This article takes a strategic look at common SQL data masking techniques, and the challenges inherent in masking certain types of sensitive and personal data, while ensuring that it still looks like the real data, and retains its referential integrity, and distribution characteristics. It also explains, briefly, with references, the tools that one can use to mask different types of data and how to provision development and test machines with these 'de-sensitized' databases, or alternatively to produce fake data that looks like the real thing, but in fact is generated randomly. Read more
SQL Clone 4 introduces a new access control feature called Teams, allowing granular control over the SQL Server instances, images and clones to which each group of users has access. I’ll explain how Teams makes it easier to manage the safe distribution of database copies throughout the organization, to the various teams that need them Read more
How to avoid database build failures, caused by circular cross-database object references, by restoring or provisioning copies of all required databases to the development, build, or test SQL Server instance. Read more
The first time you approach the task of data masking, it can seem daunting. You've identified your sensitive columns, but how do you decide on the best data masking strategy? Which rules do you need in your data masking set? Data Masker for SQL Server makes it easy to decide. Read more
If you plan to make production data available for development and test purposes, you'll need to understand which columns contain personal or sensitive data, create a data catalog to record those decisions, devise and implement a data masking, and then provision the sanitized database copies. Richard Macaskill show how to automate as much of this process as possible. Read more
If we want the behavior and performance of our test databases to mimic that observed in production, then we must consider not only the database but also the server. Grant Frtichey reviews the server-level objects, settings and features that we may need to consider, and then shows how to 'synchronize' the linked servers, user logins and SQL Agent jobs, as part of an automated provisioning process, using SQL Provision. Read more
Grant Fritchey shows how to provision a group of interdependent databases, masked to protect sensitive or personal data, to each machine in an Azure-based test cell. Read more
As more businesses start to use cloud-based platforms, such as Azure SQL Database, as their primary database solution, they find that they still need to support on-premise workflows for development and test databases. This is a perfect task for SQL Provision. Read more
SQL Provision helps to accelerate the delivery of database changes, by enabling an organization to provide database copies, and the right data, to all parts of the deployment pipeline that need it, with a light footprint, and securely. Tony Davis explains how. Read more
Rebecca Edwards premieres the new SQL Clone 3.0 dashboard, and explains new features to make it easier to manage clones, view recent activity on them, and reset clones with the push of a button. Read more
Chris Unwin explains how SQL Provision can create copies of multiple databases, each masked consistently, and deliver them as a group. This is useful when, for example, you are working with a Data Warehouse that contains several cross-database relationships. Read more
Steve Jones show how a team might use SQL Provision to build consistent, compliant, useful databases, on demand, for development and test environments. Read more
Steve Jones shows a simple way to provision full size databases for developers, using production like data that has been masked automatically as part of the provisioning process. Read more
Karis Brummit announces SQL Provision, which combines SQL Clone's fast, lightweight database copying and centralized management of provisioning, with Data Maskers's ability to obfuscate sensitive or personal data, prior to distribution. Read more
SQL Provision allows users to create copies of SQL Server databases in seconds, using a fraction of disk space, and mask any sensitive data to help address data privacy and protection concerns. It serves as a gateway between production and non-production environments, to ensure the safe distribution of database copies from one central location, without blocking the team's development and release processes. Read more
Chris Unwin describes a strategy, using data masking, cloned databases and PowerShell, which will allow you to sanitize data before provisioning test or development environments. Read more
Grant Fritchey discusses the need to ‘shift left’ the database and associated database testing, while keeping sensitive data secure when it is outside the production environment, and how SQL Provision can help you achieve this. Read more
How is it possible that the cloned databases could be so small and lightweight, and yet behave exactly like any normal database, complete with all the data? It sounds like magic, but it's not. It simply makes clever use of native Windows virtualization technology. Read more