UM04-11: Secure Data Environment and Development of Remote Data Access Facilities
Researchers
Abstract
As in past years we propose to contribute funds toward the support of a secure data environment at the Institute for Social Research, (the data enclave), where researchers can analyze Social Security administrative files without risking a breach of confidentiality. This facility receives significant usage (24 users as of June 2003). While this is an important resource, travel to the site remains a significant obstacle for many potential users, since users must be physically present to use the enclave facilities. To deal with this problem, we have begun development of an alternative method for access to the enclave: a remote workstation connected to an enclave server via a secure Internet connection that emulates (in hardware and software) a dedicated line. A dedicated line is expensive, but the virtual private network (VPN) connection we propose to use is relatively inexpensive.