Updated 07.05.2026

Exporting results from the processing environment

This page provides instructions on how to export results from the secure processing environment.

Before results can be exported, their anonymity must be assessed using a risk assessment, and Findata must be notified. In certain cases, the results must also be submitted to Findata for anonymity verification.

Risk-based assessment of results

All results exported from the secure processing environment must be anonymous.

Anonymity is ensured through a risk-based assessment. The risk assessment must be carried out for results produced from data granted under the Secondary Use Act and processed in a secure processing environment compliant with the Act. Findata must be notified every time results are exported from a secure processing environment, regardless of whether the results involve a disclosure risk.

The assessment and notification is carried out differently depending on where the data is processed:

  • Findata’s Kapseli environment: the assessment and notification are done using the Portti tool.
  • Statistics Finland’s FIONA environment: no risk assessment or notification to Findata is required for exported results.
  • Other secure processing environments: the assessment and notification are carried out using Findata’s risk assessment form.

Findata can produce anonymous results on request by the permit holder. This service is subject to a fee.
For more information: data@findata.fi

How to speed up the anonymity verification of results
  1. Read the instructions on how to produce anonymous results carefully and make sure that the results you produce comply with the instructions.
    • See instructions: Producing anonymous results
    • If necessary, contact Findata’s help desk (info@findata.fi) if you need help for applying the instructions.
  2. Carry out a risk assessment of disclosure risk in the results
    • Findata’s Kapseli environment: the assessment is done using the Portti tool.
    • Statistics Finland’s FIONA environment: no risk assessment or notification to Findata is required for exported results.
    • Other secure processing environments: the assessment is carried out using Findata’s risk assessment form.
    • If the risk level is low, the results do not need to be submitted to Findata for anonymity verification.
  3. If the risk assessment indicates that verification is required, submit the results to Findata.
  4. If your results do not fully comply with the guidelines, provide justification
    • Explain why the results can still be considered anonymous. Please note that without valid justification, such results cannot be published.
  5. Produce results in a format that enables anonymity verification.
    • Ensure all variables are described using names understandable to an external reader
    • Clearly indicate the type of result (e.g. frequency, regression coefficient, or other test statistic)
  6. Request result exports from the secure processing environment in appropriately sized batches
    • Do not submit individual result packages too frequently (for example, not on a daily basis). Processing multiple separate submissions takes more time due to data transfer and communication.
    • A large number of results also increases the review time. As a general rule, we recommend submitting results in batches of no more than 50 files. Very large packages containing hundreds of files or sheets are more time-consuming to process, especially if issues related to anonymity are identified.
  7. Submit results in commonly used file formats, such as Word, PDF, Excel, CSV, JPEG, TIFF, or PNG.
    • If we are unable to open the file you have submitted, we will need to request a resubmission in a different file format.

Exporting results from Kapseli processing environment

All results exported from Kapseli must be anonymous. Findata verifies anonymity through a risk-based assessment carried out using the Portti tool in Kapseli.

Read the anonymisation guidelines before exporting results: Producing anonymous results

Please note:

  • Results produced in Kapseli must be exported using the Portti tool.
  • Portti is intended solely for transferring anonymous results. Under no circumstances may it be used to transfer personal data or any other non-anonymous information.

How to export results from Kapseli

1. Transfer results via Portti for risk-based anonymity assessment
  1. Open the Portti tool from the Kapseli desktop.
    • The tool has Chrome icon
  2. Choose your preferred language from the top right corner.
  3. Create a new transfer by clicking “New submission” in the top left corner.
  4. Click “Choose Files” and add the file or zip folder containing the results.
    • Only one file can be transferred at a time. If you want to transfer multiple files, compress them into a single zip folder first.
    • Make sure that no data has been left hidden in the background of the result files (for example, in the metadata).
    • Make sure that the file or zip folder name does not contain spaces or unsupported special characters. The transfer will fail if these are included. The following special characters are permitted: dots, hyphens, and underscores (. – _).
    • The maximum size for one transfer is 20 MB.
  5. Complete the requested information in the “Results to be submitted” and “Summary” sections.
    • Select the result type(s) that best describe your results. The transfer will not proceed without this selection. You may choose multiple options.
  6. Click “Submit” to send the results to Findata for anonymity verification.
2. Processing Portti transfers and approving results
  1. If there are issues related to the anonymity of the results or if additional information is needed, we will contact you by email from portti@csc.fi.
    • If corrections are requested, make the changes according to the instructions and submit a new transfer via Portti.
    • Your reply message will automatically be forwarded to data@findata.fi.
  2. Approval of results
    • Once the results have been approved, they will be transferred to the submitter’s Tunneli transfer service. You will receive an automatic email notification.
    • Results are automatically deleted from Tunneli six months after the transfer, so remember to save them to your own device in time.
  3. You can track the status of your transfers in the “My submissions” view in Portti.
    • Findata processes submitted results within five business days. If the result files are exceptionally large, the processing time may exceed five business days.

