Question

Scrambling (Masking) SSN field to produce test data

Asked by: bhagatali

Hi,

We have an application which is based on the OS/400 platform. The GUI code is in J2EE. We are using the DB2400 database that comes along with the OS.

To meet industry compliance, we have undertaken a project where we need to remove almost all access for developers from the production database. The test database (or the test schema) that are being used for development and testing needs to have scrambled (masked) production data.

One of the important fields that we have identified for scrambling is SSN. Our system has enrollees SSN stored in a couple of tables (either as part of a composite primary key or without any constraints). Every SSN has a unique "system generated" id that we use for identifying people in our system (this is a primary key in most of the tables). The system generated field is going to remain intact. We are merely planning to break the link that exist between the SSN and member id by scrambling the SSN.

Also, we get input files into our system. The input file only has the SSN (and not the system generated identifier). One of our requirement (although not a mandate) is to be able to have a scrambling approach such that the SSN in the table and the SSN in the file both get the same scrambled value.

We have the flexibility of using RPG400, COBOL400,  any DB2 functions that can directly help achieve this, any JAVA/J2EE functions.

Any quick and robust solutions on how this scrambling can be acheived?

Thanks in advance.

Regards
Ali Bhagat

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Asked On
2009-10-15 at 06:26:49ID24814677
Tags

DB2400

,

AS400

,

JAVA

,

J2EE

Topics

Programming for iSeries / AS400

,

DB2 Database

,

Security Utilities

Participating Experts
2
Points
500
Comments
6

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Answers

 

by: KdoPosted on 2009-10-15 at 06:34:28ID: 25580327

Hi Bhaqatali,

How secure does the scrambling need to be?  If it needs to be so secure that it can not be reverse engineered, you'll probably want to incorporate the functions of a security library.

If the masking can be based on a function the makes it difficult to reverse engineer, a simple function can do it.  Create a function that converts the SSN by using the MODULO function of the SSN against a large (16 or more digits) prime number.


Good Luck,
Kent


 

by: bhagataliPosted on 2009-10-15 at 07:10:54ID: 25580668

Hi Kent,

Thanks for the quick response.

The requirement is that it should not be easy to reverse engineer. We are not allowed to have a set formula to get the new SSN because any one who knows that formula can reverse engineer. We are allowed to use maybe a RANDOM generated number and use that for deriving the new SSN.

Could you give me some more details on what the MODULO function is?

The basis on which i am trying to come up with the approach is that the SSN should not be predictable, but it can be repeatable.

Thanks
Ali.

 

by: KdoPosted on 2009-10-15 at 07:43:16ID: 25581028

Hi Ali,

THE MODULO (aka MOD) function would allow you any easy way to convert "real" SSNs to masked ones algebraically.  The function divides the two numbers, returning the remainder.  If the two values are relatively prime (always true if either value is prime and neither is a multiple of the other.)

Using a RANDOM function will work, but you need to be careful that you don't duplicate and of the SSNs in the table.  That would most likely affect your reporting and applications.


Kent

 

by: Gary_The_IT_ProPosted on 2009-10-15 at 12:08:00ID: 25583670

Would replacing the SSN with the unique ID (or a substring or superstring of the unique ID) work for you?  By consistently replacing the SSN with the unique ID (you'd have to do it everywhere consistently), you maintain all of the relationships, but substitute a meaningless internal number for the SSN.  Bear in mind that you need to convert the tables rather than update them (read source record -create target record in new table-delete source record) to avoid collisions.  If you try to update the original tables you may step on yourself.

If each UniqueID has a one-to-one correlation with one SSN, this would be a nice solution.  Now if there can be multiple UniqueIDs associated with a single SSN, you'd lose the ability to search and report on a given SS#.

Otherwise, you can take this approach:

Extract all of your unique SS#'s into a table containing two fields: "Original" and "Munged".  
Create a logical (index) over the table by Munged column with a Unique key.
Write the following program:

Do Until EOF
Read a record
  Repeat until update succeeds
  Munge the SS# (hash it, generate a random number, whatever).
  Attempt to update the row with the munged SS#.
end do

This will allow you generate a conversion table that guarantees that each SS# has a unique munged SS# associated.  Now convert (read-write to new table-delete from original table - don't update) update the various tables that hold SS#'s, replacing the original SS# with the munged SS#.  OF course the munged ssns may duplicate genuine SSNs, that is why you convert, deleting from the source tables as you go.

- Gary Patterson

Check out my EE profile: http://www.experts-exchange.com/M_4382324.html


 

by: bhagataliPosted on 2009-10-15 at 13:06:17ID: 31641599

Thanks Gary. You have helped me once again!!

 

by: Gary_The_IT_ProPosted on 2009-10-15 at 16:01:29ID: 25585717

Happy to help.  Had to do this exact thing myself a time or two.

- Gary Patterson

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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