GDS Data Architecture

• About

Data Sharing Principles

• Overview
• 1. Treat data as an asset
• 2. Federate first
• 3. Prepare for Once Only
• 4. Reuse sharing solutions
• 5. Support automation
• 6. Design for all data stakeholders
• 7. Use common standards for sharing
• 8. Share data transparently
• 9. Share data lawfully and ethically
• 10. Secure shared data proportionately

Capability Model

• Overview
• Channels
• Infrastructure
• Data Access
• Services
• Governance
• Security
• Trust

2. Federate first

Directional principle

Statement

We exercise full control of our data sharing decisions and consider federated approaches to data sharing first.

Why does this matter?

Working towards a joined up digital public sector doesn’t require the mass movement of data assets or long battles over decision-making authority. Instead, implementing federated approaches to data sharing-providing a unified view of data from multiple sources without moving or copying it-across a decentralised network of actors will allow decisions over data to always remain close to those who control it and understand it best.

Federated approaches have multiple advantages over more centralised or informal data sharing methods. They create a strong foundation for responsible data use by encouraging formal expertise sharing and limiting third party interference. Privacy and security risks are reduced by keeping digital attack surfaces small and dispersed. Finally, organisational working models can be better preserved when every actor has full and equal autonomy over their data sharing decisions.

How do we do this?

This section will change as data sharing policy and guidance progress.

Relevant work in progress:

• Data Sharing Sandbox
• Data Access Patterns

Overall, we should make data governance and architecture provisions for federated data sharing solutions.

Data providers should:

Data consumers should:

Data sharing enablers should: