Nowadays, data is a key asset for businesses, so ensuring its security is of great importance. Data masking is an effective method of data protection that allows you to hide it from unauthorized access while maintaining the ability to use it for testing, analysis, and other tasks. Using solutions such as a data masking tool helps companies minimize the risk of leaks and comply with legal requirements. In this article, we will explain in detail how data masking works and how it differs from encryption.
What Is Data Masking?
Data masking is one of the ways to protect confidential information from unauthorized use. When masking, data is replaced either with arbitrary symbols or (more often) with fictitious data. The array of information after masking looks quite realistic.
The most primitive method of masking can be observed in online services for advertisements when the system hides the seller’s or buyer’s phone number. This is done to prevent bots from collecting such information. In order to unmask the data, in most cases you need to click the “show phone” button. But even such masking is enough to somehow protect advertisers from waves of spam (although, of course, there is no talk of serious protection in this case).
Another example is the presentation of bank card numbers in mobile applications and online banks. Most often, the digits in the number are hidden with asterisks, leaving only the last four, so that the card number does not become available to an intruder who accidentally takes possession of the card owner’s device.
What is The Difference Between Masking And Encryption?
It seems that masking and encryption of data are the same thing. Moreover, even some experts consider encryption to be a type of masking. However, these are completely different processes.
Encryption implies access to data upon entering the key. If the user has it, he will be able to read everything. Masking is used to ensure that an outsider does not gain access to the information under any circumstances.
Encryption implies reversibility. If the user has the key, he can not only view the data but also edit it. Masking makes it impossible to change the data (fragment it, edit, hide, or delete it).
Masking does not imply encryption. The data is simply hidden from everyone for whom it is not intended, and access to it is determined by security policies. If the user has permission, then he will have access to the information. Interestingly, if someone gains access to an array of data, he may not even understand that he is dealing with unreliable information. After all, masked data looks exactly the same as authentic data.
Masking And Encryption: What Should You Choose For Optimal Data Protection?
Both technologies are relatively easy to use when you know what to do and how to do it. Both are needed to ensure the protection of the company’s data and, therefore its reputation and customer loyalty.
Use encryption when you need to protect data in the production environment from unauthorized access, but the data is important in its current context. Encryption is often used to protect data when it is transferred between computers or networks.
Data masking can be used when you need to use production data in a test environment, where the actual content of the data does not matter. This method is also suitable when sensitive information passes through many hands if it is handled by outsourced employees, remote workers, contractors, and so on.
Types of Data Masking
There are different types of data masking, which differ in processing methods and scope of application. Let’s take a closer look at them.
Dynamic Masking
The principle of data masking itself does not involve making changes to the stored data and only provides for masking the information displayed to the user: the user’s request comes not to the target system, but to the masking software deployed on a separate server, which independently makes requests for information and masks critical data according to the selected criteria and rules, and then sends it to the user. Depending on the volume of requests and responses passing through the masking system, the hardware or resources of the virtual machine are selected.
The choice of resources should be based on peak request values and should guarantee minimal delays in the passage of traffic. Another option for implementing dynamic masking is in applications built on a three-tier architecture: the masking software is installed directly on the application server, which allows intercepting and masking data in user requests at the time of their transfer to the database driver.
In this scheme, there is no need to allocate additional server resources for software installation and no need to make changes to the infrastructure. At the same time, due to work at the database driver level, critical information can be masked very flexibly. However, this version of dynamic masking also has disadvantages: load on the application server, the need to restart the application server when installing and updating masking software, and general risks when installing third-party software on business applications.
Static Masking
The most common version of technical implementation of static masking is specialized programs on a separate server or virtual machine. The settings specify the network address of the database with critical information and access credentials. An automated audit is carried out to determine the fields in which crucial data is stored.
After this, the masking method is selected. The system executes queries to the database and, using DBMS functions, either masks the database itself directly or creates a copy with modified data.
Another type of masking that should not be forgotten and which should not be confused with those mentioned above is masking data when storing it in information security systems or monitoring systems. This type is similar to dynamic masking since the data is masked before being written to the storage device.
Conclusion
Data masking is an indispensable tool for those cases when it is necessary to secure information, preserving its value for analysis and work. Thanks to modern data masking tools, businesses can effectively manage confidential data and prevent its leakage. Understanding the differences between masking and encryption allows you to choose the most appropriate protection method depending on your goals and objectives. If you are looking for a reliable data masking service provider and tools, do not miss the opportunity to work with PFLB specialists.
