Four Solutions to Mask Any Target PII Columns In Your Data Using SAS Enterprise Guide

Abstract Data security and confidentiality is always an important topic. Everybody knows the Cybersecurity Incident from Equifax in 2017. Until October 2, 2017, there are 2.5 million U.S. consumers potentially impacted. How to protect specified columns such as the personal identifiable information (PII) in a data file is becoming increasingly important in industries. Here are the four solutions for different levels of confidential information to mask columns or variables in a data file. They are generalized to be used on any columns in any data files. But these four solutions have different advantages and disadvantages, user can choose the one based on your appetite. Key words: Data Security and confidentiality, Encrypt, Confidential Columns, Data File, SAS MD5, SHA256, User Defined Method

Sr. SAS Tech Lead, Sr. Data Scientist, Sr. SAS and R Developer, Statistician with 10 year experience in software programming, 3 year in statistical Analysis and developing SAS engines; Professional in handling big data, massive large data files, optimization of software engines, automation execution of SAS engines, hugely cutting of SAS engines' execution times (which can beat python performance on SPARK); I got my Master degree of Statistics from University of Wyoming, Master degree of Applied Mathematics from University of New Orleans, Master degree of History from East China Normal University, Bachelor degree of History from Liaochen University.