Transition to the Integrated Data Service

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) Secure Research Service (SRS) gives accredited or approved researchers secure access to de-identified, unpublished data to work on research projects for the public good. We know that many people rely on access to the SRS for research, to support rapid policy analysis and complete wider research.

Building on the success of the SRS, the Integrated Data Service (IDS) is a government-wide initiative, which will create a step change in the way data about our society and economy are made available for vital research and decision making in the UK. The IDS is a central hub of high-quality accessible data, critical for driving efficiency and improving public service. The service is an important enabler of the government's National Data Strategy and modernisation agenda, and will provide access to datasets from a range of sources, across government departments and devolved administrations, presented alongside analytical and visualisation tools in a secure multi-cloud infrastructure.

The IDS is a cross-government service, with the ONS acting as the lead delivery partner. The service is designed for use by government analysts, devolved administrations, and external accredited researchers, and is optimised for government use.

For more information please visit the IDS website.

The IDS is keen to engage with the wider research community. If you would like the team to present an introductory piece to you and your colleagues, or have any questions about the service, please email: IDS.Comms@ons.gov.uk.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) Secure Research Service (SRS) has been providing secure access to de-identified data for accredited researchers for 20 years and is one of the largest trusted research environments in the UK. Around 6,000 accredited researchers have the potential to access the SRS. Of these, around 1,500 are actively working on research projects at any given time.

Rapid advances in technology have opened the door for developments in the way our users access data. The Integrated Data Service (IDS) will build on the foundations provided by the SRS, and will, in time, replace the current service.

The IDS is currently being developed but is accepting project applications that can use the data and tooling available in the current service for analysis and research. We would encourage all users to investigate the IDS as a potential route for their project to avoid having to transition these projects in future. For more information, please visit the IDS website.

There is currently no hard closure date for the SRS. We will continue to monitor the progress of the IDS's development, regularly reviewing this against user need. The date for closure of the front door and SRS decommissioning will only be agreed when IDS readiness is confirmed, and we will be in touch with users to notify of any impacts when this has been decided. Users are not required to take any action until notified.

To prepare for the transition from the Secure Research Service (SRS) to the Integrated Data Service (IDS), we need to ensure that, where possible, projects begin using the IDS where the data and tools required are available in the new service. This will minimise the number of projects that need to be transitioned in future, ensuring a smoother journey for researchers.

To allow this, all new SRS project applications are being assessed as part of a "project triage" process, for their suitability to start in the IDS, where the service can meet the requirements of that project.

Users can continue to apply to use the SRS as normal, and the project applications team will be in touch with users where there is a possibility for their project to begin in the IDS instead of the SRS.

The SRS will remain the best option for researchers in the short-term, however, as the IDS develops, this process will begin to send more projects towards the IDS and allow researchers to make use of the functionality that the IDS offers.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) is committed to ensuring continuity of research throughout the transition to the Integrated Data Service (IDS). The teams working on the transition from the Secure Research Service (SRS) to the IDS are working hard to ensure minimal disruption for users and stakeholders.

In advance of the transition, all users will be notified of any impact to their projects, and any steps they need to be ready to move to the IDS. There will be clear guidance available to all users, and there will be a period of dual-running where projects are still available in the SRS as a contingency should users experience any difficulties with transition.

All accredited researchers using the Secure Research Service (SRS) will automatically be able to use the Integrated Data Service (IDS). Accreditation status is valid for five years and will remain active when you transition to the IDS. You will need to be re-accredited if you have reached the end of this period.

Existing Assured Organisational Connectivity (AOC) agreements currently in place for the Secure Research Service (SRS) will carry over to the Integrated Data Service (IDS). As with the SRS, users connecting via AOC must use an approved device and VPN supplied by their organisation.

Alongside AOC, organisations connecting to the IDS will also require Cloudflare Remote Browser Isolation (RBI) configured on their system network. Cloudflare is a global network that improves the security, performance, reliability and privacy of your internet connection.

Cloudflare RBI is what enables a secure connection to the IDS through a web browser, also known as browser isolation, while minimising the configuration changes required by the user to access. There are no additional costs required to set up Cloudflare RBI.

The connectivity team have contacted all organisations with an existing AOC agreement for the SRS to discuss establishing Cloudflare for the IDS. Transitioning SRS users should not be required to take any additional steps, however, if you want to check your organisation's AOC and Cloudflare status, please contact srs.connectivity@ons.gov.uk.

The Integrated Data Service (IDS) is still developing, and the Office for National Statistics (ONS) continues to add to the tooling availability in the new service. The underlying infrastructure on which the IDS is built differs from the Secure Research Service (SRS) and will therefore differ to what SRS users are traditionally used to using.

The IDS is working with SRS users to test new tooling functionality as it is developed for the IDS. This includes the implementation of a cloud-native version of Stata by the end of 2024.

There will be comprehensive user guidance available when SRS users are onboarded to the service to support them through the transition to the new service, and to make best use of the tools available on the IDS.

For more information on the tools available in the IDS, please visit the IDS website.

Throughout the year and leading up to the closure of the Secure Research Service (SRS), the Office for National Statistics (ONS) will host events for researchers to learn more about the Integrated Data Service (IDS). These events will be promoted to all accredited researchers. You can keep up to date on our events webpage or on this page.

You can learn more about the IDS by visiting the IDS website.

If the information you are looking for does not already exist on these pages, you can contact the SRS Customer Support team for more information by email at srs.customer.support@ons.gov.uk.