Protecting sensitive information has become more important than ever. When a business with customer information or an individual is trying to keep information private, anonymization tools ensure that your information is secure and untraceable. With such tools, it is now possible to store, analyze, and exchange information without compromising privacy.
But with all these options, which ones should you trust? Let us take a look at the top data anonymization tools that can protect your information but also make it usable.
- K2view
K2view is a top-notch data anonymization software, especially for enterprises that deal with massive amounts of sensitive information. Unlike simple encrypting or masking information, K2view is more advanced in that it anonymizes data in real-time.
What distinguishes K2view is that it has a Data Product Platform, which organizes data in “micro-databases” by individual or by entity. This is a new approach that keeps the application of anonymization policies simple while ensuring structured and usable information.
K2view supports a range of privacy approaches, including tokenization, data masking, and encryption, that meet strict regulations like CCPA and GDPR. It is especially popular among finance and healthcare enterprises, thanks to how easily it can integrate with existing IT infrastructures.
Another major plus point is that it is extremely fast. Since it anonymizes information in real-time, enterprises can leverage real-time analytics without having to sacrifice their information. It is not the cheapest solution, but if what you seek is a high-end anonymization solution that is highly secure and highly performant, K2view is a good choice.
- ARX Data Anonymization Tool
ARX is among the most effective open-source anonymization tools around. It is intended for use by businesses and researchers that want to anonymize big datasets but still be able to use them for analysis.
The software supports many anonymization techniques like k-anonymity, l-diversity, and t-closeness that hide information from being traced back to individuals. One of the most important benefits is that it has a highly user-friendly interface, so it is very simple even for non-tech individuals to utilize.
As ARX is free, it is a good choice for organizations that desire robust data protection without incurring a hefty cost.
- Aircloak Insights
Aircloak Insights is ideal for businesses that need real-time anonymization. Unlike most anonymization tools, it does more than just scramble information—it keeps anyone from reverse-engineering it, providing maximum protection.
This is especially important in healthcare, finance, and any sector that handles sensitive user data. Delivering accurate analytics in a privacy-preserving manner, Aircloak guarantees that companies can make decisions with confidence without compromising customer information.
- sdcMicro
When dealing with statistical data, sdcMicro is one of the most efficient anonymization software tools. Designed specifically for statistical disclosure control, the software helps researchers and statisticians protect confidential information without undermining meaningful analysis.
sdcMicro is highly adaptable and supports numerous anonymization methods. However, since it is a package in R, there is a need for some level of coding skills in order to use it fully. But once familiar with it, it is a highly efficient tool in the protection of sensitive information.
- Amnesia
Amnesia, which was developed by the EU, is a free anonymization software for information that can be used for personal and commercial purposes. It makes information sharing easy without revealing sensitive information.
Another most interesting aspect about Amnesia is that it possesses an auto generalization mechanism, which replaces exact information (e.g., real birth dates) with categories (e.g., ranges of ages). In this manner, individual identities cannot be found but still allow for meaningful data analysis. It is also easy to use, so it is a good choice for beginners in data anonymization.
- Privitar
Privitar is a high-end anonymization software that is used by big enterprises in order to protect customer information but allow for in-depth analysis. Privitar is unique in that it has policies regarding privacy that control how the information is anonymized so that the company has the right balance between usability and security.
Privitar is particularly useful for enterprises with big data as it is compatible with big data processing platforms and cloud platforms. Your business should opt for Privitar if it is in need of a robust anonymization solution.
- DataVeil
If you need a database-focused anonymization product, DataVeil is a good option. DataVeil is specifically built with the purpose of securing sensitive data in structured databases so that sensitive information like names, addresses, and credit card numbers is masked appropriately.
DataVeil is designed specifically for use with SQL databases, so it is the ideal solution for businesses that need customer information anonymized but also want realistic testing environments. DataVeil is a much more user-friendly product than some tools, which require cumbersome setups.
- FPE Library
FPE (Format-Preserving Encryption) Library is a more sophisticated anonymization tool that encrypts data but keeps it in readable format. That is, anonymized data continues to look like actual information, something that is useful for firms that wish to retain the data structure for testing and analytics.
FPE Library is a good choice for businesses that want robust security but do not want their data fully scrambled. It does, however, take a little bit of technical know-how to use properly.
Final Thoughts
With more data breaches occurring, privacy and maintaining your business and personal information confidential has never been more important. Data anonymization tools protect your sensitive information but allow you to analyze and share information when required.
For something that has real-time anonymization, the top choice is K2view, which is at the enterprise level. A free, simple alternative is ARX or Amnesia. DataVeil would be a good option if databases are what you’re working with, and statisticians would be best served by using sdcMicro. And for enterprises that need advanced-level privacy, the best protection comes from Privitar and Aircloak.
Irrespective of the tool that you employ, one thing is certain—data anonymization is a smart investment in today’s digital world.
