Applies to
Summary
This article explains how to export masked data to the external data source using this data masking tool.
Description
Sensitive data is data that contains critical and private information, and that information must be protected against unauthorized access. Sometimes database developers need to present
information from specified SQL databases with internal or external stakeholders. If that selected SQL database contains sensitive data, one of the options to protect that data is to mask them.
ApexSQL Mask is a data masking tool that can mask sensitive data and export it to an external data source.
Export mask data
First, on the opening of the data masking tool, it will appear the Connect to SQL Server window, where will be selected the SQL Server, type of the Authentication, and targeted Database. When all parameters are selected, click on the Connect button to connect ApexSQL Mask to the selected database:
The main grid with automatically chosen columns that have sensitive data will be shown. In addition to the automatically selected columns, the Mask type and Mask sub-type, that will be used for masking data from those columns, will be shown as well:
Besides automatically added columns, data for any other columns can be masked for the selected database. All other non-masked columns from the selected database will be shown when the All columns button from the Home tab in the main grid is clicked:
When columns are selected and masked, click on the Export button from the Home tab, to export the masked data to external data sources:
When the Export button has been clicked, the drop-down menu will appear, where the user can choose a type of external data source in which a masked data will be exported. The masked sensitive data can be exported in CSV, Excel, JSON, XML external data source files:
Export to CSV file type
When clicked on the CSV (Comma Separated Values) option, it will open the CSV window, from which can be checked the following:
- Separator – values in the CSV file would be separated with Tab, Space, Coma or Custom signs
- Table – whether in the CSV file will include a table header or not
- Export to – whether CSV files will be exported in the Separate files or One file
Export to Excel file type
If masked data is exported in the Excel file type, the Excel window will be opened, where can be selected if shipped documents will include Table header or not and whether data will be exported in One or Separate files:
Export to JSON file type
If the JSON external data source is chosen, from JSON window which will appear, the exported file can be exported as an array document structure or not:
Export to XML file type
When exporting a masked data in the XML external data source, in the XML window can be added optimal value for Namespace or not:
When everything is set, no matter which external data source is chosen, click on the Export button, and the masked data will be exported to the chosen external data source:
That will open the Exported mask window, where the destination of the exported file can be chosen and to save it on the desired location click the Save button:
