REDCap Technical Overview and Infrastructure Requirements

This document is a technical overview of REDCap, a web application designed for managing online surveys and databases. It outlines the technical aspects necessary for hosting REDCap, including infrastructure requirements, data storage models, user privileges, authentication options, and security measures. The document emphasizes the importance of the IT infrastructure in securing REDCap, detailing best practices such as separating the web server and database server and utilizing SSL for secure communications. It also describes user privileges, which ensure that users have access only to the data they are authorized to view. Various authentication methods are available, including LDAP and two-factor authentication, enhancing security. Additionally, the document discusses the built-in audit trail feature that logs user activities, allowing administrators to monitor access and modifications. Finally, it covers data export capabilities, enabling users to export project data in multiple formats, ensuring flexibility in data management.