Mask Email ID in Oracle

Masking email IDs in Oracle involves replacing part of the email address with asterisks (*) or other characters while preserving the format. Here's a general approach to mask email IDs in Oracle:

1. Identify the Email ID Column: Determine which column in your table stores email addresses.

2. Define the Masking Logic: Decide on the masking logic, such as whether to mask the username, domain, or both, and how many characters to mask.

3. Use SQL Functions to Apply Masking: Use SQL functions such as `SUBSTR`, `INSTR`, and `REGEXP_REPLACE` to apply the masking logic to the email IDs.

Here's an example of how you can mask email IDs by replacing part of the username and domain with asterisks:

SELECT 

    REGEXP_REPLACE(email_id, '([a-zA-Z0-9_\\.-]+)@([a-zA-Z0-9_\\.-]+)', 

                   RPAD(SUBSTR('\1', 1, INSTR('\1', '@') - 2), LENGTH('\1'), '*') || '@' || 

                   RPAD(SUBSTR('\2', 1, INSTR('\2', '.') - 2), LENGTH('\2'), '*') || 

                   SUBSTR('\2', INSTR('\2', '.'))) AS masked_email_id

FROM 

    your_table;

In this example, `your_table` is the name of your table, and `email_id` is the column containing the email addresses. This query will replace part of the username and domain with asterisks while preserving the domain's top-level domain (TLD). Adjust the logic as needed based on your specific requirements.

Here are few FAQs:-

1. Can I mask email IDs directly in the database without altering the original data?

   - Answer: Yes, you can use SQL queries to mask email IDs by creating a new column or selecting masked values without changing the original data.

2. How can I ensure that the masked email IDs remain anonymized while maintaining their usability for analysis or reporting purposes?

   - Answer: It's essential to strike a balance between anonymization and usability by masking only part of the email ID while retaining its format and integrity.

3. Are there any performance considerations when masking large volumes of email IDs in Oracle?

   - Answer: Depending on the size of your dataset, applying masking logic within SQL queries may impact performance. Consider optimizing queries if necessary.

4. Can I customize the masking logic to meet specific requirements, such as masking only certain characters or domains?

   - Answer: Yes, you can customize the masking logic using SQL functions and regular expressions to target specific parts of the email ID for masking while preserving others.

5. Is it possible to automate the masking process to ensure consistent application across multiple datasets or tables

   - Answer: Yes, you can automate the masking process using stored procedures, scripts, or ETL processes to apply consistent masking logic across various datasets or tables.