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General

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Secure Data Commons - What You Need to Know

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

Secure Data Commons - Support

Training Materials

Series of training videos to get to know the SDC services and capabilities.

SDC 101 Overview

 

 

SDC Personas Guide

Overview of the different personas involved in the SDC including the Project Owners, Data Stewards, Data Providers, and Data Analysts.

 

How to Request Access to Datasets in the SDC

Inform Secure Data Commons (SDC) users how to request access to specific datasets through the SDC Web Portal.

 

Getting Started with DBeaver

Overview of how SDC Researchers can get started with using DBeaver.

 

How to Approve Data Exports out of the SDC

Overview of how SDC Data Stewards can approve data exports out of the SDC.

 

How to Access and Launch Your Workstations

Overview of how to access your workstations within the SDC.

 

How to Approve Trusted User Requests

Overview of how to approve trusted user export requests.

 

How to Request Trusted User Status in the SDC

Overview of submit approval to be a Trusted Researcher within the SDC to support automated exports.

 

SDC Vocabulary Video Part 1

SDC Vocabulary Video to inform researchers on what the SDC is and what workstations are.

 

SDC Vocabulary Video Part 2

SDC Vocabulary Video to inform researchers on what types of datasets that exist on the SDC.

 

Demo Videos

SDC Researcher Demos

Recorded video of an interactive demo of research tools and Notification Service

 

SDC User Guides

Research Team User Guide

User Guide for Researchers including materials on open source collaboration using GitLab.

Data Provider User Guide

User Guide for Data Providers

 

For more videos and more information about the SDC please reach out to the SDC Support Desk.

Last updated January 2025
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