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What You Need to Know

Secure Data Commons (SDC) enables collaborative and controlled integration and analysis of research data at the moderate baseline security level.  FedRAMP security impact level, modern, includes upholding security controls for personally identifiable information (PII) and confidential business information (CBI) data. SDC offers authorized and controlled access to individual datasets and its associated metadata. Additionally, SDC supports the following data transfers: real-time (streaming), batch (daily, weekly), and ad-hoc (occasional).

Considering the SDC for your project, data, or analysis needs?

Here's what you need to know.

 

Project Sponsor

  • Conceptualizes how the SDC can support the research program's mission needs and obtains a cost estimate
  • Understands the overall process and project lifecycle for using the SDC

 

Data Provider

  • Submits research datasets hosted on the SDC
  • Establishes the data protection needs and acceptable use terms for Research Analysts
 

 

Data Steward

  • Manages, controls, and maintains the quality of data assets
  • Appropriates protections, restrictions, and other safeguards depending on the nature of the data
  • Authorizes access to data, data exports, and establishes data retention policies

 

Research Analyst

  • Conducts complex analysis using datasets hosted in the SDC
  • Brings own data and tools into the SDC
  • Uses data and tools available to create meaningful insights that can be used to inform data-driven research and/or policy

 

 
 

 

Technical Requirements

SDC researchers are expected to have foundational analytical programming experience in R, Python, SQL, and GitLab,  and familiarity with cloud services to access datasets within the SDC platform. 

Security

Each participating data provider in the SDC defines the levels of access to SDC users. Based on the agreement with the data provider, the SDC team granularly grants access to approved users of the data.

Access to SDC Web Portal

Currently the SDC is available only to USDOT-approved projects. If you would like access, or would like to propose your research to be a part of the SDC community, please email sdc-support@dot.gov.

 

For more information on Secure Data Commons, please see SDC Capabilities (pdf).

Last updated November 2022