Securely share

Estimated time: 25 minutes

Overview

Questions

• What are data access protocols?
• Is open access a data access protocol?
• Can data be exposed as a service through FAIR API protocols?

Objectives

• Learn what data access protocols are.
• Distinguish between human-facing and machine-facing access instructions.
• Explore how FAIR API protocols can expose data as a service.

Callout

FAIR principles used in data access protocols

Accessible:

• FM-A1.1 Access Protocol: https://doi.org/10.25504/FAIRsharing.yDJci5
• FM-A1.2 Access Authorization: https://doi.org/10.25504/FAIRsharing.EwnE1n

Interoperable:

• FM-I3 Use Qualified References: https://doi.org/10.25504/FAIRsharing.B2sbNh

What are data access protocols?

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Data access protocols are the explicit rules and steps that tell humans or machines how to access a data source.

Electronic access control system

Just as you need the correct key, code, or procedure to enter a secure room, data access often depends on following the correct process.

Access protocol	Example	Note
Communication between machines	HTTP request or API call	A machine requests information using a standard network protocol
Communication between humans	Data request form or email workflow	A person follows explicit instructions to request access

Callout

Protocols are rules communicated in a shared language

Humans may use a written access policy or form, while machines use APIs and network protocols such as HTTP. Common API styles include SOAP, REST, and SPARQL.

Is open access a data access protocol?

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Strictly speaking, open access is a policy framework rather than a network protocol, but in practice it functions as an access model with explicit rules: the data can be retrieved openly without individual authorization.

Depositing data in a public repository often gives the resource an open-access access route automatically. Some open datasets also expose machine-readable access through APIs or SPARQL endpoints.

Example:

• EU public data SPARQL interface: https://data.europa.eu/data/sparql
• Endpoint: https://data.europa.eu/sparql

EU public data SPARQL example

Challenge

Exercise

Visit the Zenodo COVID-19 community:

https://zenodo.org/communities/covid-19/

What is the default data access protocol visible for the displayed records?

Show me the solution

The records are presented as open access resources, which is visible through the repository interface and download behavior.

Callout

Open access can be human-friendly and machine-friendly

Humans see direct download options. Machines see stable web requests and, in some systems, structured service endpoints.

Can data be exposed as a service through FAIR API protocols?

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Yes, but it requires technical infrastructure and some familiarity with linked data or knowledge graph tooling.

Useful tools include:

Tool	Source	GUI	Note
TriplyDB	https://triplydb.com/	Yes	Quick hosted option for exposing data
GraphDB	https://www.ontotext.com/products/graphdb/	Yes	Requires a server or managed deployment
FAIR Data Point	https://github.com/fair-data/fairdatapoint	No	Powerful but technical
rdflib-endpoint	https://pypi.org/project/rdflib-endpoint/	No	Fast local route for experimentation

Callout

Register FAIR APIs where others can find them

If you expose a FAIR API or similar service endpoint, register it in an appropriate service registry such as SMART API:

https://www.smart-api.info/

Challenge

Exercise

Expose RDF data through a service endpoint:

1. Reuse the RDF data generated from the data descriptions episode, or bring another RDF file.
2. Install rdflib-endpoint.
3. Run a local service and confirm that the data can be queried.

Show me the solution

This is intentionally optional. The goal is to understand what it takes to move from static downloadable data to a service-oriented access model.

Discussion

Scenario

You have sensitive financial information that cannot be openly disclosed, but you still want to enable legitimate research access.

What kind of human and machine access protocols would you design? What should be openly visible, and what should only be available behind review or controlled authorization?

Key Points

• Data access protocols describe how humans and machines gain access to data.
• Open access is an access model that can still be expressed through explicit rules and interfaces.
• Human-facing request forms and machine-facing APIs are both important access patterns in FAIR data practice.
• FAIR service endpoints are more useful when they are registered and discoverable.