Using Data Masking To Prevent Data Breaches

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Conventional approaches for Data protection depend on encryption and secure networks protected by perimeters. The data is stored in its native form within the secure perimeter, and it is encrypted at a gateway when sent outside. This paradigm breaks down with the widespread use of cloud-based computing. For more processing on the cloud server, the information either has to be decrypted or it has to be brought back into the secure network. When it is decrypted in the cloud, new points of vulnerability for data breaches at the cloud service provider open up. Even if only encrypted data is stored in the cloud, the secure network model has inherent risks associated with it. It requires users who have access to secure network infrastructure, such as administrators, to be able to be trusted.

Data Masking: A Way To Safeguard Data

Data masking replaces the characters of confidential data for similar yet meaningless characters. For instance, a masked account number still has its functions and validation, but the numbers have changed. During de-masking, the program maps the changed ...
... numbers back to the original ones. Masking takes place on the device of the originator when information is keyed into a cloud-based program such as Gmail, and the data can be de-masked only with the authorization of the originator. Since the data format and structure are preserved, software designed to work with specific data formats may handle the masked data. A fine-grained approach to masking allows the user to maintain those data fields in plain text, as long as the fields containing identifiable information are masked. Thus, many application operations, both on the cloud and the home network can be performed on the masked data.

Mitigating Data Breach Through Data Masking

Masking mitigates the effects of data breaches because if an unauthorized party has access to the data, it is illegible. The data remains masked in transit, in the cloud, and on the home network. Only the originator has the de-masking key, and only he can grant the authority to de-mask the information to another person. Network administrators and cloud service providers only see masked data. De-masking only takes place on an authorized consumer's device. There is no encryption portal where it is possible to intercept information or trust parties who might permit a data breach inadvertently or deliberately.

In this way, masking, in general, can minimize data breaches, and its implementation adds critical elements that further strengthen security. The data masked with an advanced masking program can be processed through several operations and applications without being de-masked, reducing the risk of data breaches and leading to fewer cases in which the data is exposed. Dynamic data masking could allow such an application - an enhanced and more flexible version of normal data masking.

Conclusion

By eliminating the particular risk sources inherent in other data security techniques and offering end-to-end protection, the ideal technique of dynamic data masking helps organizations to mitigate data breaches. The probability of unauthorized access to data can be reduced using data masking, and the level of security can be increased. A simple data protection approach that uses data masking would help avoid such harm and meet regulatory requirements.

Appsian One of the leading ERP data security,compliance,implementation solutions provider that gives organizations to complete control and visibility over their ERP data.