Statistics Canada’s Real Time Remote Access Solution

1. Statistics Canada’s Real Time Remote Access Solution 2011 MSIS Meeting – Karen Doherty May 2011

2. Access to, and analysis of, StatCan data is fundamental to the fulfilment of our mandate. Traditionally provided access through: Aggregate data posted on the Agency’s website; Public use microdata files (PUMFs); and Special and customizations of aggregate data. Currently 20 Research Data Centres (located in universities) provide access to confidential microdata files to researchers across the country Background Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada

3. StatCan is facing increasing demands for greater access to detailed microdata Advances in IT offer opportunities for producing, disseminating, mining analysing data Researchers are frustrated with the impediments to data access imposed by StatCan Background Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada

4. An on-line remote access facility that allows researchers to run data analyses on microdata sets Data sets are stored in a central and secure location under the control and care of StatCan RTRA – The Business Solution Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada

5. Data Access Strategy Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada

6. Phase 1 – completed 2009 Identification of business requirements focusing on components such as security, legal, and functionality Phase 2 – completed 2010 Pilot version – limited number of researchers and restrictions on types of requests allowed and level of details provided Phase 3 – first production version – 2011 Functionality will be expanded incrementally in order to evaluate security measures and mitigate risks Development of a Working System Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada

7. Examined lessons learned from other NSIs Determined key requirements of the model Adopted a model similar to the ABS model Built on existing e-File Transfer (e-FT) facility to securely transfer files across the “air gap” Security issues addressed via 4 four control points: Secure dataset housing Secure transit of datasets Registered Users validation Confidentiality rules for output Right balance of risk versus security Solution Approach Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada

8. How RTRA Works • Researcher submits SAS program • Request passes through firewalls to secure server • Upon vetting, tables are returned to researcher in specified format • If request does not comply submission will not be run and the log will be returned for adjustment • All submissions are monitored and logged and logs are kept for auditing purposes Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada

9. Pre-Scan of requests: Limits access to data files Ensures that the programming guidelines have been followed Uses automated SAS process to control output Post-Scan of outputs: Applies a controlled rounding algorithm to output tables Limits each submission to 10 tables Limits each researcher to 10 successful program submission per day Supports two formats for output (.sas7dbat and HTML) How RTRA Works Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada

10. No absolute criterion for defining confidential data, however in terms of disclosure control, StatCan applies risk management practises to safeguard the confidentiality of microdata Developed specific rules: Slightly masked microdata files Automatic disclosure rules for tabular outputs Pre-scan for inputs Post-scan for the outputs Strategy involves trade-offs of the four potential methodologies, any decision involves managing risk and consideration of levels of security Methodological Challenge Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada

11. Architecture of RTRA – Design • Technologies • File Transfer – e-FT Services (COTS) • Workflow Components - SAS • User Authentication – SAS and StatCan Customer Relations Management System (CRMS) • Archive – Folder • Data Views – SAS • Automated Workflow – SAS Sniffer • Post-Scan – StatCan rounding tool RNDII.exe Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada

12. User Interface User creates a request Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada

13. User Interface User logs onto RTRA from StatCan website Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada

14. User Interface User submits the request Resulting data to be delivered to an external FTP server via StatCan e-FT system Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada

15. Future Direction • Adjust service based on client feedback for requirements and to tap into wider audience of academics and the private sector • Bring the solution in-sync with new WAN infrastructure used by Research Data Centres • Increase availability of additional cross-sectional surveys to researchers • Develop vetting procedures for longitudinal surveys and administrative data Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada

16. 2011 Work Plan • Quality indicators for frequency indicators – June 2011 • Means, medians, percentiles, ratios and proportions – August 2011 • Investigate support for other programming languages such as SPSS – on-going • Add Census information – November 2011 • Work with Generalized Tabulation System (G-Tab) development team to see if G-Tab can automated confidentiality by types of output – beginning in 2011 Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada

17. Starting to gain traction among Government of Canada researchers. As the system evolves Statistics Canada believes this tool will become a key component of the toolset available to researchers such as: policy researchers in government departments and agencies (federal, provincial, or municipal) academic researchers in Canadian universities any other researcher who agrees to the RTRA terms and conditions of use Conclusion Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada