GDS Data Architecture

• About

Data Sharing Principles

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

Capability Model

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

3. Reuse sharing solutions

Directional principle

Statement

We use common data sharing capabilities, patterns and platforms where they exist and share our own solutions where they don’t’.

Why does this matter?

Data sharing initiatives aim to generate public value by making data assets accessible and reusable. We can multiply the benefits of data sharing exponentially by ensuring that the data sharing solutions we develop are also accessible and reusable.

To increase the potential for data reuse across government, we should centre our data sharing activities around common capabilities, patterns and platforms. Common data sharing capabilities supports federated data sharing by providing a common view of organisational requirements for public sector data sharing. With established capabilities, common data sharing patterns will allow us to mould our architecture and governance to support sharing in our unique data contexts. Finally, these patterns can be embedded into common data sharing platforms that lower the entry barriers to data sharing further.

How do we do this?

Overall, we should follow a common data sharing capability model, leverage reusable data sharing patterns and contribute to existing data sharing platforms by default.

Data providers and consumers should

• Map their organisation’s data sharing capabilities using the Data Sharing Capability Model.
• Ensure that their organisation is represented in the cross-government Data and Technical Architect Forum (DTAF).
• Share data sharing initiative research, design, development updates and reviews to cross-government stakeholders through the DTAF.
• Review their use of data sharing platforms against the Data Sharing Capability Model.

Data sharing enablers should

• Consider and research open-source solutions to technical problems before closed-source options.
• Publish code and data from the beginning of technology projects.
• Make use of common government platforms and services where appropriate.
• Ensure that their organisation is represented in the cross-government Data and Technical Architect Forum (DTAF).
• Share data sharing initiative research, design, development updates and reviews to cross-government stakeholders through the DTAF.