A data sharing platform is a device that allows real-time data exchange between various systems. These platforms typically include scalability, security, and governance, while facilitating use for non-technical business users. These platforms are not designed to be static, as are traditional single-box solutions. They are designed to allow real-time sharing of data. This includes supporting multiple consumers, producers, clouds, divisions or companies, high rates of data throughput as well as bidirectional flows, and enabling both continuous and one-time data exchanges.

In a medical environment, this means sharing patient records deidentified to other doctors and researchers. This allows collaboration on research projects to improve the quality of care and speed up the development of medical treatments. It also allows for quicker second opinions and helps patients select the most effective treatment options.

Data sharing can also help research to be more efficient. Researchers can pool their resources and knowledge to avoid duplicate efforts and also perform a larger analysis of trends over a wider geographic or topic. It can also decrease the need for monetary investment in new infrastructure, allowing researchers to draw on existing data sources.

Airbnb shared host data in anonymity with New York City here as an example of an open-ended public sector solution to the problem of illegal short-term rentals. This illustrates how sharing data can benefit both the public and private sector.