Map the existing technical solutions

The technical implementation of data sharing largely depends on the types of sharing solutions developed for the information system. The sharing of data residing in old information systems can often be difficult because the system was not designed for data sharing from the outset.
In such a situation, data transfer may require technical changes to the information system.

Examine

1. the types of information systems in which data is processed and stored
2. what kind of solutions are already used to transfer data between information systems.

First, it must be determined which types of information systems are used to process and store data. This may have an impact on what kind of technical solutions should be activated when sharing or opening the data.

1. In practice, you should find out who is responsible for the information systems in question. They can provide information about the systems.
2. You should also try to obtain system documentation. However, this may not always be possible, as some of the systems used are so-called off-the-shelf software, the data structure and APIs of which may be trade secrets.

You must determine whether data from the dataset has already been transferred outside the information system and, if so, with what technical solutions?

The types of distribution solutions developed for the information system will have a major impact on the technical implementation of data transfers.

Data may have been transferred from the system in the following ways:

1. Data has been transferred as individual file packages.
2. An API has been implemented in connection with the information system, through which data can be transferred.

In practice, it is usually easier to transfer and utilise data elsewhere if an application programming interface (API) has been implemented in the information system.

If the data transfer is to use the Data Exchange Layer or sharing requires the use of the Data Exchange Layer, it must be possible to build APIs from the data system.

Read more about the Data Exchange Layer.Opens in a new window.