Cloning a production database for testing and development is challenging due to provisioning new instances, managing data synchronization, and handling personal identifiable information (PII). Neon provides a solution by offering branches that are instantly created copies of the Postgres database with similar schema and data. These branches can be used as templates for non-production environments, ensuring safe and realistic testing conditions without exposing real user data. The PostgreSQL Anonymizer extension further protects PII by masking sensitive columns with static masking strategies, such as replacing values with fake but realistic-looking alternatives or adding variability to numerical data. By automating the process of creating anonymized branches, developers can efficiently create production-like environments for testing and development purposes.