Federated data analysis is a method of analyzing data stored in different locations or systems without moving or centralizing the data. Instead of bringing all the data to one place, the analysis is performed where the data is stored, and only the results are combined. This approach is often used to maintain data privacy and security. This way, the data stays in its original location, and sensitive information is protected. Imagine you have puzzle pieces spread across different rooms. Instead of collecting all the pieces into one room, you go to each room, analyze the pieces, and then bring back just the conclusions to see the full picture. In healthcare, hospitals can use federated data analysis to study patient trends without sharing sensitive patient records. Each hospital analyzes its own data locally, and only the aggregated findings are shared.
