Proposing a European Remote Access Network (EuRAN) David Schiller (FDZ of BA at IAB) Nuremberg, Microdata Computation Centre (MiCoCe) Workshop, April 29, 2014 Introduction I • Confidential microdata on the level of individuals (persons, households, institutions) • In general and due to legal restrictions such data has to stay physically in the facilities of the data owners • According to that three possible data access ways:  On-site stay at the facilities of the data owner  Remote access to the servers of the data owner  Job submission / remote execution / remote analysis server  Remote Desktop Introduction II • Job submission / remote execution / remote analysis server • Remote Desktop • Remote Desktop using safe centre Introduction II • Job submission / remote execution / remote analysis server • Remote Desktop • Remote Desktop using safe centre Introduction II • Job submission / remote execution / remote analysis server • Remote Desktop • Remote Desktop using safe centre First steps I – RDCinRDC@FDZofBAatIAB • Upcoming: Harvard, USA; UKDA, Colchester. First steps II – UKDA-IAB connection • Safe centre access from Colchester to IAB data in Nuremberg  First location in Europe (outside of Germany) • Safe centre access from Nuremberg to UKDA data in Colchester  First location in Europe (outside of the UK) • Contract and agreements between UKDA and IAB as template for other institutions  DwB deliverable 4.4 • Starting this summer  Researchers are already waiting in the line ERA (European Research Area) • Main goals of EuRAN • Bringing together researchers and research teams from all over Europe • Enable access to confidential microdata stored all over Europe • Provide a platform for cooperative research • Enable joint analysis of decentralized data sources EuRAN – the network Single Point of Access and Service Hub Service Hub Web portal User Account Management Information Platform Digital Rights Management Datasets available Researcher CV / Passport Online submission system Virtual Research Environment MiCoCe Remote Desktop Data Storage (general) Variable level documentation Job submission Data Storage (project) Accreditation Output Grid Computing Data Access Collaborative work Data Access Additional Service Microdata Computation Centre (MiCoCe) • Infrastructure to support research with distributed data sources • Three approaches:  Centre for general data storage in a central point  Data storage for runtime of given projects (data deleted afterwards)  Computation Centre for data analysis without moving data to a central point • The best practice solution has to be found. MiCoCe – researcher perspective • • • • • • • • • User gets contract to work with two data sources Goes to Safe Centre Logs in; account and access point are checked User sees web portal at Single Point of Access (SPA) User works in a secure Virtual Research Environment (VRE) Tools to work and information about data are available Maybe collaborative work with project partners is possible User sends enquires to the two data sources Results are send back to the VRE at SPA MiCoCe – researcher perspective EuRAN – state of play and next steps • DwB WP4, EuRAN joint work by: CASD, CBS, CNRS, Destatis, IAB, ONS, NSD, UKDA. • Expert workshop in Brussels, March 2013 – positive feedback • Current work:     More detailed description of EuRAN Pilot with UKDA, CASD and CBS Proof of concept based on ESSnet DARA project Proof of concept based on Citrix tools • DwB was about creating evaluated concepts – next (infrastructure) projects have to follow • A German project produced good results regarding VREs (VFU soeb3) • For the MiCoCe we need the input coming from this workshop EuRAN – the network Thanks for Listening Contact: Website: [email protected] [email protected] http://www.dwbproject.org/