Support for data masking in sql server provider

[clement911]

It would be great if we could configure the data masking behavior of columns via migrations.

Docs: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/relational-databases/security/dynamic-data-masking

Ideally, there would be a DataMaskingAttribute that we could annotate properties with and the migration would ALTER the column accordingly.

I was inspired by this project: https://github.com/nikitasavinov/EntityFrameworkCore.Extensions

[nguyenlamlll]

+1 for this feature. We need supports for data masking. #ProtectTheSensitiveData

[MyEidos]

+1 for this feature.

[roji]

For anyone looking for this, it seems possible to adding data masking to an existing table; this means that it's pretty trivial to activate this feature by integrating raw SQL in your migrations, right after EF Core's generated migration code which creates the table.

While this isn't a perfect solution, it's quite a usable workaround, and also means that likely wouldn't be prioritized as highly as other features where EF Core support is absolutely required.

[nikitasavinov]

I'm the author of the small library mentioned above (https://github.com/nikitasavinov/EntityFrameworkCore.Extensions), which adds dynamic data masking support to EF Core although in a slightly dirty way as it messes with EF Core internals.

If the core team agrees to add this functionality to the framework, I'm happy to propose a design and implement data masking in EF Core (and get rid of my library).

[roji]

@nikitasavinov we'd certainly welcome this as a contribution! However, be aware that it is now quite late for introducing new enhancements for EF Core 6.0, and the team is currently very busy locking down EF Core 6.0 improvements. So this work would ideally happen for EF Core 7.0, and we'd have time to react to your design/PR starting from 2-3 months from now.

But at that point a design proposal followed by a PR would be great!

[cfauchere]

Is anyone working on this? If nobody is working on it I can put the time. Just let me know @roji

[roji]

@cfauchere I'm not aware of anyone working on this - you're welcome to do so. However, it would be good if you could submit a quick description of what you're planning to add (e.g. API) before starting work, so we can make sure we're in the right direction etc.

[nikitasavinov]

Hi @cfauchere I was planning to work on it after EF Core 6.0 release, but if you started/want to start - would be great! And if not and @roji you have now time for a design/PR review - I'm happy to move this forward.

My plan was based on this:

So this work would ideally happen for EF Core 7.0, and we'd have time to react to your design/PR starting from 2-3 months from now.

[preardon]

Is anyone working on this as yet, I'de be happy to help out

[preardon]

As above, I really need this in the mainline, I am happy to do the work, Just let me know if it needs to be done.

Can I please have an update

[roji]

As I wrote above, we'd welcome a contribution for this - but please submit an API design proposal first.

Also, since it's possible to add masking via raw SQL, the lack of specific support should not block anyone in any way. The number of possible migration tweaks is very large, and EF Core likely won't ever support absolutely everything; using raw SQL for to configure things is completely fine.

[preardon]

@roji I will submit an API design, Is there a deadline to have this in for EF 7?

[roji]

@preardon at this point it's rather late in the release, and it isn't sure we'll have enough bandwidth to give the PR the proper attention... But you can try...

[preardon]

@preardon at this point it's rather late in the release, and it isn't sure we'll have enough bandwidth to give the PR the proper attention... But you can try...

Sorry mate, if I had realised noone was working on it earlier I would have done it earlier

[zyofeng]

Anyone just looking at this? With latest ef core the lib no longer works.