IT firm IBM has released a new data masking solution designed to tackle the growing problem of confidential information theft.

Data masking involves taking sensitive data and overlaying values that mask the data itself, but do not compromise its functional integrity. The IBM solution allows for a timely and cost-effective way of applying this across an organisation.

It means that the theft of information can be prevented while developers can still perform software product design, development, testing and quality assurance.

"The new data masking solution can help companies take advantage of internal and external talent and resources available around the world, and enhance the security and privacy of critical data," said IBM Global Business Services' Martin Marut.

"Our solution can help improve the development and testing processes by making available real data, yet doing this in such a way that protects the integrity and privacy associated with highly sensitive information."

According to research conducted by Forrester Research, 35 per cent of corporations will begin using data masking for test data by 2010.

According to recent survey by Connect, the two biggest IT headaches for businesses were 'everyday hassles with IT' (37 per cent) and 'security concerns' (32 per cent)