Overview#
Replacing sensitive data with non-sensitive tokens for safer processing. Common in payment systems and privacy-preserving analytics.
Core objectives#
- Establish shared definitions of Tokenization for security, engineering, and leadership teams.
- Connect Tokenization activities to measurable risk reduction and resilience goals.
- Provide onboarding notes so new team members can quickly understand how Tokenization works here.
Implementation notes#
- Identify the primary owner for Tokenization, the data sources involved, and the systems affected.
- Document the minimum viable process, tooling, and runbooks that keep Tokenization healthy.
- Map Tokenization practices to standards such as ISO/IEC 27001, NIST CSF, or CIS Controls.
Operational signals#
- Leading indicators: early warnings that Tokenization might degrade (e.g., backlog growth, noisy alerts, or missed SLAs).
- Lagging indicators: realized impact that shows Tokenization failed or needs investment (e.g., incidents, audit findings).
- Feedback loops: retrospectives and metrics reviews that tune Tokenization continuously.
Related practices#
- Align Tokenization with defense-in-depth planning, threat modeling, and disaster recovery tests.
- Communicate updates to stakeholders through concise briefs, dashboards, and internal FAQs.
- Pair Tokenization improvements with tabletop exercises to validate expectations.