There are three modes of accessing the NEPS Scientific Use Files in order to ensure highest levels of data usability in accordance with the strict data protection regulations. The three access modes correspond to three data versions that differ with regard to the degree to which the data has been modified in the course of anonymization on the one hand and the data security provisions on the other. Basic requirement for any NEPS data access is the conclusion of a Data Use Agreement with the Leibniz Institute for Educational Trajectories (LIfBi).