Data masking – What you really need to know before you begin

It is often necessary to anonymize data in test and development databases in order to protect it from inappropriate visibility. There are many things, some incredibly subtle, which can cause problems when masking data. This paper provides a survey of the practical issues involved in the masking of sensitive data and tells you the things you really need to know about before getting started.

It should be said that Redgate sells a software data anonymization tool called Data Masker. However, as the title states, this paper really is a generic survey of the knowledge you need to have before getting involved in data masking, and there will be no further reference to any specific software.

If you wish to know more, or have any questions about issues raised in this whitepaper, please contact us.