In this blog, originally published on JISC’s Research Data Management blog, Louise Corti and Richard Welpton from UK Data Service (UKDS) talk about the services they provide to UK researchers.
This post is in response to the thread on the data management jiscmail list regarding handling and providing access to sensitive data. While the list vigorously discussed possible solutions, including iran rcs data setting up a new working group under RDA, I wanted to highlight tried and tested models already in existence in the UK. In the UK, USA and Germany where millions of pounds has been invested in developing and implementing a workable pathway for assessing, handling and accessing sensitive data. I would make a plea not to reinvent any wheels for data access solutions before examining whether this model is useful.
The Economic and Social Research Council, via the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), has invested millions of pounds over the past five years in the Secure Data Service from 2010 at Essex (now part of the UK Data Service) and then from 2013, the Administrative Data Research Network (ADRN), coordinated by the Administrative Data Service, also based at Essex. This funding has allowed us to develop Safe People Safe Projects Safe Settings Safe Outputs Safe Data protocols (the 5 Safes) and to test and fully implement designated Approved and Accredited Researcher pathways that both UK government and ESRC currently use for user approval and access to sensitive data.