The data masking is the way many institutions choose protect your sensitive data in test and production environments. When the answer used is the correct one, this protection maintains the consistency of the actual information, So it is guarantees the quality of the data. Obtaining this depends on the customization of the applied techniques, which will allow them to be adapted to the specific requirements of the business.
Photo credits: istock CreativeImages
The application of techniques data masking can be done in two different ways:
- Dynamic data masking: It is the one used in production environments, protecting data warehouse and database data, but in addition to applications, ERP or CRM. This dynamic mode works with a single database on which a masking layer is created that is established with each access.
- Data masking persistent: often chosen for development areas and test environments. It implies the coexistence of two databases, the original and the masked.
This duality enables adapt to security approaches what each function needs within the company. Therefore, it is feasible:
– Provide data security even when there are differences in access authorization levels.
– No need to modify the applications in use, procedures or alternatives for work.
– Get transparency without affecting performance.
– Take full advantage of control over database security.
Data masking: the most recommended alternative
In general terms, it can be stated that it is more recommendable data masking that encryption or encryption. Companies that have experienced data security breaches and are considering launching a security initiative, those that need to improve their level of information protection to comply with the provisions of the law and applicable policies, using real data in non-production environments and, finally, any type of organization that owns and works with personal data and sensitive information consider which alternative will be more suitable to protect your data.
Generally, the solution is the data masking, for its advantages over other options such as:
– Data encryption: Not a practical solution for operating environments, development and test, since users need to be able to enter the actual data and, at the same time, the applications used are generally not compatible with working with encrypted data. The problem with encryption is that it does not maintain the referential integrity of the original environment.
– Data encryption: is a complementary technology to data masking, and can never be regarded as a substitute. The main difference is that encrypted information needs to be decoded, then, in that decryption procedure, the original data is exposed, that are left unprotected.
At the same time to overcome the inconveniences posed by other alternatives, among the benefits of data masking It is worth highlighting the following four, for its relevance to any business:
- Reduce risk attacks against corporate information security and minimizing the threat of a data breach.
- Comply with applicable regulations. regarding data protection.
- Eliminate costs resulting from image damage of the company that occur when an obstacle of lack of data security is made public.
- Increase corporate performance through an improvement in productivity levels, achieved thanks to the speed of access to protected production data.
Related Post:
(function(d, s, id) {
var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];
if (d.getElementById(id)) return;
js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id;
js.src = “//connect.facebook.net/es_ES/all.js#xfbml=1&status=0”;
fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);
}(document, ‘script’, 'facebook-jssdk'));
