This section discusses how to mask sensitive data in non-production databases by using the Data Masking feature in Oracle Data Safe.

• Data Masking Overview
  Data masking, also known as static data masking, is the process of permanently replacing sensitive data with fictitious yet realistic looking data. It helps you generate realistic and fully functional data with similar characteristics as the original data to replace sensitive or confidential information.
• Masking Formats
  A masking format defines the logic to mask data in a database column.
• Masking Policies
  When you create a data masking job, you are essentially creating a masking policy for your target database. A masking policy maps sensitive columns to masking formats that should be used to mask the data. It is used to perform data masking on a target database.
• Data Masking Reports
  After completing a data masking job, Data Masking generates a Data Masking report that shows details of your masked data.
• Conditional Masking
  You can use conditional masking when creating masking policies in the Data Masking wizard and when editing masking policies from the library. Conditional masking allows you to arrange masking formats according to different conditions.
• Group Masking
  Group masking, also known as compound masking, enables you to mask related columns together as a group, ensuring that the masked data across the related columns retain the same relationship. You can use the group masking feature when you create data masking jobs.
• Create Data Masking Jobs
  The Data Masking wizard guides you through the process of defining a masking policy for a sensitive data model and then masks the data on the database.
• Create Masking Formats
  You can create your own masking format for a sensitive column from the Library or while you are defining a masking policy in the Data Masking wizard. If you add a masking format to the Library, you can select it when you define a masking policy.
• Manage Masking Formats
  You can view masking formats and manage user-defined masking formats from the Masking Formats page in the Library.
• Manage Masking Policies
  You can manage masking policies from the Masking Policies page in the Library.