ASSURED Training useful vocabulary

A safe room is a secure room in the premises of the data provider​ in which researchers can work with sensitive data. Such a setting allows for the implementation of a number of physical controls. This includes, among others, clear access control, sealed virtual enrivonments, and the prohibition to bring any personal belongings (such as smartphones) into the room.

A Secure Processing Environment (SPE) is the specific technical "container" or physical room where the actual data processing happens. While a TRE is the broader framework, the SPE is the strict technical implementation—often involving air-gapped computers, disabled USB ports, or encrypted virtual machines that prevent data leakage.

Sensitive Data refers to any form of data that has the potential to cause harm to the Data Subjects if it is misused. Whilst usually such concerns relate to the possible impact upon people, for example by revealing private information about someone, there are other reasons why a dataset may be sensitive including for commercial or environmental reasons. 

ASSURED has been designed to be as discipline-agnostic as is possible, that is to say that many of the principles will be the same whether the harm is to a person, business, or rare species. We therefore prefer to use the term Sensitive Data, as data that requires protection may not be personal data.  

Sensitive Data in our context are microdata, containing information at the individual-level. Each row in such a dataset will represent a single observation, be it a person, a household, or a business. Microdata are typically obtained from surveys, censuses, or administrative systems.