Handling Complexity in Decentralized Research Networks: The Data Sharing Framework Allowlist Management Application

Abstract

Introduction With the establishment of the Data Sharing Framework (DSF) as a distributed business process engine in German research networks, it is becoming increasingly important to coordinate authentication, authorization, and role information between peer-to-peer network components. This information is provided in the form of an allowlist. This paper presents a concept and implementation of an Allowlist Management Application. State of the Art In research networks using the DSF, allowlists were initially generated manually. Concept The Allowlist Management Application provides comprehensive tool support for the participating organizations and the administrators of the Allowlist Management Application. It automates the process of creating and distributing allowlists and additionally reduces errors associated with manual entries. In addition, security is improved through extensive validation of entries and enforcing review of requested changes by implementing a four-eyes principle. Implementation Our implementation serves as a preliminary development for the complete automation of onboarding and allowlist management processes using established frontend and backend frameworks. The application has been deployed in the Medical Informatics Initiative and the Network University Medicine with over 40 participating organizations. Lessons learned We learned the need for user guidance, unstructured communication in a structured tool, generalizability, and checks to ensure that the tool's outputs have actually been applied.