Patent ID: 8924401

Claim:
A method for implementing logical data masking on data stored in a database, the method comprising: loading data to be masked from the database, wherein the loaded data comprises a table having one or more entries; grouping columns within the table into at least a first group of columns and a second group of columns, such that data entries within the first group of columns share a first data type, and data entries within the second group of columns share a second data type; applying a first data masking algorithm to data entries within the first group of columns and a second data masking algorithm to data entries within the second group of columns, wherein the first data masking algorithm and the second data masking algorithm are mutually distinct; wherein applying the first data masking algorithm to data entries within the first group of columns comprises; determining that data entries within the first group of columns are of a numerical data type; and responsive to determining that data entries within the first group of columns are of a numerical data type: grouping individual rows of data entries within the first group of columns into at least a first group of rows and a second group of rows, wherein an individual row is grouped within the first group of rows and a second group of rows, wherein an individual row is grouped within the first group of rows based on a determination that numerical data within said individual row is quantitatively similar to numerical data within other rows within the first group of rows; receiving user input selecting a first level of data masking; and responsive to the received user input selecting the first level of data masking: (i) randomly swapping at least a first row data entry with a second row data entry within a first column of the first group of rows; and (ii) randomly swapping at least a first row data entry within a second column of the first group of rows, with a second row data entry within a corresponding column of the second group of rows.