Question

Alison retrieved data from a company database containing personal information on customers. When she looks at the Social Security number (SSN) field, she sees values that look like this: "XXX-XX-9142." What has happened to these records?

a) Data Encryption
b) Data Obfuscation
c) Data Masking
d) Data Anonymization

Answer 1

The records Alison saw in the database with obscured Social Security numbers have undergone data masking, a technique used to protect sensitive information from being exposed to unauthorized individuals.

Step-by-step explanation:

When Alison sees Social Security numbers listed as "XXX-XX-9142" in the company database, the records have undergone a process called data masking. This practice obscures specific data within a database to protect sensitive information, while still retaining enough realism for purposes such as software testing or user training. It is a preemptive measure to safeguard personal information, such as Social Security numbers, from potential internal and external threats in the business environment. Data masking helps prevent identity theft, which can result in the unauthorized use of personal identification to commit fraudulent activities.