Many companies use scripts to scramble their data in a test instance. The problem with this approach is that scrambling one field in a table may destroy the integrity of the data. You should strive to maintain consistency across rows, tables and throughout the database.
Applimation has a tool called Applimation Informia Secure.
From a Secure data sheet:
When masking data, Informia Secure removes any indication of the original value while preserving the integrity of database relationships and the format of the data to enable end users to easily navigate through the interface screens and understand the data. Informia Secure also preserves the business application layer
data validation by substituting actual data with realistic data that is either generated or substituted from a pre-packaged dataset or from user-defined data sets. Masking rules can be stored and scheduled across the enterprise to simplify standardization and compliance. Simulations allow you to see the effect of your data
masking policy without actually implementing it in the database. Auditing and reporting allow your organization to demonstrate your compliance with legislation requiring data privacy.
Using Informia Secure, your organization benefits from a large set of powerful masking algorithms that use the following techniques:Substitution, which replaces a value in the column with fictionalized data Randomization, which replaces the value with random data
Shuffling, which switches column values between records
Nullifying, which replaces column values with NULL
Mathematical formulae and functions, which make substitutions based on values derived through mathematical formula, custom functions, or other algorithms Character substring masking, which replaces a particular substring with a custom mask of the user's choice Skewing, which alters the numeric data by a random variance Encryption/decrypti on, which employs reversible scrambling
Applimation has a white paper "Ensuring Data Privacy with Intelligent Database Management" at
http://www.applimat ion.com/knowledg e-whitepapers. asp.
I'm not an Applimation salesman, and I don't have any affiliation with Applimation. We haven't purchased this tool yet. But their tool is the only one I've seen that would meet our privacy requirements in our production and test instances.
