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

7. Use common standards for sharing

Continuity principle

Statement

By default, we use common standards and protocols for data sharing where they exist and help establish them where they do not.

Why does this matter?

Well joined-up data services and the smooth flow of data across the public sector are hugely dependent on common standards. Standards ensure that participants in a data sharing network can speak the same ‘data language’ while leaving room for differences in ‘data understanding’. And just as how new language emerges to aid understanding, new standards and protocols can be fashioned to help us communicate data in new ways.

Above all, common standards and protocols enhance the interoperability of our data activities. Interoperability is essential for streamlining collaboration, avoiding vendor lock-in, reducing duplication of efforts and preventing misinterpretation or loss of information. Interoperability also aligns closely with other data sharing principles: it makes it easier to cater to diverse data stakeholder needs (Principle 6), clarifies the data handling roles and responsibilities among partners (Principle 9), and allows technical data sharing solutions to be more conveniently adapted, extended and reused (Principle 4).

How do we do this?

Overall, we should follow the government’s direction on standards outlined in the Open Standards Principles, the Technology Code of Practice (Point 4) and the Service Standard (Point 13) when creating data sharing initiatives.

Data providers should

• Work with data consumers and enablers to select appropriate data and metadata standards for data sharing initiatives.
• Work with data sharing enablers to embed data and metadata standards into data sharing solutions.
• Adopt data management protocols to ensure that data and metadata standards are observed before data sharing.
• Engage actively with cross-government communities to stay informed about evolving standards and best practices.
• Participate in the evaluation and feedback processes for new standards, contributing practical insights from experiences.

Data consumers should

• Work with data providers and enablers to select appropriate data and metadata standards for data sharing initiatives.
• Work with data sharing enablers to ensure compliance with technical and governance standards when integrating third-party data or systems into shared data projects.
• Engage actively in cross-government communities to stay informed about evolving data standards and best practices.

Data sharing enablers should

• Work with data providers and consumers to select appropriate data and metadata standards for data sharing initiatives.
• Work with data providers to embed data and metadata standards into data sharing solutions.
• Work with data consumers to ensure compliance with technical and governance standards when integrating third-party data or systems into shared data projects.
• Select technical standards and protocols involving APIs, cloud technology and other technology components, and embed them in data sharing solutions.
• Ensure that third-party contractors involved in delivering data sharing solutions comply with selected standards and protocols.