Monday, 27 August 2007

IBM Masks Critical Data

IBM has launched a new data masking solution that the company claims helps protect critical data without disrupting customer service or product development.

A prepared company release said the solution is designed to transform data so that no sensitive information is exposed while allowing internal and external developers to perform software product design, development, and testing and quality assurance. The new solution will help companies protect their data while taking advantage of the best application development resources available throughout the world.

Data Masking is the process of identifying sensitive data and overlaying values that "masks" the sensitive data, but does not compromise the functional integrity of an application. Today, companies’ technical subject matter experts accomplish data masking manually. The task needs to be repeated as large companies have hundreds of business applications that are all tightly integrated.

"The new Data Masking solution can help companies take advantage of internal and external talent and resources available around the world, and enhance the security and privacy of critical data," said Martin Marut, partner, IBM Global Business Services. "Our solution can help improve the development and testing processes by making available real data, yet doing this in such a way that protects the integrity and privacy associated with highly sensitive information."