Skip to content

“User” Compliance & Granite Access

The Dartmouth Information, Technology, and Consulting (ITC) department is responsible for tracking and maintaining compliance documentation as well as reviewing, updating, and administration of all security protocols and trainings annually for all Granite users to meet FISMA (Federal Information Security Management Act) and NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) security controls. The Research Computing section of ITC is responsible for processing Granite access requests.

"User" Definition

A "User" is defined as any project team member indicated on a project specific IRB with a Role in Research on a DUA accessing Granite.

There are two types of Users:

  1. An individual who does not has access to Granite
  2. An individual who is part of the project research team will have access to Granite.

Compliance Process Timeline

User Type 1. In general takes ~ 2 hours to complete the required Canvas training quiz and signature module and an additional ~ 2-3 hours to complete the CITI Compliance Course. No further action is required.

User Type 2. In general takes ~ 1-2 weeks from the request submission date to the completion of the required Canvas training modules, computer security review, and an on-boarding meeting for Granite use and Data Transfer processes.

All times are approximate and dependent on several departments’ involvement as well as the effort of the user. 

Dartmouth Data Management Training Program Requirements

The Canvas Training Program site is fully electronic and requires a Darmouth NetID to gain access to it. If you do not have a Dartmouth NetID you will need to request a Sponsored Account be set up for you in order to have one issued. This process step in general ~1 week to the process timeline. The user must claim their NetID in order to access Canvas.

Throughout the life span of a Granite managed project both user types are required to complete all of the Canvas training modules prior to access being granted for the project for any team member. A user is required to complete the training once within 12 months. The annual trainings renew on the Jan. 1, each calendar year.

  • Security & Compliance Training Module
    • The user will review slides and then take a quiz which must be passed with a minimum grade of 80%. This module completion is required annually.
  • User Agreement Form Module
    • The user will read the agreement, electronically sign, in which they attest to having read, understand, and agree to all required policies, standards, and procedures. They will then upload the signed document into Canvas. This module completion is required annually.
  • CITI Compliance Training Module
    • Complete the required Research Ethics and Compliance training course for Human Subjects Research and upload a copy of the CITI Course Completion Certificate into Canvas. This module completion is required in the month a current certificate expires, which is every 3 years.

Granite Access Request Process

Once the Canvas training modules have been completed confirm the requirements for Granite Access are completed as well. You will then be instructed through the below process steps by a representative from ITC/RC.

  • Computer Security Review
    • Meeting with a technician to review your machine encryption settings.
  • Granite On-boarding Meeting
    • An overview of using Granite and Data Transfer Processes.
  • Granite Registration

Upon completion of all steps you will then be granted access to your Virtual Machine in Granite. See Dartmouth Services Portal - Knowledge Base links for additional information on getting started with, logging into, and using Granite.