Big Data Sandbox Options for a Sustainable Future

Option 0: No sandbox

Option 0 would be to discontinue the use of current sandbox at the end of 2015. Under this option, there will be no cost for the community, however statistical organisations might need to find an alternative environment to substitute the computing capability offered by the sandbox. This may mean each organisation individually acquiring similar infrastructure to achieve similar outcomes, which would be less efficient. Another possibility would be to turn to commercial providers, the costs for which vary considerably depend on the capacity and intensity of usage. It is estimated that the average cost would be in the range of €20,000 - €150,000 per year, depending on configuration options. However, option 0 implies the loss of existing cooperation among countries/organisations and the discontinuation of sharing of experiences and exchange of ideas.