Denise Hynes, CQLS
Sherlock Secure Cloud for Sensitive Research Data Now Available
Researchers conducting research using and analyzing health data often require access to sensitive data such as personally identifiable information (PII), protected health information (PHI), and other controlled unclassified information (CUI). Now after working collaboratively with the Office of Information Security (OIS), University Information Technology (UIT) and the Advanced Research Computing Services (ARCS), OSU researchers have access to a secure cloud environment, known as Sherlock Secure Cloud, for use on a fee basis.
Sherlock Secure Cloud is versatile and customizable for project needs. Customization that covers data collection to analysis and collaboration with others, is possible, all on a fee basis. For example, research that requires collection of sensitive data, using REDCap (Research Electronic Data Capture), is possible, as well a variety of statistical analyses tools can be installed. Project spaces are unique to the approved research team members.
Sherlock Cloud provides a managed multi-Cloud solution that complies with Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA), Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and NIST CUI requirements. Sherlock Cloud recently achieved a successful SOC2 Type2 certification and follows the NIST 800-53 (Mod) framework that spans over 200 technical, security and administrative controls. These security features are in line with those required for the most common research data use agreements.
CQLS staff coordinate with the ARCS team for access and set up. Researchers may contact CQLS HDI staff to ask about the suitability of Sherlock Secure Cloud and for planning health data and informatics research.
Centralized Local REDCap Software for Data Collection Now Available
For researchers who may not require secure cloud computing, but plan to collect data may now access REDCap on a centralized local OSU server managed by CQLS. REDCap provides features not available in other data management systems including support for large-scale longitudinal studies. CQLS offers free OSU-specific training resources in addition to the REDCap Consortium resources for REDCap users. Use of REDCap locally for research projects is available on a fee-basis. Researchers should review materials on the CQLS website and contact CQLS to set up REDCap accounts for their research teams and to consult on their data management plans.
