Masking

In the context of data security and compliance, particularly under the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS), masking is a protective technique used to conceal specific segments of sensitive data, such as a Primary Account Number (PAN), when it is displayed or printed. The purpose of masking is to prevent unauthorized access to full data while still allowing necessary business operations that require partial data visibility.

Masking involves replacing portions of the data with a placeholder, typically asterisks (*) or other non-informative characters, so that only non-sensitive parts of the data are visible. For example, a masked credit card number may appear as 1234 56XX XXXX 1234, where only the first six and last four digits are displayed, and the middle six digits are hidden.

Masking is a crucial component of data protection strategies in environments where sensitive information, such as credit card numbers, needs to be accessed or viewed by personnel without compromising the security of the full data set. By implementing masking in accordance with PCI DSS guidelines, organizations can help protect against data breaches and fraud, ensuring that sensitive information remains confidential.