What is BORIS?
BORIS is the computer system that our department uses to maintain all information about the products and services we provide to our customers. Using BORIS, our staff can create and maintain customer account profiles, record the status of installation and repair requests, and process monthly billing. We provide online access to some functions of BORIS to our customers.
What can I do with BORIS?
BORIS allows our customers to do a variety of things: look at telephone and television charges for which they have already received billing statements, access their Trouble Ticket (request for repair) and Work Order (request for installation or change) records, and perform analyses of charges.
Who can use BORIS?
BORIS is available only to our department's customers of telephone, television, and data services. Faculty and staff members who have a UCSBNetID can access data for services that are recharged to University Account Numbers to which they have been delegated access by their departmental security administrator.
What do I need before I can use BORIS?
You'll need a personal computer with a web browser, and a UCSBNetID and password. Your departmental security administrator must also have asked Communications Services to authorize your UCSBNetID to access records associated with specific 4-digit department codes. For more information, see How do I authorize users for Boris?.
BORIS supports most current browsers, and supports Internet Explorer 5.5 or higher.
Allow Popups: If you have a pop-up blocker on your web browser, please configure it to allow the BORIS website to use pop-up windows.
How do I get a UCSBNetID?
Visit the UCSB Directory Service for more information.
How do I access BORIS?
Go to the BORIS Login page on the Communications Services website and enter your UCSBNetID and password.
I am a Departmental Security Administrator (DSA). How do I authorize users for BORIS?
All logins to BORIS require that the user have a UCSBnetID and password. Information on obtaining a UCSBnetID can be found at the UCSB Directory website (follow the link to “UCSBNetID Account Management”). DSAs with UCSBnetIDs should already have authorization to log in to BORIS. If you are a DSA and have just established your UCSBnetID, you may need to contact us to have your UCSBnetID activated in BORIS.
Currently, changes to existing BORIS users and addition of new BORIS users are handled by Communications Services Customer Service. DSAs may make requests for the additions and changes by sending email to help@commserv.ucsb.edu. Requests should include the UCSBNetID and name of the individual needing access, and the 4-digit department codes associated with the accounts and subscribers to which the individual will have access. There is no charge for adding or changing BORIS users.
When is BORIS available for use?
BORIS is normally available for use 24 hours per day, except for planned outages and unplanned equipment failures.
When I try to log onto BORIS it wants to create a cookie. Why?
A cookie is a small, encrypted data string our server creates to contain your unique Identification Number as you move between some applications on our website. We use "non-persistent" cookies, which are stored in your computer's memory, only while your web browser is running on your computer. Once you close your browser application, the cookie is gone. A cookie cannot be used to access or otherwise compromise the data in your computer or on your hard drive.
Allow Cookies: You can choose to change your browser settings to disable cookies, but please be aware that cookies are required to use BORIS. If you disable cookies you will not be able to use BORIS.
Is the data sent between BORIS and my computer secure? Can someone else see it?
BORIS uses Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) technology to provide privacy, integrity, and authentication.
Privacy protects messages from being read by unintended recipients. SSL supports privacy by encrypting the data that is communicated between your computer and our website.
Integrity protects messages from being altered. If altered, messages cannot be decrypted correctly. SSL supports integrity by using the MD5 message-digest algorithm.
Authentication verifies that the person or machine on the other end of the connection is who it claims it is. SSL supports authentication by using certificates. When a browser connects to a server, the server presents its certificate. The browser then either accepts that certificate automatically (if it is included in the "site certificates" in the browser) or prompts the customer to decide whether to accept the certificate. The certificate allows the customer to be sure that the server is who it is claiming to be. We use certificates from GeoTrust, a leading provider of Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) and digital certificate solutions used by enterprises, websites, and consumers to conduct secure communications and transactions over the Internet and private networks.
Can I download data from BORIS to my computer?
Yes, you can download some data – including account usage, department usage, and analysis reports – in PDF or Excel format, and save them to your computer. Instructions are available in the BORIS Help files under "Reports."
Can I view and reprint my billing statement in BORIS?
Yes, your billing statements (called "Account Usage Report" in BORIS), are available for download in a searchable PDF format. See How to Access Your Account Usage Report for instructions.
Is there any help information available?
You can access the BORIS Help System from any screen after you've logged in to the system. Look for the button labeled HELP at the upper right of the screen.
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