FAQs

General

Who is IRIS OpenSpace for?

IRIS OpenSpace is a cloud application for us to collaborate online with our clients. IRIS OpenSpace has two primary functions:

• Secure File Exchange
• Electronic Document Approval

Where is IRIS OpenSpace located?

IRIS OpenSpace is hosted at Microsofts Western Europe Azure Datacentre in the which is located in Ireland. This can be confirmed by looking up the IP address and cross checking against the Windows Azure Datacenter IP ranges download.

How secure is my IRIS OpenSpace account?

Your password is encrypted using a salting and hashing algorithm. This means we don’t know your password, and anyone who looks in our database, can never find out what your password is.

Are the files encrypted by IRIS OpenSpace?

All files are encrypted in transit using SSL and AES technologies.

Are my files in IRIS OpenSpace Backed Up?

Yes, Locally Redundant Storage is part of the Microsoft Azure platform that IRIS OpenSpace runs on. Simply put, this means that there are 3 copies of all data stored at the Microsoft data centre; so if, for example, the main storage was to fail Azure would instantly switch over to one of the backups without any effect on the application or its data.

What are the minimum requirements?

IRIS OpenSpace is a cloud application and therefore all you need is an internet browser and an internet connection. We recommend the following browsers:

• Google Chrome
• Mozilla FireFox
• Apple Safari
• Microsoft IE9 (or later)

IRIS OpenSpace does not work with Microsoft IE7 or earlier versions.

I’ve forgotten my password, how do I reset it?

Click the Forgot your password? link on the login page and submit your email address; when you click reset you will receive an email, click the unique link in the email and re-create your new password.

Please note that IRIS do not have access to any user passwords, you must reset your own password.

How do I download a file (or files)?

To download an individual file simply click the filename and your internet browser will take care of the rest.

If you wish to download multiple files at once check the relevant boxes to the left of the filename and click the Download button in the toolbar, the files will be compressed into a single ZIP file which can be extracted on your computer.

When uploading a file the system does not show any progress indication

Some internet browsers do not display the progress bar whilst uploading files to IRIS OpenSpace; this is a known limitation of Internet Explorer (versions 9 and earlier).

Who do I contact for support?

Please contact your usual contact, or email us on info@ah-ltd.co.uk for support.

Client FAQs

I have received a ‘Client Registration’ email?

We have added your email address to your IRIS OpenSpace account; this means you will be able to send and receive documents to/from us in a secure environment. Simply click the link in the email to activate your account and create your password.

Please contact us for further information.

How do I upload a file for my accountant?

Login to IRIS OpenSpace and navigate into the folder location you wish to upload the file to:

• Click the Upload button in the toolbar
• Click Browse and find the file (or files) you wish to upload
• Select the file (or files) and click Open
• The upload will then start automatically

Please note the time it takes to upload a file is dependent on the upload speed of your internet connection which may be considerably slower than your download speed on a typical residential ADSL line.

How to I approve (or reject) a document?

Login to IRIS OpenSpace and navigate to the file that you have been requested to approve:

• Download the file
• Review the contents of the document
• Click the Approve link
• Click either Approve or Reject as appropriate
• Your accountant will then be notified of your action

Once a document has been approved it is then digitally sealed with your approval information and has a tamper proof certificate coversheet inserted before the first page.

e-Approval

How can a third party verify a document that has been approved?

Go to IRIS OpenSpace for more information.

Can the contents of an approved document be obtained without an IRIS OpenSpace login?

No, the only information that can be obtained is who approved the document and when it was approved.

Can verification of a document approval be obtained without a unique document ID?

No, a document ID is required; the document ID is included in the approved document.

Is electronic approval legally binding?

Yes, we have developed e-Approval in IRIS OpenSpace to be fully compliant with the Electronic Communications Act.