About us
Our work ensures that researchers can analyse and interpret detailed data, answering key questions about our society and informing our personal understanding and our public policies.
The service is delivered by the UK Data Archive, in partnership with the Archive's Economic and Social Data Service, and is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council.
The service is also made possible with support and advice from:
- the Office for National Statistics and its Virtual Microdata Laboratory
- the Administrative Data Liaison Service
- data archives and technology experts from across Europe and beyond
We invite researchers at UK academic institutions and data owners from government, business and academic research centres to join us in our shared purpose: to enable responsible and secure access to detailed data that allows bona fide researchers to pursue answers to questions that benefit society.
Our security philosophy
In developing the service, we spoke with secure data enclaves around the world to find out how and why breaches occur.
How we're secure - we've built our service on a four-point security philosophy:
- state-of-the-art secure data technology and procedures
- training and convenience for approved researchers
- standards backed by a professional code of practice
- meaningful penalties for breaches
Frequently asked questions
- What is the Secure Data Service?
- Is there a help desk?
- What kinds of data are made available through the Secure Data Service?
- Who can use the service?
- What current projects are using Secure Data Service data?
- Is the Secure Data Service similar to the ONS Virtual Microdata Laboratory?
- How is the Secure Data Service different to the VML?
The Secure Data Service is managed by the leading data storage and sharing people
Our
history
The evolution of microdata access and the beginnings of the Secure
Data Service
The researchers, data owners and service partners who make up the Secure Data Service
Contact
us
How to reach us and directions for visitors
FAQ
Frequently asked questions for researchers and data owners
Our
documentation
Policies and procedures, guides, forms and presentations.