Access the data securely

The Secure Research Service (SRS) can only be accessed through an approved safe setting. All researchers must follow the required security and access route for each project. These requirements are mandatory, and incorrect access may result in suspension of SRS access and further sanctions. 

The SRS is continuously monitored to ensure compliant and secure use. 

How access works 

Your permitted access route is determined by two requirements which must BOTH be met: 

1. The access level assigned to your project 

2. Your organisation's access status

Projects are assigned an access level based on the datasets which are included in that project. Each individual dataset has access conditions which are determined by its data owner. 

Checking your project's access level 

1. Use the Metadata Catalogue to review the access conditions for each dataset in your project. 

2. Your project's overall access level is set at the lowest access level of all datasets included. 

Access levels 

• Level 1: Safe Room or SafePod only 

• Level 2: Safe Room, SafePod, or AOC office access 

• Level 3: Safe Room, SafePod, AOC office access, and AOC remote access 

If you add datasets to an existing project, the project access level may change. Always check dataset permissions before requesting changes.

You must access the SRS from a secure environment known as a safe setting. These safe settings are determined by your organisation's access status ie whether or not it has an AOC agreement  

The Safe Room and SafePod safe settings are available to all accredited researchers regardless of organisational access status.  

ONS Safe Room  

ONS Safe Rooms are secure, bookable terminals located at ONS offices in:  

• Titchfield (Fareham), Hampshire  

• Newport, South Wales  

They are open for use by all accredited researchers with a SRS project. 

Opening hours are Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm. Any changes to these hours will be announced in advance.  

Before using a ONS Safe Room, you must complete a security declaration.  

For questions, email srs.customer.support@ons.gov.uk   

SafePod 

SafePods are secure, self-contained rooms that meet the same standards as Safe Rooms and are open for use by all accredited researchers with a SRS project.  

They allow accredited researchers to access SRS projects from multiple locations across the UK and Northern Ireland.  

SafePods are mainly based at universities and research institutions.  

You can view SafePod locations and book online. For more information, visit the SafePod website.

AOC is an agreement between your organisation and the Office for National Statistics (ONS). It allows accredited researchers to access the SRS from their organisation's office or, where approved, from home. 

Your organisation must meet specific physical, governance and technical security standards before AOC access can be approved. 

AOC office access (Level 2) 

Researchers whose organisation holds an approved AOC agreement may access the SRS from that organisation's secure office environment without needing to book a Safe Room or SafePod. 

AOC remote access (Level 3) 

Researchers whose organisation holds approved AOC remote access may use the SRS from home, using their organisation's secure remote network. 

To check if your organisation has AOC, or to begin an application, email srs.connectivity@ons.gov.uk

The following examples show how the twopart access rules apply: 

• A researcher has a project which has an AOC access level (2 or 3) but their organisation has no AOC agreement to match. In this case, they must use a Safe Room or SafePod. 

• If any dataset in the researcher's project is Level 1, this means their project access level is set as 1 and they may only use a Safe Room or SafePod to access, even if their organisation has full AOC approval. 

• A researcher's project is set at Level 3 (home access) but their organisation has only permission to access via AOC Office (Level 2). The researcher must only access via their AOC office arrangement.  

• A researcher is working on multiple projects. They must use the correct access route for each project based on BOTH the project access level AND their organisational access level.

Before using the SRS, all researchers must sign the Accredited Researcher Assurance Registration (ARAR) form. 

Researchers must: 

• not use mobile phones or other devices while accessing the SRS, except to receive multifactor authentication codes 

• use only their approved organisational devices when using AOC access routes 

• use the organisation's secure VPN for remote (home) access 

• access the SRS only from the home address recorded on the ARAR form when using AOC remote access 

• In all circumstances access to the SRS from outside the UK is forbidden 

All access routes are subject to continuous compliance monitoring.

Safe Room and SafePod enquiries:
srs.customer.support@ons.gov.uk  

AOC enquiries or applications:
srs.connectivity@ons.gov.uk