The ONS Secure Research Service (SRS) has been providing secure access to de-identified data for accredited researchers for over 15 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. 

As an Accredited Researcher and/or user of the SRS, you may have heard about the ONS developing the Integrated Data Service (IDS). The IDS is a government-backed 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 will link data to provide otherwise untapped insight and to enable rapid analysis using a growing range of integrated data assets.  

The IDS will operate as a cloud-based service and enable access to de-identified data from a range of sources including government departments and devolved administrations. The data will be presented alongside analytical and visualisation tools. 

The transition from Secure Research Service to Integrated Data Service 

Rapid advances in technology have opened the door for developments in the way our users access data. The IDS will utilise updated cloud-based infrastructure to offer enhanced processing power and will streamline access arrangements. The introduction of IDS will represent a change from the way researchers and analysts access data in the SRS, and therefore will require some changes at an individual and organisational level.  

To support users in making this change, a dedicated project team has been established who are working hard to plan the transition and are committed to ensuring users move from the SRS to IDS as smoothly as possible. Service teams will reduce any burden on users and will provide full guidance and support throughout the process.  

SRS users will be unaffected in the short term whilst the strategic approach and timelines are finalised, however the initial transition of users is expected to begin in early summer.  

For users with an active project in the SRS, we will be in contact before the move to discuss the transition of your project and any associated data to the IDS. If you have an active project you are no longer working on, please discuss with your project lead, and request that they contact srs.customer.support@ons.gov.uk with the project number to request to close your project. Please also advise the Customer Support team if your project lead has changed. 

Support 

We are committed to providing regular and timely updates on how the transition is progressing for all interested parties, so look out for these over the coming months. We are imminently launching a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document which will help users understand more about what the transition means for them. We will also be hosting an online event which will give you all the information you need to know about the transition and will provide you an opportunity for a question-and-answer session with SRS and IDS staff. 

You can learn more about the IDS by visiting the IDS website, and by signing up to the monthly IDS newsletter.