A computer-implemented method of searching for exact and non-exact matches in a first database includes steps of transforming and standardizing values of selected attributes stored in the first database according to selected first transformation functions while maintaining the first database unchanged; storing the transformed and standardized values of the selected attributes in a second database that is separate from the first database; providing an input record against which to compare contents of the second database; transforming and standardizing values of selected attributes of the provided input record according to selected second transformation functions, and searching only the second database for at least one of exact and non-exact matches to the transformed and standardized values of the selected attributes of the input record according to selected match rules.