Best Data Masking Tools Gartner (Updated 2024) : Comparing top-rated tools

Choosing the right data masking tools can be overwhelming with many options available in the market. Gartner Peer Insights lists over 20 vendors in the data masking category alone, and making sense of these reviews to make an informed decision can be challenging.

In this guide, we simplify the process by examining the top data masking tools based on Gartner’s two ranking criteria: the highest average rating and the highest number of reviews. Let’s explore these metrics as of August 2024 to help you choose the best tool for your organization’s needs.

Top Data Masking Tools Gartner (No. of Reviews)

What does number of reviews indicate?

The number of reviews reflects the tool’s market presence and adoption. A high number of reviews suggests that the tool is widely used and trusted by many users. This metric is useful if you want a tool that has proven its reliability in a large user base.

Top Rated by Users: SQL Server Data Masking Tool

So why is Microsoft SQL Server on top?

SQL Server’s data masking tool benefits from numerous reviews due to its extensive user base. Since SQL Server includes dynamic data masking as a built-in feature, it is widely utilized by SQL Server users, contributing to its high review count.

1. Built-In Tool: Microsoft SQL Server’s data masking tool is highly rated because it’s built right into SQL Server. This makes it easy to use without needing extra tools.
2. Large User Base: SQL Server has many users, which leads to a lot of reviews. It’s a widely used database system, so its masking tool is trusted by many.

Ideal for : Dynamic Data Masking for SQL Server Databases

• SQL Server Only: This tool is best for those who only need to mask data within SQL Server. It doesn’t offer enterprise-wide referential integrity.
• Database-Specific: Perfect for companies that want to use SQL Server’s native masking tools instead of a universal one.
• Dynamic Masking: SQL Server’s built-in masking only includes dynamic masking, which is good for production environments and real-time applications with role-based access control.

Top Data Masking Tools Gartner (Highest Avg Rating)

What does highest average rating indicate?

The average rating shows how users feel about the tool’s performance, ease of use, and overall satisfaction. A high rating means users are generally happy with it. This is key if you need a reliable, high-performance data masking tool that meets user expectations.  Typically top vendors that appear here might not have a huge number of ratings, because they are either newer to the market or are ideal for specific types of organizations or use cases.

Top Rated by Users: Accutive Security ADM Platform

So why is the ADM platform on the top?

1. User Satisfaction: ADM is top-rated for performance and reliability.
2. Versatile Application: It works with many databases, making it a flexible choice.
3. User-Friendly Interface: ADM is easy to use, with strong support, making it ideal for teams that need a dependable solution without lots of training.

This is what one of their clients had to say “The implementation of ADM has allowed our organization to replace a highly mechanical, laborious process with an accurate, automated masking platform. It has been a great solution for our data obfuscation policy.”

And here is another user’s experience “Data Discovery is an amazing functionality.  It identifies the PII and sensitive fields in the table and marks them as the fields those should be anonymized/masked based on field name and the data in the field. You can anonymize all fields and tables identified by the software or choose to add/remove any fields to/from the list. This immensely helps when you don’t know the full architecture of the application and don’t have the ERDs to identify the tables and fields you should anonymize”

Read all reviews here 

Ideal For : Static Data Masking in a Multi-Database environment

• Sensitive Data: If your organization handles highly secure or regulated data, ADM offers strong protection and compliance features.
• Small to Medium-Sized Teams: ADM is easy to implement and manage, making it great for smaller teams.
• Test Data Management: ADM is perfect for irreversible data masking, especially for secure test data, analytics, and moving sensitive data into non-secure environments.
• Multiple Databases: If you work across multiple databases, like SQL Server and Oracle, ADM’s enterprise-wide referential integrity and compatibility make it a must-have.
• Complex Environments: ADM is excellent for environments with complicated data structures that need effective masking.

Quick Comparison of the Top Data Masking Tools (Gartner)

Other Highly-Rated Data Masking Solutions

• Oracle Enterprise Manager (4.4/5): Oracle Database’s Data Masking and Subsetting package that is available for an additional subscription with Oracle Enterprise Manager.
• OpenText Voltage SecureData (4.4/5): Enterprise-grade data security platform that features encryption, masking, and tokenization.
• Oracle DataSafe (4.7/5): Oracle’s cloud-based data masking solution.

Interpretation and Final Recommendations

While the Microsoft SQL Server Data Masking Tool has the most reviews, it may not be the best choice if you need a tool that works across all databases. Microsoft SQL Server only offers dynamic data masking, which isn’t ideal for many use cases. A beta version of a static data masking solution was released but didn’t make the final cut. For those who need static data masking across multiple databases for development, testing, and analytics, Microsoft SQL Server isn’t a viable option.

That’s where Accutive Data Discovery and Data Masking (ADM) Platform comes in. It’s a hidden gem offering enterprise-grade features at an affordable price.

In short, here’s how you can choose a top data masking tool

1.  For dynamic masking & SQL Server only: SQL Server Data Masking Tool

If you value market presence, SQL Server’s tool is widely trusted for dynamic data masking among its users.

2. For static masking & multiple databases : Accutive Security ADM Platform

If user satisfaction and performance matter most, ADM is a top choice. Its high rating and user-friendly design make it perfect for complex data environments.

Click here to see the tiers and pricing for ADM, or to schedule your custom demo. For detailed insights on data masking tools and to explore your options, visit ADM Platform.