Store and share with Sensitive Data Connect

Overview

Sensitive Data (SD) Connect enables the secure storage and sharing of sensitive research data. It automatically encrypts files during upload and decrypts them during download through an easy-to-use interface. For files larger than 100 GB, a command-line tool is available which also provides automated key management.

SD Connect also supports collaborative research, allowing data collection and sharing within the platform. Files stored are encrypted and can be accessed for analysis, annotation, or editing through SD Desktop.

Contents:

• Key features

• Limitations

• Overview of SD Connect 2.0 features

You can browse through the main topics of the manual using the navigation bar on the left side of this page or the search function.

Key features

• User-friendly interface compatible fully compatible with Chrome web browser.

• Accessible via web browser from your computer (Mac, Linux, or Windows) and any location (no need to install specific programs or use a VPN).

• Files up to 100 GB are automatically encrypted and decrypted during upload and download via a web browser. For larger files, a programmatic tool (SD-lock/unlock) is available. Automated encryption key management.

• Enhanced login security with multi-factor authentication (MFA).

• Supports encryption and storage of any file type: text files, images, audio files, video, and genetic data (default space 10 TB, if additional space is required, contact CSC Service Desk).

Limitations

Known temporary issues:

• Firefox (except in private mode) is supported, but some known limitations exist.

• Tagging files is not currently supported.

• Accessing the service requires logging in twice by entering your username and password.

• In October 2024, SD Connect was updated. Files from the previous version are still compatible, but you may encounter issues due to file format changes. For step-by-step instructions on downloading files stored with the previous version, please check this page.

Note

Automated key management, encryption, and decryption are not yet available for programmatic data uploads and downloads.

General considerations:

• SD Connect is based on an object storage solution. Files are called objects, they are stored as file segments and can not be directly edited. All files (sensitive or non-sensitive, e.g. scripts) stored in SD Connect must be encrypted.

• The storage space remains available as long as the CSC project is active. All data will be deleted 90 days after account termination or project closure, accordingly to CSC's General Terms of Use.

• CSC does not provide backups of the data stored in SD Connect. Therefore, we advise you to maintain backups of important datasets.

• SD Connect service only supports processing of encrypted files, whether sensitive or non-sensitive (e.g., scripts).

Note

SD Connect is unsuitable for data processing under the Act on the Secondary Use of Health and Social Data. Please check SD Desktop for secondary use to learn about the precise requirements.

Overview of SD Connect new features

In October 2024 we introduced several enhancements over the original version to improve user experience, security, performance, and automation. Below is a summary of the key new features and their differences compared to the previous version.

Feature	SD Connect new version	SD Connect previous version (discontinued)
Service access via MyCSC	Requires CSC account and project, SD Connect service access and multi-factor authentication enabled on your CSC account	Requires CSC account and project and Allas service access
User interface	Redesigned based on user feedback	Standard interface
Automated encryption and upload	Upload via user interfaces supports files up to 100 GB, larger files can be automatically uploaded during upload via command line	Limited to files < 1 GB
Automated decryption and download	Available for folders or single files for all project members	Not available
Key management	Automatically provided by the service	Not available
Uploading encrypted files	Not allowed; all files are encrypted during upload	Optional; unencrypted files could be uploaded
Folder sharing	Supports 3 different type of data sharing: for data transfer, collection or collaborative analysis on SD Desktop (without the possibility of downloading extra copies of the files)	Sharing was supported only via manual encryption and decryption
Command-line utility tool	SD Lock/Un-lock provide automated key management, this requires temporary token access	Available but required manual encryption and did not support automated key management
Compatibility with Allas	Files uploaded with after October 7, 2024 are visible in Allas but not downloadable directly from it; size may be incorrect	Files visible and downloadable

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