What is data masking?

Data masking is a process of obscuring or hiding sensitive information in a database from unauthorized users. Data masking is often used in compliance with data security laws, such as the Pennsylvania Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA). In the process of data masking, the original data remains intact, but a masking algorithm is applied to it so that the data is replaced or obscured. The goal of data masking is to make it difficult for unauthorized users to access and use the information. Common techniques used in data masking include tokenization, encryption, and pseudonymization. Tokenization replaces the sensitive data with an alternate value such as a letter or number, while encryption encodes the data so that it is unreadable by unauthorized individuals. Pseudonymization replaces the original data with a false identity, making it difficult to determine the true identity of the subject. Data masking is an important process for maintaining data security and protecting individuals from theft or misuse of their personal information.

Related FAQs

What are the implications of GDPR for businesses outside the EU?
What is the right to be forgotten?
What are the implications of GDPR for small businesses?
How do I know if I am compliant with data security laws?
What is a data inventory?
What is the definition of “personal data” under GDPR?
What is the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)?
What is the ePrivacy regulation?
What is considered personal data under data security laws?
What are the security requirements for mobile devices?

What is data masking?

Related FAQs

Related Blog Posts