[ICPSR] [OR-Announce] Virtual Data Enclave Prepared to Accept New Restricted-Use Data

[Mark Thompson-Kolar]

The Virtual Data Enclave (VDE) at ICPSR is now available to accept a
variety of restricted-use data from depositors.

The VDE provides researchers access to quantitative and qualitative
restricted-use data in a secure environment. It is a virtual machine
launched from the researcher's desktop but operating on a remote server at
ICPSR, similar to remotely logging into another physical computer. The
virtual machine is isolated from the users' physical desktop computers,
restricting them from downloading files. Users also are prevented from
emailing, copying, or otherwise moving files outside of the secure
environment.

Data remain on ICPSR file servers and are accessed and analyzed by
researchers virtually. The results of analyses are reviewed by ICPSR for
disclosure risk before they are transferred to researchers.

"The VDE offers new ways of providing important data to the research
community while respecting the confidentiality of subjects," said ICPSR
Director George Alter. "We are reminded every day that computer security is
a complex problem, and the VDE is an important new tool for reconciling
data access with data protection."

About 100 total data files constituting 10 studies currently are housed
within the virtual enclave.

For more detail, please read the full release on the ICPSR
website<http://tinyurl.com/vdeavailable>
.
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