Eastern England SDE Airlock Manager Statistical Disclosure Control SOP

This document outlines the step‑by‑step process that airlock managers follow when checking research outputs before they are allowed to leave the Eastern England Secure Data Environment (EE‑SDE). The EE‑SDE contains sensitive health data, so any outputs leaving the environment must undergo a thorough review to ensure they are safe and non-disclosive. This review process is known as Statistical Disclosure Control (SDC).

The procedure ensures that all tables, charts, and written summaries created by researchers are checked carefully to make sure they do not contain small numbers, unusual details, or combinations of information that could reveal the identity of an individual. Airlock managers also confirm that the outputs match the research project that was originally approved.

Every output is reviewed by two independent airlock managers, and some cases may be escalated to specialist teams or governance leads if the risk is unclear. The final decision for each output is recorded in an audit log so that reviews remain consistent and transparent. Overall, the procedure protects privacy while enabling valuable research to be carried out safely.