Modernizing App Development With Data Masking and Subsetting Solutions
Employee benefit organizations must manage sensitive customer data, including personally identifiable information (PII), financial records, and payment details. The data must be secure, but accessible to those who need it.
In one firm, the IT team frequently used data for application development and testing, while prioritizing data security and compliance. Yet managing and securing the data created several challenges.
Business Challenges: Using Secure Data for Efficient App Development
The firm faced three critical challenges when managing and utilizing its data for development and testing. These pain points included:
1. Ensuring data security. The organization needed to provide reliable data sets to application developers and testers—and ensure that the data sets were secure.
2. Managing test data. Extracting and subsetting production data to reduce the size and complexity of test datasets was inefficient, slowing performance.
3. Protecting sensitive information. One ongoing priority is safeguarding sensitive customer data from unauthorized exposure. Maintaining data security and integrity is critical, and the organization needed to make these processes faster and more effective.
Traditional methods for preparing test data were time-consuming and prone to human error. This resulted in inefficiencies and potential security vulnerabilities, hindering progress and increasing operational risks. The organization needed to ensure that data sets were not compromised and accurately represented production data.
The Solution: Using DataVantage Data Masking and Subsetting Capabilities
To address its ongoing data challenges, the organization implemented comprehensive data subsetting and masking software from DataVantage tailored to the firm’s needs.
The DataVantage solution delivered advanced capabilities to ensure seamless integration with existing workflows while securing the firm’s data. DataVantage features, capabilities, and benefits that solved the organization’s challenges include:
- Data subsetting. Production data was subset into small, manageable data sets tailored to specific testing requirements. This subsetting process maintained the integrity and relationships of the original data, ensuring relevance to real-world scenarios, while reducing complexity.
- Data masking. Sensitive customer data, such as names, account numbers, and social security numbers, was automatically masked with fictitious but contextually accurate values. The masked data retained the structure, format, and usability required for effective development and testing, while ensuring compliance with data privacy regulations.
- Process automation. Subsetting and masking processes were integrated into the firm’s workflows. Processes were fully automated, eliminating manual intervention and ensuring consistent, repeatable processes. Automation enhanced efficiency and allowed the IT team to focus on strategic initiatives rather than repetitive tasks.
The Results: Verifiable Improvements in Multiple Areas
The implementation of the DataVantage data subsetting and masking solution enabled the firm to achieve measurable improvements across several key areas.
Four high-value business outcomes include:
- Enhanced data security. Sensitive information was protected against compliance violations.
- Improved operational efficiency. Automating data management tasks reduced processing times, improved workflows, and eliminated errors caused by manual intervention. Small, targeted data sets streamlined development workflows and reduced storage and processing requirements.
- Realistic testing environments. Developers and others gained access to secure, high-quality, masked data sets that accurately represent production environments, leading to improved application quality.
- Scalable data management. The DataVantage solution’s scalability allowed the firm to efficiently handle increasing data demands without incurring additional overhead.
Transforming App Development and Testing Workflows
With the DataVantage subsetting and masking solution, the firm successfully optimized its application development and testing processes.
By balancing security, accuracy, and efficiency, the organization established a foundation for innovation while meeting regulatory and operational requirements. The firm is now better positioned to meet current and future data needs for applications.
About DataVantage
Direct Computer Resources, Inc, is the developer of DataVantage software solutions. With a focus on data masking and data management software, the company offers innovative technologies that streamline operations, ensure compliance, and secure data, helping businesses stay competitive in a data-driven world.
