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Data masking vs. Data encryption

Posted: Wed May 28, 2025 4:40 am
by MasudIbne756
data masking and data encryption both aim to protect data but differ in their approaches. Data encryption converts data into a coded form that requires a key to decode, while data masking replaces the original data with fictitious yet realistic values.

Encryption is essential for securing data in transmission (or “data in motion”), while masking is more suitable for non-production environments, such as sandboxes. You would typically choose encryption when protecting data during transfer, whereas data masking is ideal for safeguarding sensitive information in development and testing scenarios.

Data masking vs. Data tokenization
tokenization replaces sensitive data elements with non-sensitive equivalents, known as “tokens.” these tokens can be mapped back to the original data using a tokenization system. Unlike data masking, which alters the data to appear realistic, tokenization ensures that the original data cannot be recovered without the token mapping system.

While tokenization typically requires more processing than america phone number list data masking, it’s important to note that data tokenization is reversible, allowing for the secure retrieval of the original information when necessary.

Data masking vs. Data encryption
data masking and data encryption both aim to protect data but differ in their approaches. Data encryption converts data into a coded form that requires a key to decode, while data masking replaces the original data with fictitious yet realistic values.

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Why is data masking important?
Data masking is a critical piece of a comprehensive data security strategy for any organization. Its importance stems from its ability to protect sensitive information while maintaining the usability of data for various non-production purposes like testing or sandbox development.