What is Data Masking?
Data masking is the process of obscuring or masking sensitive data by replacing it with ‘realistic’ but not ‘real’ data. Ideally this data will also be fully functional, preserve referential integrity and not ‘break’ the application.
The goal of data masking is to ensure that NO sensitive information is available outside of an authorized and secured PRODUCTION environment.
It is common practice to refresh a DEV, TEST or UAT environment with PRODUCTION data. As we know non-PRODUCTION environments have little or no security, so if any of the copied data is of a sensitive nature then it is rendered completely exposed and vulnerable to breach.
Masking all sensitive data that resides outside of a secured PRODUCTION environment significantly reduces the risk of data leaks.
