datasettasoihin

Datasettasoihin is a Finnish term used to describe a framework for categorizing datasets by level, or tier, of access, sensitivity, and governance. The concept combines datasetti (dataset) with taso (level) and is employed in Finnish data management, research policy, and public sector guidance to structure how data are stored, documented, and shared. It is not a universally standardized term, but it appears in organizational policies and collaborative projects to provide a common language for data handling.

A typical datasettasoihin scheme identifies several tiers with associated criteria. Common levels include public (openly accessible), internal (restricted to the organization), restricted (requires data-sharing agreements or project membership), and highly restricted or confidential (contains personal or sensitive information with tight access controls). Criteria used to distinguish levels often cover data sensitivity and identifiability, quality and completeness of metadata, licensing or use restrictions, retention periods, and required controls such as encryption, audit trails, and access approvals. Examples help illustrate the idea: a publicly released, de-identified aggregate dataset might sit at the public tier, while a server-hosted linkage of identifiable health records would belong to a highly restricted tier.

In practice, applying datasettasoihin supports governance by clarifying who may access which data, under what conditions, and for which purposes. It aids compliance with privacy and ethical obligations, enhances reproducibility through consistent metadata practices, and helps manage risks related to data sharing and reuse. Limitations include variable definitions across organizations and the need for ongoing maintenance of tier criteria and access controls.

Related concepts include data classification, data governance, privacy impact assessment, and data sharing policies.