Welcome to the UWDC
The UW Data Collaborative (UWDC) offers researchers a secure, robust infrastructure for projects that involve sensitive, confidential, or proprietary data. We offer both computing resources and expert support to enable innovative, interdisciplinary, and collaborative research with these data.
The UWDC is endorsed and periodically reviewed by the UW Office of Information Security and recognized by the UW Office of Sponsored Programs and UW Information Technology as a UW Recognized Computing Environment for hosting Controlled Unclassified Information and NIH Controlled-Access Data.
The UWDC has 3 core components:
dCollab, a Virtual Data Enclave that serves as the modern equivalent of a traditional ‘cold room’. dCollab provides researchers a secure, server-based Windows environment equipped with robust safeguards and a full suite of research software to manage restricted-use data responsibly and conduct research safely with confidence. For data providers, dCollab ensures sensitive, confidential, and proprietary data are protected with strict NIST 800-171 security protocols.
Expert support. We simplify compliance for researchers and guarantee accountability for data providers through 4 specialized areas of expertise.
- Data Agreement Specialists—Assist with drafting, negotiating, and managing data sharing agreements to ensure clarity and compliance.
- Information Security Specialists—Control and audit data ingress and egress, manage secure data destruction, and enforce strict security protocols.
- Information Technology Specialists—Provide proactive technical support to keep systems secure and up to date.
- Statisticians and Scientific Consultants—Offer guidance across all stages of research, from design and data management to analysis and reporting.
Data acquisition & licensing support. We advocate for and assist researchers in acquiring, licensing, and accessing data critical to their work. This includes negotiating and managing data licenses, ensuring compliance with provider requirements, and facilitating secure access to licensed data hosted outside our environment.
Need a secure computing environment for data analysis?
We will assess your data’s security requirements and recommend the most suitable hosting solution to keep your data protected while you work. We can also help you identify relevant data resources and guide you through the steps required to access them.
Do you need to tap into pre-existing data in the UWDC for your project?
Learn more about what data the UWDC already hosts below.
Request Access to Existing Data
UW NetID Required
Our Purpose
The UWDC solves two challenges: safeguarding confidential and proprietary data, and enabling secure data sharing and management. With the UWDC, researchers can focus on discovery while we manage the complexities of data security and the infrastructure that makes secure, collaborative research possible.
A key objective of the UWDC is to foster collaborative relationships between UW researchers and community partners—including government organizations, non-profits, and other service providers—who seek to apply their data toward cross-cutting research, program evaluation, and policy development.
We aim to be a trusted partner in supporting research that involves confidential and proprietary data, while also building and sustaining user communities around these data to ensure ongoing access to these valuable resources.
Who We Serve
Whether you are looking to host data, access restricted-use data, or navigate complex data sharing and use agreements, the UWDC is here to support you. We serve:
- Faculty and research staff at UW and other academic institutions;
- UW undergraduate and graduate students, with sponsorship from a UW principal investigator;
- Government agencies and nonprofit organizations engaged in data-driven research; and,
- Data providers seeking secure data hosting and research collaborations.
How We Work
Every engagement begins with a clear service agreement that outlines the scope of our services and associated costs. This process promotes transparency, aligns expectations, and builds the foundation for a strong and collaborative relationship.