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Name

Extensible Algorithm Framework

Starting in version 6.0.8.0, Delphix has introduced a builtin Extensible Name Algorithm Framework, co-existing with the legacy FIRST NAME SL and LAST NAME SL ones. Name Framework provides masking functionality for String type input. It's based on Secure Lookup mechanism, and includes additional configuration flags making it more flexible and robust.

Similar to Secure Lookup it creates masking results which are determenistic (i.e. the same algorithm with the same configuration and security key will provide the same result for the same input) and not unique. So it you are looking for the framework whose algorithm(s) will provide a unique masking results you should consider using other frameworks (for example Character Mapping).

The new framework uses SHA256 hashing method and allows case configurations for input and output (i.e. masked) values. It also allows filtering accents, configuring the maximum length of the masked value. If input name is a multi-word string it might contain particles, related to the name. By particles we consider any prefixes, suffixes, titles, etc. The new framework allows configuring which particles to be removed, and which to be preserved.

Creating a Name Algorithm via UI

  1. In the upper right-hand corner of the Algorithm tab, click Add Algorithm.

  2. Choose Name Framework. The Create Name Algorithm pane appears.

  3. Enter an Algorithm Name. (Required)

    Info

    This MUST be unique on the Masking Engine.

  4. Enter a Description. (Optional)

  5. Choose the Case Sensitive Lookup configuration. (Optional. Boolean. Default is false)

    If Case Sensitive Lookup box is marked than the same input of different cases will be masked to the different values. For example:

    Peter -> John
    peter -> Andrew
    

    Otherwise it will be masked to the same values, for example:

    Peter -> John
    peter -> John
    
  6. Choose the Filter Accent configuration. (Optional. Boolean. Default is true)

    If Filter Accent box is marked than the similar input with and without accented symbols will be masked to the same values. For example:

    Adrián -> John
    Adrian -> John
    

    Otherwise it will be masked to the different values, for example:

    Adrián -> John
    Adrian -> Peter
    
  7. Choose the Output (Masked) Case configuration. (Optional. Enum. Default is Preserve Input Case)

    It is explained with the examples in the information popup window, which may be opened by clicking on the blue "? Learn More" sign on the above Create SL Algorithm window:

  1. Choose the Maximum Masked Name Length configuration. (Optional. Integer. Default is 0)

    This number should be >= 0 (i.e. not negative). That's the maximum number of characters masked result should fit. I.e. masked result is trimmed to that length. Value 0 means length is unlimited.

    Info

    We're also trying to detect the length of the destination field. Some Data Sources provide that value, while others don't. For example: if Data Source provides value 10 for the destination column length and current configuration field is set to 0 or any value longer than 10 - the shortest value wins, i.e. in this example masked result would be trimmed to 10 characters.

    Warning

    Some UTF-8 characters might take 2 bytes. If lookup file contains those characters - the trimmed result might be not as expected, since we trim by the number of characters and not number of bytes. There is a bug open for that mismatch.

  2. Specify a Particles to Preserve File. (Optional. Locally chosen file, or a FileReference) Contains particles to be preserved. I.e. those particles are not masked. For example if file contains particle "von" and "Froum" is masked to "Smith" than

    von Froum -> von Smith
    
  3. Specify a Particles to Remove File. (Optional. Locally chosen file, or a FileReference) Contains particles to be removed. Those particles are removed prior to masking, i.e. they do not affect masking result. For example if file contains particle "von" and "Froum" is masked to "Smith" than

    von Froum -> Smith
    Froum -> Smith
    

    Info

    If particle is found in both "Preserve" and "Remove" files - it will be removed.

  4. Specify a Lookup File. (Required. Locally chosen file, or a FileReference)

    This file is a single list of values. It does not require a header. Every line of the Lookup File might be used as a masked value. The Lookup File must be ASCII or UTF-8 encoding compatible. The following is sample file content:

    Ann
    Marie
    Tomas
    Ann-Marie
    Basil
    Mark
    
  5. When you are finished, click Save.

For information on creating Name algorithms through the API, see API Calls for Creating Algorithms - Name.