Platform X: Overview

What is Platform X?

Platform X is a secure, flexible, and scalable cloud-based computing environment that provides a virtual machine (VM) and a storage account that has enhanced HIPAA security, advanced technical features, and privacy protections for a research teams' exclusive use. Existing data sharing agreements between the UW School of Medicine and Public Health (SMPH) and UW Health facilitates the use of sensitive (e.g. PHI) data within this secure environment. Platform X can facilitate research leveraging AI with a secure connection to Microsoft Foundry and support locally run models on GPU-enabled machines.

Researchers use Platform X for secure access and computing

• Cloud-based workstation for research team's exclusive use and control.
  • Research teams use their IT-managed devices to securely connect to the virtual machine (VM) via remote desktop.
• Secure data transfers via Globus integration.
  • Secure data from UW Health and other healthcare partners can be loaded directly into Platform X.
• Scalable memory and processing power to align with researcher needs.
  • VMs can be modified to increase their compute or reduce their hourly runtime cost.
• Standard research software and project specific software available.
• Platform X provides access to 10,000+ different AI models via Microsoft Foundry within the secure VM

Why it is important to use Platform X?

1. Data security and privacy protections are in place for all users, which allows restricted (including PHI) data to be utilized.
2. Data is backed up regularly and automatically. Your data is safe throughout VM shutdowns and configuration changes.
3. Platform X is a secure way to receive and analyze the data, including data directly delivered from UW Health via Clinical Research Data Services (CRDS).
4. Platform X is a secure way to use AI through Microsoft Foundry or through local model deployment.