RISS Website: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
This Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page provides information about the Regional
Information Sharing Systems (RISS) Website. This page will be updated, revised,
and republished as it becomes appropriate to provide additional information about
the RISS Website in this format.
The RISS Website provides information to the general public about the RISS Program.
Anyone who has access to the public Internet can access the RISS Website.
In addition to presenting information to the general public about the RISS Program,
the RISS Website provides a means for authorized users of the RISS Secure Intranet,
known as RISSNET™, to log on to RISSNET to access restricted resources.
Answers to frequently asked questions (FAQ) about the RISS Program.
How do I obtain a User ID and Password for secure access to RISSNET?
During the initial phase of providing secure access to RISSNET via the RISS Website,
deployment of that capability is being restricted to a limited number of RISSNET users,
including those users requiring access to RISSNET resources with a computer running the
Microsoft Vista operating system. The RISS Office of Information Technology (RISS OIT)
Applications Development Group (ADG) will release detailed documentation about the
process by which RISS Centers will add users, and will coordinate training of RISS
Center staff. After that process is completed, RISS Center staff will provide users
from their respective regions with a User ID and Password to enable secure access to
RISSNET and RISSNET resources via the RISS Website.
Once I am provided with a User ID and Password, how do I logon to RISSNET?
Users provided a User ID and Password for secure access to RISSNET via the RISS Public Website will
enter their User ID, Password, and Session ID into the areas provided on the dedicated RISSNET
Logon Webpage, which is accessible by clicking the "Sign On" button in the upper right
corner of the RISS Public Website home page.
As an added security measure, users must also enter the
unique Session ID as seen in the box just below the Online Access section in the RISSNET Logon area.
A unique Session ID is generated each time the RISS Logon page is accessed.
In the example below, the number is 079793.
How do I access two-factor resources on RISSNET?
If a user is authorized to access any resources available through the RISSNET Portal that require
two-factor authentication (something you have, something you know), the user will be prompted for
their RISS Certificate immediately after entering their logon information. If the user chooses an
incorrect certificate or cancels out of the certificate request prompt, they will still be permitted
to access single-factor resources via the RISSNET Portal as long as they have a valid and active User
ID and Password. Likewise, if a user does not have a RISS Certificate installed on their workstation,
they will be able to access single-factor resources available via the RISSNET Portal.
How do I learn more about RISS services and the resources available via RISSNET?
For additional information, users should contact the RISS Center in their region.
Information regarding RISS Center regions is available under the RISS Centers section
on the RISS Public Website home page.
How do I get answers to additional questions I might have about the RISS Website and secure access to RISSNET via the RISS Website?
RISS Public Website users may contact the RISS Center in their region with additional questions.
In addition, users may submit feeback to the RISS Website administrators by using the Website's
feedback page, which is accessible by clicking the "Feedback" link located in the upper right
corner of every RISS Website page, just below the RISS Center logos in the page banner.
In order to ensure that your question or comment will get routed quickly to the correct
administrator destination, please enter the appropriate Subject Heading that best corresponds
with your comment or question. Your comments and suggestions are appreciated and important to
RISS; however, for a variety of reasons, the RISS Public Website administrators are unable to reply
to every feedback message. As feedback is received and questions are presented, the RISS
Website FAQ will be updated and revised as appropriate to provide additional information
about the RISS Public Website.
What is the INSTApprove™ feature?
The INSTApprove feature available on the left side of each RISS Website page allows
users to rate each page on the RISS Website immediately. Users rate each page by clicking on
one of the five sliding-scale choices on the "Approve" to "Deny" bar below the INSTApprove
logo on each page. Selecting from "Approve" toward "Deny" gives a page a higher to lower rating.
The feedback page, accessed through the "Feedback" link in the upper right corner of each RISS Website page,
permits more comprehensive feedback options.
If I’ve been a RISSNET user accessing RISSNET using other access credentials, will my experience through the Website be identical?
Users accessing RISSNET through the Website might encounter some anomalies when
compared to accessing RISSNET resources using different credentials. Users should
contact their regional RISS Center or use the "Feedback" link on the RISS Website
to report those anomalies and request additional information.
