms are this product’s Unique selling propositions (USP). It provides a robust and consistent relational database (RDMS) model for storing primary and masked data.
It uses dynamic data masking features to mask the data while it is queried from the database under a secured environment. SQL server has four types of masking facilities: Partial, Default, Radom, and Email, and the selection of type is based on the type of the data to be masked. Inherent strengths of Microsoft in the Product portfolio, services, consulting, and customer focus drive the organization towards acquiring this product.
6. Micro Focus Voltage SecureData Enterprise
This tool manages data stored in multiple database platforms located in on-premises, cloud. This tool encrypts data using format-preserving encryption/hash and tokenization features.
Other Tools:
- Qilk Gold client
- DATPROF data masking tool
- IRI FieldShield
- Test Data Manager of CA Technologies
- DataSunrise Database & Data security
- HushHush Data-making components
- Single Connect
Conclusion
Selection of the right data masking tool depends on the data size, expected requirements, ability of the vendors to meet the needs, sensitive data discovery mechanism; data management features cost, and other business parameters. Organizations should exercise caution and do due diligence before committing to a tool.
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