Our data services
SafePod Network programme now complete
The 24th and final SafePod has now been installed at the University of St Andrews, marking the completion of the ADR UK-funded SafePod Network programme. SafePods are standardised safe settings located primarily at universities across the UK. They have the necessary security controls for researchers to securely access de-identified personal and other sensitive data remotely held by data centres in their trusted research environments. This includes:
- Office for National Statistics Secure Research Service
- UK Data Service SecureLab
- SAIL Databank
- Scottish Government
- National Records of Scotland
- Health and Social Care Northern Ireland.
The Leeds Institute for Data Analytics (LIDA) also joined the SafePod Network this year. This marks an important new contribution: its trusted research environment can accept data from external organisations (subject to application). As a result of LIDA joining the network, a ready-made solution to securely deposit and access sensitive and confidential data from SafePods across the UK is now available. This will help organisations to avoid the time and resource-consuming process of setting up their own trusted research environments and safe settings, and will help to make more potential data sources available for public good research.
SafePoint: Introducing a new type of safe setting
In response to growing demand for SafePods and data access, the SafePod Network is developing a new type of standardised safe setting called SafePoint. This will provide secure data access from an approved room in an organisation using a custom-built SafePoint Desk. A SafePoint has similar security controls to a SafePod, including management by a team of coordinators based at the host organisation.
SafePoints bring their own distinct benefits. They are low-cost and scalable, allowing any research organisation in the UK to have their own secure data access point. Two SafePoint Desk models will be available, a MultiDesk to support individual and collaborative working, and a Single Desk for individual working only.
There are three purchasing routes for obtaining a SafePoint:
- A funding call will be available for organisations to part fund a SafePoint (available in late 2024).
- Organisations submitting Economic and Social Research Council research grant applications can submit costs for a SafePoint for their research.
- Organisations will be able to purchase a SafePoint outright for their own research purposes (subject to application).
For more information about SafePoint and purchasing, contact the SafePod Network.
How data can be accessed
Data can be accessed by accredited researchers for approved research projects that will benefit the public. ADR UK partners have rigorous safeguards in place to ensure data cannot be accessed by any unauthorised person, or for any reason other than research for the public good.
There are several different routes through which researchers can securely access administrative data. The route researchers take depends on what data they want to access, where in the UK they want to access it from, and what existing accreditation they or their institution have for accessing data.
Data can be accessed:
- via one of the saferooms managed by our trusted research environments based in each of the four UK nations
- via a secure connection to our trusted research environments from home or work, through assured organisational connectivity
- via one of the SafePods which provide secure access to data. These are based at academic institutions around the UK.
You can find out what data is available for research, and which routes it can be accessed through, in the ADR UK Data Catalogue. We are continuing to work with our partners to update and improve our data catalogue based on user feedback. Version 2 was released this year, with an improved interface and new features, as well as enhanced metadata.
