Time series are updated annually after Statistics Iceland has published official statistics based on the corresponding source data. Updates are planned by the end of year with complete information for the last year.

The database is under continuous development and will be regularly updated and revised with the number of variables included increasing with consideration to users’ needs. The main goal of developing the research database is to improve the quality of data in social, health, and educational sciences by providing researchers with access to Statistics Iceland’s data for secure and responsible research.

Is important that users are aware that the database is under continuous development, meaning that the data has not been fully quality-tested in accordance with production standards of official statistics.

The standard processing time for access to microdata already included in the research database is no longer than 8 weeks from the application's approval.

If data requested is not available in Statistics Iceland's research database, it is possible to apply for access to customized microdata. Microdata services will review and estimate feasabilty of customization for each request. Applicants are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the statistical subject categories and accompanying metadata on Statistics Iceland's website to get an overview of the available data.

In general, customized access to microdata involves more extensive data processing that generally requires longer processing time.

Statistics Iceland allows the linking of Statistics Iceland’s data with external data, for example from independent data collection by researchers. If a researcher wishes to link external (e.g., their own data) with Statistics Iceland data, they must confirm their authority over the external data by sending the microdata service a copy of the notification to or permit from the Data Protection Authority (e.g., for their own data collection), if required under the Act on the Protection of Personal Data and the Processing of Personal Data. A copy of the permit from the Research Ethics Committee must also be sent if required under the laws and regulations that apply to scientific research in the health sector.

External data must be shared with Statistics Iceland in such a way that it allows secure linking with Statistics Iceland’s data. Upon receipt, Statistics Iceland will generate a unique anonymization key that enables the data to be joined with Statistics Iceland data. The anonymized data will then be made available to researchers on a secure server hosted by Statistics Iceland.

All necessary documentations must be sent to microdata@statice.is before data is submitted for linking.

It is the sponsor´s role to ensure that researchers with access to microdata and working on the sponsor´s behalf adhere to rules on confidentiality and data protection.

Only entities with legal or demonstrably demanding societal needs for research and policy analysis can apply for sponsor status. Importantly, the research entities must be independent from their administrative role where applicable, and free from political and other external interference. Statistics Iceland does not grant access to microdata for administrative purposes, (for example to identify a person’s needs for social services).

Access to microdata may only be granted for statistical purposes and research. The sponsor must ensure that researchers working on their behalf operate in accordance with this principle.

Additionally, sponsors technical environment must adhere to requirements for information technology and infrastructure to ensure data security in accordance with Act No. 90/2018 on the Protection of Personal Data and the Processing of Personal Data, Rules No. 299/2001 on the Security of Personal Data, as well as other rules set by the Icelandic Data Protection Authority based on the above-mentioned laws.

Statistics Iceland grants access to microdata only to recognized Icelandic research entities. The research entities must meet the following conditions:

1. The sponsor must have significant statistical research or analysis needs. This entails that one of the sponsor's main activities must be research or analysis for statistical purposes.
2. The sponsor must meet either criteria a or b:
1. The sponsor's history or reputation should be characterized by scientific research that is publicly accessible and conducted in public interest; the sponsor's experience in conducting research shall be assessed based on available lists of publications and research projects in which they have participated.
2. The sponsor is a public institution or ministry with extensive analytical needs for strategic administrative decisions.
3. The sponsor must be an independent legal entity with a defined research role, or be a research or analysis department within an institution or ministry.
4. The sponsor must be independent and autonomous in the analysis and presentation of statistical results, and thus distinguished from its administrative role, and from government interference in the analytical work.
5. The sponsor must meet the requirements for information technology and infrastructure to ensure data security in accordance with Act No. 90/2018 on the Protection of Personal Data and the Processing of Personal Data, Rules No. 299/2001 on the Security of Personal Data, as well as other rules set by the Icelandic Data Protection Authority based on the aforementioned laws.

Conditions' fulfillment is assessed based on the sponsor's application, any supporting documents, as well as other public information.

Once an application for microdata access has been completed, Statistics Iceland estimates the cost incurred of processing the application and grant access to the data. The estimate is submitted to the applicant for approval, along with a timeline for when the data will be accessible through Statistics Iceland’s secure environment. Once the applicant has approved the cost, the request is taken for formal processing at Statistics Iceland.

The cost estimate is based on Statistics Iceland's price list; an example of the cost of application fees and data preparation can be seen in table below. All additional services for a project and work that falls outside the cost estimate are subject to Statistics Iceland's hourly rate.

