What is the difference between SOMAR Public Data, Controlled Download Data, and VDE Data?

SOMAR datasets are accessible through three main methods: Public Data, Controlled Download Data, and VDE Data. Each has different requirements and levels of sensitivity:

• Public Data:
  These are openly available datasets, typically under a CC-BY license. Access requires you to create a free account and agree to the dataset’s license and ICPSR’s Terms of Use. No application or documentation is required.
• Controlled Download Data:
  These datasets contain sensitive content or have specific usage restrictions. After creating a free account, you submit a brief application and agree to ICPSR’s Standard Terms of Use. Once approved, you can download and use the data within your own computing environment.
• VDE Data:
  These are highly sensitive or identifiable datasets, subject to strict usage restrictions. Access requires a full application, including documentation such as a Restricted Data Use Agreement and IRB or Ethics Committee review. VDE data are restricted data that can only be accessed within SOMAR’s Virtual Data Enclave (VDE).