Our initial experience with Oracle Data Masking Tool
Pros
- It offers several ways in which you can mask your data; for example, you can choose to replace all names with "real fake names", or choose to replace all SSNs with existing SSNs, but randomly assigned. You control the algorithm.
- It works on non-Oracle databases as well (in our case, we use it for both Oracle and SQL/Server).
- The overhead is minimal (it doesn't take long to run, and it doesn't consume too many system resources.
Cons
- The learning curve was not trivial - but we got through it.
- Cost - this product is not cheap.
Return on Investment
- We have many compliance regulations we need to adhere to. Without this tool, we were always taking a risk of exposing client information, and get penalized by the State of the Feds (the financial consequences are significant).
- So while the tool doesn't save us money directly, it greatly reduces the risk we had been taking all these years. To some degree, this is much like an insurance policy.
- Given the above, it also allows us to share information with other departments/agencies, in situations where before we simply couldn't take the risk of exposing client information.
Other Software Used
Oracle Enterprise Manager, Oracle WebLogic Suite, Oracle Data Integrator
