National Industrial Security System (NISS)
Deployment Schedule
Update June 8, 2018:
*NISS is currently unavailable as we prepare for full deployment scheduled for 30 July 2018. Please do not attempt to create new accounts or log into the system as you will be unable to do so until full deployment.
Over the past several months, DSS has been finalizing the NISS application for deployment. We appreciate your patience throughout this period and are pleased to announce the following NISS deployment timeline to replace the Industrial Security Facilities Database (ISFD) and Electronic Facility Clearance System (e-FCL) to become the system of record for facility clearance information! The timeline for NISS transition follows:
- Monday, June 11 – External Notification
- DSS notifies External user community of the Transition Plan.
- Friday, June 15 – FCB New Sponsorship Package Procedure
- Facility Clearance Branch (FCB) will not be able to process and thus will not accept new Facility Clearance sponsorships after Friday July 15 until Industry and Government users can submit their Facility Clearance Sponsorship Requests in NISS starting July 30.
- Friday, July 6 – Industry e-FCL Submission Site Shutdown
- As of 8pm EST this day, e-FCL will no longer be available for Industry users.
- FSOs will contact their ISR if they have a Change Condition to report. Based on guidance from your ISR, if you need to submit relevant information via email or AMRDEC.
- Any self-inspection certifications should be submitted in NISS after July 30.
- Monday, July 9 – Friday, July 20 – Facility Clearance Verifications in ISFD
- External Government and Industry members may continue to access ISFD to perform facility clearance verification requests.
- ISFD will be taken offline on Friday July 20.
- Monday, July 23 – Friday, July 27 – Clearance Verifications Submitted to DSS Knowledge Center
- During this week, external Government and Industry users will call the DSS Knowledge Center (888) 282-7682, Option 3, for any facility clearance verifications as NISS will not be live for external users and ISFD will be taken offline.
- Monday, July 30, – NISS Live for External Users!
- External Government and Industry users will begin registration for NISS.
- Note, any user with a current NISS Soft Launch account will need to re-register for NISS. Any existing NISS accounts will not be maintained.
- External Government accounts are routed to the Knowledge Center for approval.
- Industry accounts are routed to their CAGE Code’s ISR.
- Industry and Government users will use NISS to validate facility clearances and submit sponsorship requests.
- No new FCL Sponsorship requests will be accepted via email from this day forward and must be submitted using the “Government – Sponsor” or “Industry – Sponsor” role.
*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.
Registration
- NISS is currently unavailable as we prepare for full deployment scheduled for 30 July 2018. Please do not attempt to create new accounts or log into the system as you will be unable to do so until full deployment. The information below is provided for situational awareness only.
- 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.
- 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
- 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
June 9, 2018
Update to the deployment schedule posted.
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.