National Industrial Security System (NISS)
Deployment Schedule
Update March 5, 2018:
*NISS has deployed in a TEST Soft Launch state. ISFD and e-FCL remain the systems of record until further notice.
*DSS plans to announce the full cutover date in Spring 2018 to establish when NISS will become the official system of record. The user community will be given at least 30 days notice prior to the full transition to NISS.
*Update regarding Account Registration/Access Issues:
- If you are unable to submit your NISS account request and receive the message, “An error occurred while determining the approver for the CAGE Code specified,” please send your NAME, EMAIL ADDRESS, CAGE CODE, and SPECIFIC ERROR to DSS.NISS@mail.mil. While this issue has been resolved for many CAGE codes, there are still some CAGE codes affected by this system bug that the team is actively working to bring to resolution. We will notify the user base, including affected users, when this system bug has been resolved. **Be as specific as possible when reporting your issue. Please include screen shots of any error messages.**
- If your account was approved but you still cannot log into NISS (either the NISS link does not appear or the NISS application does not load properly), please send your NAME, EMAIL ADDRESS, CAGE CODE, and SPECIFIC ERROR to DSS.NISS@mail.mil. **Be as specific as possible when reporting your issue. Please include screen shots of any error messages.**
*The National Industrial Security System (NISS) External User Training Course (Course ID: IS127.16) is available in STEPP! Log into STEPP to view this course.
- September 28, 2017: NISS Soft Launch Begins (Government)
- November 29, 2017: NISS Soft Launch Begins (Industry)
- NISS is available and live, but is not the system of record
- ISFD and e-FCL remain systems of record and are used for all official business
- Users can register for NISS accounts in NCAISS
- Users can familiarize themselves with the system and test functionality
- Users can provide feedback and report any issues with the system
- Training Shorts will be available on the DSS website
- At the end of the Soft Launch period, all NISS Soft Launch data will be purged except for user account and role information
- Date TBD: NISS Full Operational Capability Deployment
- NISS becomes the system of record for facility clearance information, including submission of Initial FCL and Change Condition Packages
- Data from the Soft Launch is purged, and a full migration of ISFD and e-FCL data to NISS will occur
- ISFD and e-FCL are no longer available
- Industry will submit all FCL and Change Condition packages, Security Violations, and Suspicious Contact Reports in NISS
- Government and Industry will submit all Sponsorship Requests in NISS
- Government and Industry will perform all facility clearance verifications in NISS
Registration
- NISS requires two factor authentication by using a CAC/PKI/ECA, etc. to log on
- Registration is two-fold:
- First, users will obtain an National Industrial Security Program (NISP) Central Access Information Security System (NCAISS) account
- For information about registering for an NCAISS account, visit http://www.dss.mil/is/ncaiss.html
- Second, users will obtain a NISS account through the NCAISS system. Once the user logs in to NCAISS, the user can request a NISS account using the “Create/Modify Requests” button. Users may not register for a NISS account until the soft launch deployment.
- Instructions on how to register for a NISS account can be viewed here:
- Government: Video and Transcript
- Industry: Video and Transcript
- DSS: See Instructions on the DSS NISS Intranet Page
- If an Industry member encounters an error in NCAISS when registering for their NISS account ("An error occurred while determining the approver for the CAGE Code specified."), please send an email to DSS.NISS@mail.mil and include the CAGE code and assigned DSS Industrial Security Representative. We will remedy this issue and provide a direct notification when fixed.
- For instructions on how to update your name or email address associated with your NCAISS account, click here to access the instruction guide.
Training
- The National Industrial Security System (NISS) External User Training Course (Course ID: IS127.16) is now available in STEPP! Log into STEPP to view this course.
- Additionally, training shorts are available for Industry and Government users within the NISS application. Examples include: How to Submit a Sponsorship Request, How to Submit a Facility Verification Request, and How to Message my ISR. Please note, this is not an all-encompassing list of training shorts.
User Roles for External Users
The following user roles will be available for External users. An external user can request multiple roles, if required for their job duties.
- Facility Clearance Verifiers
- Facility Clearance Verifier – Government Contracting Activity (GCA)
- Facility Clearance Verifier – Other Government Activity (OGA)
- Facility Clearance Verifier – Industry
- Facility Clearance Sponsors
- Sponsor - Government Contracting Activity (GCA)
- Sponsor - Industry
- Industry Security Staff
- Corporate Security Officer
- Facility Security Officer (FSO)
- Assistant Facility Security Officer (AFSO)
- Other Security Staff
- Key Management Personnel (KMP)
Overview
NISS is DSS’ future information system architecture and will replace Industrial Security Facilities Database (ISFD) and Electronic Facilities Clearance System (e-FCL) capabilities to develop an on-demand, data-driven environment with automated workflows accessible to Industry and Government partners.
NISS is being developed and released in increments, allowing users to experience benefits quickly. The initial increment of NISS will replace and expand upon capabilities of two legacy systems, ISFD and e-FCL, and automate the Initial Facility Clearance process. This increment will also provide expanded access and transparency to security professionals’ facility information. Increment 1 will be followed by additional enhancements to the system’s functionality and integration, ultimately automating many core DSS and Industry security functions.
NISS solution has been developed in-line with Deputy Chief Management Officer (DCMO) requirements to maximize value while minimizing costs. DSS conducted Business Process Reengineering (BPR) of 22 core DSS functions to create streamlined and efficient workflows. The BPR efforts engaged over 300 DSS, Industry, and Government stakeholders to generate true system requirements tied to optimized business processes.
NISS is a top DSS priority and will modernize the National Industrial Security Program (NISP) Information Environment and provide the USG and Industry stakeholders with a data-driven, collaborative, integrated capability to assess and mitigate risk.
NISS Benefits
- Increased transparency for Industry and Government stakeholders
- Ability for stakeholders to review facility clearance information, requests, communications, and results with DSS in one location
- Expedited performance against classified contracts
- Streamlined business processes, including facility clearance (FCL) processing
- Enhanced FOCI mitigation processing
- Improved processing of information system approvals
- Automatic notifications and alerts
- Upcoming security vulnerability assessments (SVA) alerts, reminders for outstanding submissions to DSS
- Dashboard feature
- Ability to monitor and track tasks and view real time facility data
- History of facility security information
- Ability to review company’s results, documentation, and interactions with DSS
- Utilizes Single Sign-On (SSO) Capabilities (NCAISS)
- Reporting features and capabilities
- Role based access to information
Additional Information
Notices
September 12, 2017
Update to the deployment schedule posted.
August 21, 2017
Update to the soft launch deployment schedule posted.
July 25, 2017
Information on this page was updated. The Schedule section was added.
May 24, 2017 Page Updated
Information on this page was updated.
May 9, 2017 Change in URLs for Information Systems
In an effort to avoid confusion when the Defense Information System for Security goes live later this year, the URLs for the information systems linked from the dropdown menu of the DSS main page were recently updated. If you bookmarked a URL for an information system, please update it accordingly.
September 1, 2016 Initial Update
The development of NISS is underway! Increment 1, which consists of replacing the Industrial Security Facilities Database (ISFD), the Electronic Facility Clearance System (e-FCL), and enhancing the Facility Clearance (FCL) process, is scheduled to deploy in Q4 FY2017. A robust testing period including DSS, Government, and Industry personnel will begin in June 2017. We will update this website if there are any changes to the schedule.
Additional functionality to include enhancing the Security Vulnerability Assessment (SVA) process, submitting Suspicious Contact Reports, requesting Safeguarding approvals, and mobile capabilities will be deployed in future increments.