{"id":18497,"date":"2025-07-30T16:25:24","date_gmt":"2025-07-30T20:25:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.iri.com\/blog\/?p=18497"},"modified":"2026-10-08T18:59:29","modified_gmt":"2026-10-08T22:59:29","slug":"ai-data-classification-for-rdbs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.iri.com\/blog\/data-protection\/ai-data-classification-for-rdbs\/","title":{"rendered":"AI Data Classification for RDBs"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction<\/b>
\n<\/b><\/b><\/h2>\n

Data Classification<\/a> in the IRI Workbench<\/a> GUI is used to name and find specific kinds of data, usually Personally Identifiable Information (PII), and to consistently apply chosen functions, such as pseudonymization, to each data class. Applying deterministic masking functions to data classes preserves referential integrity in IRI FieldShield<\/a> and DarkShield<\/a> data masking results.<\/p>\n

Defining and locating data classes can be time-consuming in a relational database with hundreds of tables and thousands of columns. Examples include names, addresses, IDs, phone numbers, and credit card numbers. New IRI AI functionality can now accelerate this process.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The new AI Schema Data Classification<\/strong> wizard scans relational schemas to identify data classes. It can also assign default masking rules to those classes. As a result, FieldShield, DarkShield, and Voracity<\/a> users can build RDB data discovery and de-identification jobs sooner. <\/span><\/span>1<\/sup><\/a><\/span> <\/span>much sooner than they could before.<\/span><\/p>\n

This RDB discovery feature is another application of AI in IRI data masking tools. For example, DarkShield uses AI to discover and mask names in unstructured text through Named Entity Recognition (NER<\/a>) models. It can also detect signatures<\/a> in documents.<\/span>\u00a0IRI will also use AI to protect faces, PII in handwriting, and complex address presentations.<\/span><\/p>\n

Where to Find the AI Schema Data Classification Wizard<\/h2>\n

You can find the AI Schema Data Classification wizard inside the Data Classes and Rules (iriLibrary.dcrlib<\/code>) dialog in IRI Workbench.In the top toolbar, a Robot icon appears next to the Data Class creation button. Click it to open the new AI scanning tool.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\"IRI<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

How AI Schema Data Classification Helps<\/h2>\n

The wizard helps database users set up data classes faster. Even if the suggested default rule does not fit your use case, the wizard still creates the Data Class and its Location Matcher for you.<\/span><\/p>\n

Supported Data Classes and Default Masking Rules<\/h3>\n

The current AI model uses pattern matching, context, custom logic, and checksums to search for 29 data classes. It assigns each class the default masking rule<\/span><\/a> shown below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Data Class Name<\/b><\/td>\nDescription<\/b><\/td>\nDefault Masking Rule\u00a0<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Phone Number<\/span><\/td>\nTelephone number (multiple formats)<\/span><\/td>\nFPE<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
IP Address<\/span><\/td>\nIPv4 or IPv6 Internal Protocol address<\/span><\/td>\nFPE<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Email Address<\/span><\/td>\nRFC-822 validated email address<\/span><\/td>\nFPE<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Location<\/span><\/td>\nCity, province, region, country, ocean\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nPseudonymization<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Person<\/span><\/td>\nFirst, middle, last or full name<\/span><\/td>\nPseudonymization<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
NRP<\/span><\/td>\nNationality, religious or political group<\/span><\/td>\nPseudonymization<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Credit Card<\/span><\/td>\n12-19 digit credit card #<\/span><\/td>\nSynthesis<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Date\/Time<\/span><\/td>\nDates and time periods < 1 day<\/span><\/td>\nFPE<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Crypto<\/span><\/td>\nCryptocurrency (Bitcoin) wallet number<\/span><\/td>\nFPE<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Medical License<\/span><\/td>\nCommon medical license numbers<\/span><\/td>\nFPE<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
IBAN Code<\/span><\/td>\nInternational Bank Account Number<\/span><\/td>\nFPE<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
URL<\/span><\/td>\nUniform Resource Locator (web address)<\/span><\/td>\nFPE<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Australia Business\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n11-digit ID for Australian Business Register companies<\/span><\/td>\nFPE<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Australia Company\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n9-digit ID for Commonwealth Corporations Act companies<\/span><\/td>\nFPE<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Australia Medicare\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nCardholder ID for medical expense rebates<\/span><\/td>\nFPE<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Australia TFN<\/span><\/td>\nTax file number (ATO ID) for every taxpaying entity<\/span><\/td>\nFPE<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
India PAN<\/span><\/td>\n12-digit Permanent Account # (tax ID)<\/span><\/td>\nFPE<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
India Aadhaar<\/span><\/td>\n12-digit individual identity #<\/span><\/td>\nFPE<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
India Vehicle\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\ngovernment-issued transport registration #<\/span><\/td>\nFPE<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
India Voter ID\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n10-digit alphanumeric # for each citizen<\/span><\/td>\nFPE<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
India Passport\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nIndian passport #<\/span><\/td>\nFPE<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Singapore NRIC<\/span><\/td>\nNational Registration Identification Card #<\/span><\/td>\nFPE<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
UK NHS\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n10-digit National Health System ID<\/span><\/td>\nFPE<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
UK NINO<\/span><\/td>\nNational Insurance Number (also used for taxation)<\/span><\/td>\nFPE<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
US Bank Number<\/span><\/td>\n8-17 digit bank account #<\/span><\/td>\nFPE<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
US Driver License<\/span><\/td>\nState driver license # in <\/span>NTSI<\/span><\/a> format<\/span><\/td>\nFPE<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
US ITIN<\/span><\/td>\n9-digit Individual Taxpayer Identification Number<\/span><\/td>\nFPE<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
US Passport<\/span><\/td>\n9-digit passport #<\/span><\/td>\nFPE<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
US SSN<\/span><\/td>\n9-digit Social Security Number<\/span><\/td>\nFPE<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

FPE<\/span><\/a> means Format Preserving Encryption. <\/span>Pseudonymization<\/span><\/a> replaces the value with a realistic, non-reversible substitute. <\/span>Synthesis<\/span><\/a> generates a new PAN in the same format.<\/span><\/p>\n

Configure Additional Data Classes and Rules<\/strong><\/h3>\n

You cannot currently add classes to the scanning model. However, you can define additional Data Classes and Rules or modify the rules for the classes above. See <\/span>this article<\/span> on the Data Class and Rule Library for details on how to configure, group, and prioritize data class<\/span><\/a>es.<\/span><\/p>\n

Once your data class rules are defined, you can configure RDB data discovery and masking jobs. For DarkShield, use the <\/span>New Relational DB Search\/Masking Job<\/span><\/i> wizard per <\/span>this article<\/span><\/a>. For FieldShield, see: 1) <\/span>this article<\/span><\/a> on the <\/span>Schema Data Class Search<\/span><\/i> wizard; 2) <\/span>this article<\/span><\/a> on the <\/span>Data Class Map<\/span><\/i>; and then, 3) <\/span>this article<\/span><\/a> on the <\/span>New Data Class Map DB Masking<\/span><\/i> wizard.<\/span><\/p>\n

Using the Wizard<\/b><\/h2>\n

Prerequisites<\/b><\/i><\/h3>\n