Building a Secure Data Environment: It’s not just about the data

Photo of Zharain Bawa

By Zharain Bawa, Greater Manchester Secure Data Environment Product Director at Health Innovation Manchester

When you think about creating a Secure Data Environment (SDE), your mind might jump straight to technology – cloud computing, servers, encryption protocols etc. But here’s the surprising truth: building a truly effective SDE isn’t really about the data. It’s about the people.

At Health Innovation Manchester, the Greater Manchester Secure Data Environment (GM SDE) is poised to tackle some of our region’s most pressing health challenges. It’s designed to unlock insights into why Greater Manchester sees such high rates of long-term health conditions and how we can deliver targeted solutions to improve lives.

This field is super-fast-paced and in an ever-changing environment. Across the UK, there are 11 regional Secure Data Environments being developed. In Greater Manchester, the GM SDE will seamlessly integrate with the North-West SDE – a federation spanning three Integrated Care Systems: Cheshire & Merseyside, Lancashire & South Cumbria and Greater Manchester. Making these systems work harmoniously isn’t just a technical feat – it’s an operational balancing act.

The real key to success: People, not just programmes

Managing a project of this scale comes with its challenges. Differing priorities, research approaches, and ways of working can easily derail progress. Budgets are tight, and the stakes are high. So how do we stay on course and transform this vision into reality?

The answer lies in people. Understanding cultures, building trust, and practicing empathy are essential. It’s not about technical brilliance (though we’re fortunate to have plenty of that); it’s about connection – listening, learning, and working together.

The idea of an SDE can feel intimidating, even to those deeply involved in its creation. That’s why we focus on demystifying it through transparency, patience, and open communication. This project is as much about managing change as it is about managing data. It’s about winning hearts and minds, empowering teams, and reminding everyone why their contributions matter. When people feel valued and connected to a shared purpose, extraordinary things happen.

Building trust in a time of scrutiny

Progress may feel slow at times, but for good reason. Developing an SDE requires meticulous attention to governance and legal frameworks. Public trust in data initiatives has been shaken before—past missteps in NHS and pharmaceutical projects weigh heavily on us. That’s why we’re committed to getting this right, even if it takes time.

The Five Safes framework is central to building that trust. This set of principles ensures that data services enable safe research access to data while maintaining the highest standards of governance. It provides our teams with a structured approach to follow and demonstrates to our communities that we are serious about safeguarding their information. By adhering to the Five Safes – safe data, safe projects, safe people, safe settings, and safe outputs – we’re showing that we can balance robust data protection with the transparency and openness essential for meaningful research. It has become the gold standard for data security.

Patient and public involvement

Patient and public engagement is the cornerstone of our approach. We’re actively involving underserved communities to ensure their voices shape the SDE at every stage. By showing how data sharing can be a force for good, and equipped with the Five Safes, we’re working to rebuild trust, one conversation at a time. This engagement benefits everyone: it sharpens our understanding of community needs while building confidence in the work we do at Health Innovation Manchester with our partners.

Internally, trust-building is just as critical. Teams need to see the human side of this project – to understand that beyond the complex technical specifications lies a simple, powerful goal: helping people live longer, healthier lives.

A vision worth fighting for

The GM SDE is more than a technological innovation. It’s a tool for transformation – a means to uncover groundbreaking insights, improve care, and tackle health inequalities.

The impact is already being felt, with 11 pilot projects underway. Eight academic studies – delivered in partnership with the University of Manchester – are exploring critical health challenges, from the early effects of virtual wards to the factors driving disparities in dementia outcomes and the long-term use of opioids for chronic pain. Three industry projects are tackling key areas such as optimising diabetes care, redesigning liver-care pathways, and enhancing early detection of heart failure. Interest continues to grow, and from April 2025, we’ll be welcoming new projects that further harness the power of data to make a difference for clinicians and patients.

It’s not an easy road, but the destination is worth it. By focusing on people – patients, partners, and teams – we’re creating something far greater than a data platform. We’re building a future where data empowers change, builds trust, and, most importantly, saves lives.

Let’s keep our eyes on the prize. Together, we can make this extraordinary vision a reality.

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