About the NSDS

The National Secure Data Service (NSDS) will be a government-wide shared services model with three layers of services that will help data users find answers to their evidence-building questions. 

The NSDS website will serve as the central NSDS demonstration platform where users can learn about the NSDS and access services, tools, and resources that support data discovery and use. It will feature a prototype Data Navigator designed to serve as an intelligent front door to the nation’s data. Powered by innovative AI tools and human expertise, the Data Navigator will provide individualized support through three core features: an AI Chatbot, Data Usage Platform, and Community Forum. 

The AI Chatbot will answer natural-language questions and generate automated estimates using information sourced directly from Federal statistical agency websites. For more complex questions, users will be able to request assistance from the human Subject Matter Expert Network. The Data Usage Platform will provide an interactive dashboard showing how, where, and by whom government data have been used across academic publications, news media, government reports, and other sources, allowing agencies and the public new insights into the reach and value of official data. The Community Forum will provide a central space for data users to connect around shared research interests, exchange solutions, and discuss best practices. 

The NSDS website will offer open-access tools and information designed for a wide range of users, including government agencies and individual users ranging in skill level from novice to expert. These resources will include an NSDS GitHub repository; an AI Readiness Scorecard and Transformation Tool to help agencies and organizations make their public data more useable by AI systems; and a Data Harmonization Toolkit featuring AI-powered data quality and standardization tools designed to address some of the more burdensome data-processing tasks. A toolkit for federal policymakers and evaluators will provide guidance and best practices for using data in evidence-building, while the Capacity-Building Center will offer training on NSDS tools and curated public resources to support data and evidence-building skills development. 

The NSDS is evaluating a prototype Secure Compute Environment to serve as a secure enclave for approved restricted data users to conduct their analytical work. The prototype platform would function as a virtual enclave that would feature tools and resources for conducting privacy-preserving record linkages and the ability to collaborate via secure multiparty computing. For analytically complex projects, the prototype platform could also facilitate access to high-performance computing to improve performance and reduce computation time.