Eastern England SDE SATRE Self-Assessment: Findings, Insights and Iterations

This report presents the self‑assessment and associated findings for the Eastern England Secure Data Environment (EE‑SDE) against the SATRE framework. SATRE is a national standard developed by DARE UK to support safe and trustworthy use of sensitive data for research. Using a structured, panel‑based approach, a multi‑disciplinary team reviewed technical, data management, and governance evidence to assess how well the platform meets SATRE requirements and to ensure consistent, transparent scoring. The assessment found that the EE‑SDE meets all mandatory SATRE requirements and shows a high level of maturity overall. Where improvement areas were identified, these related to strengthening documentation, user‑facing processes, or future capabilities rather than gaps in core security or governance. The process also led directly to practical improvements, including better operational reporting and a more focused improvement roadmap. The findings demonstrate how SATRE can be used not only for assurance, but as a tool for learning, collaboration, and continuous improvement, helping to support the development of consistent and trusted research environments across the UK.