Database Privacy-Related Risks

B.

When evaluating a database for privacy-related risks, the most important factor for an IS auditor to determine is whether copies of production data are masked.

Data masking is the process of replacing sensitive data with realistic but fictitious data. This is done to protect sensitive data from unauthorized access or disclosure. Masking is an important technique for protecting sensitive data, as it allows organizations to share data for development, testing, and other purposes without exposing the sensitive information.

If copies of production data are not masked, then sensitive information may be exposed to unauthorized individuals. This could lead to privacy breaches, identity theft, and other forms of data misuse. Therefore, it is essential for an IS auditor to determine whether copies of production data are masked when evaluating a database for privacy-related risks.

While the other options listed - maintaining the integrity of the data dictionary, approving data import and export procedures, and normalizing database tables - are all important considerations for an IS auditor when evaluating a database, they are not as critical as ensuring that copies of production data are masked.