Mask email IDs in Teradata

Masking email IDs in Teradata can be done using string manipulation functions. Below is an example of how to implement this:

REPLACE(SUBSTRING(email_id FROM 1 FOR POSITION('@' IN email_id) - 1), SUBSTRING(email_id FROM 1 FOR POSITION('@' IN email_id) - 1), 'X') || SUBSTRING(email_id FROM POSITION('@' IN email_id))

This query replaces all characters before the '@' symbol with 'X', effectively masking the username part of the email address.

Example:

Let's say the original email ID is 'example@example.com':

SELECT REPLACE(SUBSTRING('example@example.com' FROM 1 FOR POSITION('@' IN 'example@example.com') - 1), 

                SUBSTRING('example@example.com' FROM 1 FOR POSITION('@' IN 'example@example.com') - 1), 'X') 

                || SUBSTRING('example@example.com' FROM POSITION('@' IN 'example@example.com')) AS MaskedEmail;

The result would be 'X@example.com'.

Here are few FAQs:-

1. Why should email IDs be masked in a database?

   - Email IDs are personal identifiers that, when exposed, can lead to privacy concerns or unauthorized access. Masking them helps protect user privacy and enhances data security.

2. Can the original email ID be retrieved from the masked version?

   - Ideally, the masking process should be irreversible to maintain data security. Therefore, the original email ID should not be easily retrievable from the masked version.

3. How can I ensure that masked email IDs remain usable for certain operations?

   - By retaining some part of the original email ID, such as the domain name, you can maintain the usability of the data for operations like communication or identification, while still protecting sensitive information.

4. Are there any legal requirements for masking email IDs?

   - Depending on the jurisdiction and the nature of the data being handled, there may be legal requirements or industry standards mandating the protection of personally identifiable information (PII), which includes email IDs.

5. Can I customize the masking format for email IDs?

   - Yes, the provided query can be customized to accommodate different formatting preferences or variations in email ID structures. You can modify the query logic accordingly to meet your needs, ensuring that sensitive information is adequately protected.