7 Anonymization Methods
Choose the right protection method for your compliance requirements. From complete redaction to reversible encryption and passthrough, we've got you covered.
Redact
Completely remove PII from the document, replacing it with a placeholder like [REDACTED].
Contact John Smith at john.smith@company.com
Contact [REDACTED] at [REDACTED]
Mask
Partially obscure PII while keeping some characters visible for reference.
Contact John Smith at john.smith@company.com
Contact J*** S**** at j***.s****@c******.com
Replace
Substitute detected PII with realistic fake data that maintains document readability.
Contact John Smith at john.smith@company.com
Contact Jane Doe at jane.doe@example.com
Hash (SHA-256)
One-way cryptographic hash that allows for consistent pseudonymization across documents.
Contact John Smith at john.smith@company.com
Contact a1b2c3d4 at e5f6g7h8
Encrypt (AES-256-GCM)
Reversible encryption that allows authorized users to recover original data with the correct key.
Contact John Smith at john.smith@company.com
Contact [ENC:xyz123] at [ENC:abc456]
Asymmetric Encrypt (RSA-4096)
Public-key encryption for multi-party workflows. External apps encrypt with your public key, only you can decrypt with your private key. Uses RSA-4096 + AES-256-GCM hybrid encryption.
Contact John Smith at john.smith@company.com
Contact GIszLbhC+eP04L7Z...== at TKm1qial5As...==
Method Comparison
| Method | Reversible | Readable | Linkable | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Redact | No | Partial | No | Legal, Public Records |
| Mask | Partial | Partial | No | Support, UI Display |
| Replace | No | Yes | No | Testing, Demos |
| Hash (SHA-256) | No | No | Yes | Research, Analytics |
| Encrypt (AES-256-GCM) | Yes | No | No | Temporary, Audit |
| Asymmetric Encrypt (RSA-4096) | Yes | No | No | Multi-party, External Apps |
Is This Right For You?
Best For
- ✦Teams choosing between 7 anonymization operators (replace, mask, hash, encrypt, redact, asymmetric encrypt, keep) per entity type
- ✦GDPR pseudonymization vs true anonymization compliance decisions with reversible encryption for audit trails
- ✦Mixed-operator workflows where different entity types require different anonymization strategies
- ✦Comparison-driven decision making with reversibility, readability, and linkability trade-offs
Not For
- ✦Teams preferring a single "black box" redaction without operator selection or configuration
- ✦Use cases requiring original PII tokens to survive exactly unchanged (encryption wraps tokens with metadata)