What is Data Masking? How to mask Sensitive Data?

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No matter how advanced an antivirus tool you use on your PC, there’s a chance to hack your system by hackers. If you are working on a PC and handling sensitive data, you must use new techniques to save your data from hackers. Thankfully, there is a new technique called data masking to hide sensitive data. Everything you need to know about the Data Masking technique is given here. 

 

What is Data Masking? 

 

Data Masking is an advanced technique to safeguard sensitive data. Data Masking is a technique in which the tool or the software creates structurally similar data. This data looks identical to the original but hides all the sensitive information. It means it has masked the sensitive data. 

 

The newly created data version can be used for training, showcasing the information to others, etc. Data Masking using Salesforce Data Mask focuses on hiding sensitive data so that no one except the admin will reveal it. 

 

Enterprises have recently adopted data masking to hide and secure sensitive data from their production and financial departments. However, the same data can be required for various purposes, so a data masking technique has come to the rescue. 

 

As noted above, many ways exist to hide and secure sensitive data. However, using a Salesforce Data Mask is the best way to hide sensitive data. It enables admins and other authorized persons to mask up the data. Instead of using the manual technique, it automatically masks the data and uploads it to Sandbox or any other data storage platform. 

 

How does data masking work?

 

Data Masking uses different methods to mask or secure sensitive data. Here’s a list of techniques data masking tools use to hide sensitive data. 

 

  1. Deleting Sensitive Values 

 

Each data type contains sensitive values. A reliable data masking tool deletes sensitive data values, called nulling out, from the data records. This technique won’t affect the original data.

 

2. Randomize Details 

 

Randomizing data such as original names, bank details, and account numbers is one more technique used by data masking tools. It moves sensitive information within the data records. 

 

3. Replacing Details 

 

Replacing names, account details, and other sensitive data is another technique used by the data masking tool. This technique uses symbols to replace personally identified details within the data records. 

 

4. Encrypting Data

 

Encryption of data is the most advanced technique used by data masking tools. Encrypted data are non-accessible data. Only admins or authorized persons can access encrypted data from the data masking tool. 

 

5. Scrambling Data 

 

Scrambling of data where other data substitute a part of the data. This technique fetches data for substitution from the same data set so that no one can easily figure out data manipulation; this way, it keeps the sensitive data secured and hidden. 

 

These were the techniques used by the data masking tools to safeguard the sensitive data. Before choosing a reliable data masking tool or software, check which technique the tool uses to hide sensitive data. 

 

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