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Secure Data Environment

The Secure Data Environment (SDE) is a secure data and research analysis platform. It is part of an interoperable NHS Research Secure Data Environment network.

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This service gives approved researchers with approved projects secure access to NHS data. To ensure patient safety and confidentiality, this data is:

  • de-identified (pseudonymised), so that any identifying (or personal) patient information such as names, addresses or NHS numbers are replaced with artificial, or ‘pseudo’, information
  • minimised, so that only relevant patient information is provided for research projects

What is NHS England's Secure Data Environment?

Transcript

We’re making it safer to access and analyse Health and Social Care data.

The NHS England Secure Data Environment gives approved researchers access to de-identified (pseudonymised) patient level data.

It’s simple to log in to a familiar desktop environment and you can use industry-leading tools like GitLab, R Studio, Stata, and DataBricks.

Simply choose your data, run your analysis, collaborate with peers, power up with machine learning and securely output your findings, all within your secure data environment.

Let’s work together to unlock the power of Health and Social Care Data.

Data Saves Lives.

Data available through the platform

The NHS England SDE provides access to many NHS data sets including Hospital Episodes, Emergency Care, Maternity, Mental health data sets and more.

The NHS England SDE service team can support you in identifying the most relevant data to support your research.

To see a full list, visit the Data set catalogue. A full list of available data sets is also published on the HDR UK Health Data Gateway.

SDE features

  • Secure virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) 
  • Includes Databricks, RStudio and GitLab
  • Python, R
  • Stata
  • Flexible compute power to suit your needs
  • Import reference data securely 
  • Output results securely
  • Decommissioning of secure data environment

Learn more about these features and how to get the most out of the NHS England Secure Data Environment.

Read about our upcoming and past feature releases via our published roadmap.

How we support you

We will help you by providing:

  • data specialist support (data provision) 
  • general SDE service support (set-up and administrative) 
  • a case officer to support Data Access Request application 

A secure platform

NHS England SDE is part of an interoperable NHS Research Secure Data Environment network at the heart of the Data Saves Lives strategy. All platforms will comply with the Secure Data Environment guidelines.

Approved researchers are given controlled access to the environment, which follows the Five Safes Framework to ensure data is accessed and used in a secure and responsible way. We seek advice from the Advisory Group for Data (AGD) to ensure that the highest standards of data stewardship and governance are upheld.

We provide approved researchers with a Safe Output Service that is robust, effective and transparent to third-party audits.

Researchers will only gain access to data they are permitted to see, and all approved data flows are published on the Data Release Register.

Our transparency notice describes our legal basis for processing personal data in the course of this work.

Charges to access the SDE

We apply charges to cover the cost of processing and delivering our service. We ensure charges are applied fairly and consistently, broadly determined by the amount of effort and approvals required. Read more about charges for DARS application, SDE data, and some cost examples.

The fees associated with using data in the SDE include:

  • charges for DARS application
  • SDE data charges

These are charged once your data sharing agreement is signed.

In addition, the use of the SDE incurs access charges.

These are invoiced quarterly. Estimated usage charges will be provided as part of your SDE application process.

SDE charges are reviewed annually and can change. Any price changes take effect from 1 April each year.

For more detailed information and all pricing enquiries, contact us at [email protected].

Access the SDE

You can access the SDE and find user resources by visiting Access and support for the Secure Data Environment.

Before accessing any data through the platform, you will need to make an enquiry to apply for access to the data through the Data Access Request Service (DARS).

Once you have an approved Data Sharing Agreement (DSA) and have signed the NHS England SDE Service Agreement, you will be able to access the SDE.

1. Check if data access through the SDE is right for your project
1. Check if data access through the SDE is right for your project

Browse the data products to check if the data you need is available through the SDE, or as an extract.

2. Check you meet the standards to access data
2. Check you meet the standards to access data

To access data through the SDE, you must meet the required standards set out in DARS: how to make an application. 

3. Make an enquiry to access the data
3. Make an enquiry to access the data

Submit your application through the Data Access Request Service (DARS). A case officer will assess your application and take you through the next steps to set up your use of the SDE platform.

An SDE demo environment is available on request during the application process. 

Contact details

To register your interest in the SDE, complete the NHS England SDE expression of interest form.

For technical issues, including accessing the SDE, contact the National Service Desk at [email protected] or phone 0300 303 5035.

For any other general queries, contact [email protected].

Information and times of planned maintenance, during which the NHS England SDE may be unavailable, are published on our announcements and outages page.

Further information

external
Free data awareness training (external link, opens in a new tab)

The Safe Data Access Professionals Group helps share expertise, best practice and knowledge between organisations engaged in providing secure access to confidential sources of data from the health and social science research sector. This is aimed at promoting best practice when generating Safe Outputs in Safe Settings. These free data awareness training courses and modules provide you with best practice information on working with statistical data.

Last edited: 21 April 2026 9:38 am