Access to microdata is always provided through the Windows Remote Desktop system. To ensure data protection, the following security measures have been implemented:

• ISO 27001 certification: : Statistics Iceland is certified with ISO 27001, an international standard for information security management. This ensures adherence to strict security regulations and best practices for data protection.
• Encryption: All communication channels through Remote Desktop are encrypted with strong encryption algorithms to prevent unauthorized access and ensure data confidentiality.
• Access control: Only authorized users with rights are granted access to the system.
• Regular security updates: Software and security updates are regularly implemented to protect the system against the latest security threats.
• Monitoring and logging: Access and activity in the system are monitored and incidents are logged to identify and respond to potential security anomalies.
• Employee training: : Our staff receives regular training in data protection and information security to ensure they are aware of the best practices and potential threats to data protection.

Statistics Iceland only provides access to microdata after direct identifiers have been removed, and data anonymized. Direct personal identifiers are replaced with a pseudo-identifier that is unique to each project and researchers have no access to the anonymization key.

Consulting researchers, Statistics Iceland may take further measures to reduce the risk of indirect disclosure in the dataset. For example, the microdata service may decide to aggregate categories in categorical variables if disclosure is likely due to a unique combination of information (for example, unique combination of background information).

Researchers are responsible for disclosure control in their publications, and for preventing disclosure based on joining their published results. Researchers should familiarize themselves with the European standards for disclosure control and Statistics Iceland's guidelines for the protection of microdata before data processing begins.

Statistics Iceland reserves the right to define sensitive information more broadly than is done in the Data Protection Act, in accordance with Statistics Iceland's confidentiality obligations defined in its legislation.

Before access to microdata is granted, researchers must review of and sign a declaration stating the terms of use. This includes confirmation that researchers are aware of the security measures Statistics Iceland will take to ensure the confidentiality and security of the data, what obligations the researcher has to ensure the confidentiality and security of the data, and what the consequences are for violating confidentiality or the law in handling the data.

A researcher applying for access to Statistics Iceland's microdata confirms with their signature that:

1. Data from Statistics Iceland, to which the researcher is granted access, will only be used for the benefit of the research described in this application for access to confidential data.
2. The researcher guarantees full confidentiality regarding the information contained in Statistics Iceland's data to which he or she is granted access.
3. Others than those specified in the application will not have access to Statistics Iceland's data or login information to use the institution’s research environment.
4. Statistics Iceland will be notified when the study is concluded and will receive information on the publication of the results.
5. In all publications of the results of the study, Statistics Iceland must be referred to as the source of the data.
6. The researcher is aware that Statistics Iceland hides the traceability of data to which the researcher has access in accordance with the institution’s rules on security and traceability, as provided for in Article 13 of the Act on Statistics Iceland and Official Statistics (163/2007).
7. The researcher is obliged to inform the Microdata Service of Statistics Iceland if he encounters something that could be improved when it comes to the security of the data.
8. Researchers will not save any data except in a specially designed folder in Statistics Iceland's research environment or make a copy of it in any way.
9. Researchers will not store any external information in Statistics Iceland's research environment.
10. It is clear to researchers that in order to ensure the security of the data, no copies will be made of the researchers' work on the data in Statistics Iceland's research environment.
11. It is clear to researchers that an employee of Statistics Iceland will monitor the work of researchers in the institution's research environment.
12. It is clear to the researchers that an employee of Statistics Iceland will evaluate the data that the researchers store in a specially designed folder and send the researchers the data (i.e. results) that meet the institution’s security requirements for data traceability.
13. If researchers break these rules, the sponsor of the study will lose its position as a certified research institute according to Statistics Iceland’s criteria and will not be able to apply for access to the micro-data access at Statistics Iceland. Furthermore, the researcher's access to the data will be blocked immediately.
14. Researchers are aware that misuse of Statistics Iceland's data or incorrect handling of it can be in violation of the law. If there is a suspicion that a researcher has violated the law, the institution will immediately block the researcher’s access to the data and refer the case to the appropriate authorities.
15. Researchers are aware the data will be accessible for 4 years from the time when access is provided, unless otherwise stated and agreed upon by all parties. When research activities end, the researcher will notify Statistics Iceland.

The researcher is granted temporary remote access to Statistics Iceland's web server, which stores the requested microdata along with the necessary software. The server is kept separate from other Statistics Iceland systems, including databases. To access the data, a username and password provided by the microdata service are required.

The environment is equipped with non-commercial statistical computing software, such as R, R Studio and Python. Statistics Iceland does not provide researchers with commercial software for statistical analysis; however, sponsors or researchers can upload and commercial software, such as SPSS and STATA, into the remote access environment if they so choose. For further information and IT support, contact help-idunn@hagstofa.is.

Data is generally accessible for 4 years from date of access, but if analytical work requires a longer period, a separate agreement must be made.