Data obfuscation is the process through which sensitive data is replaced by data that seems real. The procedure aims at protecting confidential data. Test and development environments usually make use of the obfuscation process. Developers and testers develop and test software from realistic data, not from real data. Thus, malicious actors find the data useless.
Techniques Of Data Obfuscation
Data Encryption
Data encryption uses private key systems to codify data. Encrypted data looks like a string of alphanumeric numbers. So, it is unreadable. A person, who has the decryption key, can unlock the encrypted data.
Data Tokenisation
Data tokenization is a process to link data value with tokens. This token itself has no value. The use of tokens ensures that your private number will never get exposed. For example, the data tokenisation process allows linking a credit card number to a random token. Then, a secure payment API interacts with other systems using the token.
Data Anonymisation
Data anonymisation produces secured and usable test data. The data anonymisation technique uses three methods-substitution, randomisation, and ranged substitutions. Substitution is the method of replacing real data values with dummy values. Randomisation is the method of random shuffling of data values before sharing. Ranged substitution is the method of using dummy values, which come within the range of actual data values.
Importance Of Data Obfuscation Anyway
- While sending personal data, do not trust third parties. Protect data after understanding what’s data obfuscation anyway.
- This process allows the companies to maintain the business process but it reduces the risk.
- The obfuscation process has to maintain many compliance standards under certain conditions.
Conclusion
If you apply the data obfuscation process to protect sensitive data, you need a holistic security solution. Data protection is not the sole objective. You must protect infrastructure and data sources also from increasingly sophisticated attacks.