Exporting results from other processing environment

All results exported from the secure processing environment must be anonymous. When exporting results from a secure processing environment other than Kapseli, Findata verifies anonymity through a risk-based assessment.

Findata must be notified every time results are exported from a secure processing environment, regardless of whether the results involve a disclosure risk.

Read the anonymisation guidelines before exporting results: Producing anonymous results

Please note that for Statistics Finland’s FIONA secure processing environment, the risk assessment and notification is carried out within FIONA itself, and results do not need to be submitted separately to Findata for anonymity verification.

Read more: Output checking process in FIONA (stat.fi)

How to export results from other secure processing environments

1. Assess the anonymity of the results using the risk assessment form
  1. Assess the anonymity of the anonymous results you have produced using Findata’s risk assessment form.
  2. The form provides an assessment of the level of disclosure risk associated with the results.
    • If the risk is high, submit the results to Findata for anonymity verification.
    • If the risk is low, the results do not need to be submitted to Findata.
  3. Notify Findata of the results to be exported from the secure processing environment using the notification form that opens after completing the risk assessment.
    • The notification must be submitted regardless of whether the results involve a disclosure risk.
2. Submitting high-risk results to Findata for anonymity verification
  1. Download and complete the summary form.
  2. Compress the results and the summary form into a zip folder and name it as follows: Results_[Record_number_of_permit_decision][Processing_environment_ID][Delivery_date]
    • E.g.: Results_THL_1234_14.02.00_2020_a01_15032021
    • Note: Date format should be ddmmyyyy.
  3. Choose whether to submit the results to Findata via Tunneli transfer service or secure email.
    • If you already have a Tunneli ID, submit the results via Tunneli.
    • Otherwise, submit the results via secure email according to the instructions below.
    • Please note that result files must never be sent to Findata as attachments in a standard email.
  4. Notify Findata whether you will submit the results via Tunneli or secure email.
    • Send an email to data@findata.fi with the subject line: “Verification of the anonymity of results, [permit reference/diary number]”
  5. Submitting results via Tunneli
    • Include the permit reference or diary number and your Tunneli ID in the message.
    • You will receive from Findata the name of the folder where you can upload the zip folder containing the results and the summary form.
    • See additional instructions: Data transfers
  6. Submitting results via secure email
    • You will receive a secure email message from Findata. By replying to the message, you can submit the encrypted zip folder containing the results and the summary form.
  7. If there are issues related to the anonymity of the results, we will contact you within seven business days of submission.
    • If you do not hear from us within this timeframe, the anonymity of the results has been verified and you can proceed exporting the results from the secure processing environment.

Risk assessment form

Complete this form when exporting results from a secure processing environment other than Kapseli or FIONA. The form will display additional questions as you progress and respond to each section.

After completing the risk assessment, continue filling in the form to notify Findata of the export of results.

Reference guide

If Findata has granted a data permit or issued a data request decision for your project, please cite Findata in publications as “Finnish Social and Health Data Permit Authority Findata”.

Other recommendations:

  • Follow the writing guidelines of the relevant scientific publication series.
  • Reference Findata in line with our statutory duties. Under data permits, these include pseudonymisation and ensuring the anonymity of results, and under data requests, data integration, aggregation, and anonymisation.
  • Findata may be referenced in the text, tables, figures, permit lists, acknowledgements, and reference lists.
  • Where possible, include the diary number(s) of the data permit or data request in the citation.

Examples of in-text citations

“Research data was obtained from the Finnish Social and Health Data Permit Authority Findata with data permit THL/XXXX/14.XX.00/20XX. Findata was responsible for the pseudonymization of the data and ensuring the anonymity of the final results.”

“The statistics were produced by Findata, the Finnish Social and Health Data Permit Authority, with data request THL/XXXX/14.XX.00/20XX. Findata was responsible for data integration and producing the anonymized statistics.”

Example of table citation

DataSource
Research dataFinnish Social and Health Data Permit Authority Findata, data permit THL/XXXX/14.XX.00/20XX

Example of citation in a reference list

Findata. (Year). Data permit THL/XXXX/14.XX.00/20XX. Finnish Social and Health Data Permit Authority Findata.

Report published research results to Findata

Use the form below to report articles and publications that have made use of data authorised by Findata.

One of the criteria for the issuing of a data permit for the purpose of scientific research is that the results are published as scientific publications. The form can also be used to report publications of data authorised for other uses.