eRA Information: Required Use of Login.gov to Access eRA Commons, ASSIST, IAR and Commons Mobile Coming in 2021A new login method, in pilot since April 2020, is rolling out for all users of eRA Commons, ASSIST, Internet Assisted Review (IAR) and Commons Mobile in 2021. This secure two-factor authentication allows you to log into multiple systems using the same login.gov credentials, while enhancing the security and integrity of access to data in eRA systems. The new secure two-factor authentication (2FA) login method involves users creating an account at login.gov, a centralized government portal, and associating their eRA Commons or ASSIST account with it. Users only need to do this association one time. This requirement will be phased in first for reviewers, meeting by meeting, starting with review meetings effective February 1, 2021, and beyond. Users of eRA Commons, Commons Mobile and ASSIST can switch any time to the new option; they are encouraged to begin the switchover to login.gov now, before the mandatory deadline of September 15, 2021, for all users. Background: eRA has been piloting the use of login.gov to access eRA’s external modules with select review groups with excellent success since April 2020 (see our April 6 communication). eRA’s move to two-factor authentication via login.gov is part of an HHS initiative to provide the external user community the ability to log in to four different grants systems (eRA, Grants.gov, GrantSolutions.gov and Payment Management System) using the same account via login.gov. What’s involved: The two-factor authentication method involves creating an account at login.gov, a centralized government portal, and associating your eRA Commons account with it. If you already have an eRA Commons account:
If you do not have an eRA Commons account:
Once done, the next time you log into eRA Commons using login.gov, you will automatically be redirected to eRA Commons without having to log in again. If you have multiple eRA Commons accounts
Note: Once you start using login.gov to access eRA Commons or ASSIST; the use of other login methods such as Commons or ASSIST credentials (username/password) or InCommon federated credentials (use of an organization’s credentials) is not permitted. This requirement to use login.gov also applies to any activities you may subsequently do in eRA Commons as a principal investigator, reviewer, etc. For those who utilize InCommon federated credentials, NIH is working with the InCommon Federation community to determine if and when that service could implement the necessary two-factor authentication processes to allow that login method to continue in the future. For more information on making 2FA a requirement, please see Guide Notice NOT-OD-21-040. Resources Web page: Two-Factor Authentication: Accessing eRA Modules via login.gov Two-factor authentication video tutorials:
Two-Factor Authentication FAQs Help
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