Configuring a risk register
Use the risk register settings page to review and update the configuration of an existing risk register, including its name, administrators, optional JQL sub-filter, and residual risk display behaviour.
Who can change these settings? You must be a Jira administrator or an administrator of the individual risk register. If you can open the settings page but can’t edit it, ask a Jira administrator or an existing risk register administrator to update your access. For more detail, see Application Permissions.
Before you begin
Confirm that Risk Register has an active app licence.
Open the risk register list and identify the register you want to update.
If you plan to use a sub-filter, prepare and test the JQL in Jira first.
If you are changing administrators, make sure at least one current user remains assigned.
Open risk register settings
From the Jira navigation, select Apps.
Select Risk Register.
Find the risk register you want to update.
Select Settings or Configure for the risk register.
The settings page shows the register’s current scope and configuration. To return to the register, select View the risk register content.
Review the register scope
The scope determines the initial set of Jira work items that can be included in the register. A risk register can be scoped to a Jira space or to a Jira saved filter.
You can’t change the primary scope of a current risk register from the settings page. To create a register with a different scope, see Creating a risk register.
Scope type | What you’ll see | What you can do |
|---|---|---|
Space-scoped register | Scoped to space, followed by the space name and key. | Select the space name to open it in Jira. If the space can’t be found, Risk Register displays Underlying space not found and the Jira ID. |
Filter-scoped register | Scoped to filter, followed by the filter name and JQL query. | Select the filter name to open it in Jira. If the filter can’t be found, Risk Register displays Underlying filter not found and the filter ID. |
The saved filter and the Sub-filter setting serve different purposes. The saved filter defines the register’s primary scope. The optional Sub-filter further restricts the work items within that scope.
Update general settings
Change the risk register name
Use Risk register name to change the name displayed for the register.
The name is required.
It must contain at least 2 characters.
It can contain up to 120 characters.
It doesn’t have to be unique.
Changing the name doesn’t change the register’s scope or the Jira work items included in it.
Manage administrators
Use Administrator(s) to control who can administer the individual risk register. Risk register administrators can change settings for that register without needing to be Jira administrators.
To add an administrator:
Select Administrator(s).
Enter part of the person’s name or email address.
Select the user from the results.
You can assign multiple administrators. To remove an administrator, remove their name from the field.
At least one administrator must be selected before the settings can be saved. If you remove yourself and you aren’t a Jira administrator, you must acknowledge that you’ll no longer be able to make changes to this risk register.
Inactive and missing administrators
An inactive Jira account is displayed with (INACTIVE) after the user’s name. If an account referenced by the register can no longer be found, Risk Register displays Account [account ID] not found.
Remove inactive or missing accounts from the administrator list and replace them with current users where required.
Apply a sub-filter
Use Sub-filter to further restrict which Jira work items are shown in the risk register. Enter a JQL expression in the field.
The sub-filter is combined with the register’s existing scope. A work item must satisfy both the primary scope and the sub-filter to be included in the register.
Example | JQL | Effect |
|---|---|---|
Exclude completed work items |
| Shows only work items that aren’t in a Done status category. |
Show unresolved work items |
| Limits the register to unresolved work items. |
Show high-priority items within a saved filter |
| Further restricts the saved-filter scope to high-priority work items. |
You can leave the Sub-filter empty if you don’t need an additional restriction. Risk Register checks JQL syntax as you edit it, and you can’t save while the field contains parsing errors. For Jira’s JQL reference, see Use advanced search with Jira Query Language (JQL).
Changing a Sub-filter can substantially change the work items displayed in the risk register. It doesn’t delete or modify the underlying Jira work items.
Configure the residual risk view
Use Residual risk view to control what the register displays when a risk has an inherent risk assessment but doesn’t yet have a separate residual risk assessment.
Option | Use when | Behaviour |
|---|---|---|
Default to blank | You want to clearly distinguish risks that don’t yet have a residual assessment. | Residual risk fields remain empty until a residual assessment is explicitly entered. |
Default to inherent risk | You want the inherent risk assessment to be used as the displayed residual risk until a separate residual assessment is entered. | For example, if inherent risk is High and no residual risk has been entered, the displayed residual risk is High. Once a residual assessment is entered, that assessment is used instead. |
This setting controls how missing residual assessments are displayed. It doesn’t create or save a new residual assessment on the Jira work item. To learn more about assessing risks, see Creating and assessing risks.
Save or discard changes
After changing one or more settings, select Save.
The Save button is only available when:
you’ve changed a setting
all required fields are complete
the values are valid
you have permission to configure the register.
After the update completes, Risk Register confirms that the settings were saved.
To cancel unsaved updates, select Discard changes. This returns all fields to the values they had when you opened the settings page or last saved them. No changes are applied to the risk register.
Troubleshooting
Problem | What to check |
|---|---|
I can view the settings but can’t edit them. | You aren’t a Jira administrator or an administrator of the risk register. Ask an existing administrator to add you, or contact a Jira administrator. |
All settings are disabled. | Check whether Risk Register displays an unlicensed-app warning. An expired or terminated licence prevents changes to register settings. |
I can’t save the Sub-filter. | Check the JQL editor for parsing errors. Correct the JQL before selecting Save. |
I removed myself as an administrator and can’t make further changes. | Another risk register administrator or Jira administrator must add you again. |
The space or filter can’t be found. | The Jira space or saved filter used as the register’s scope may have been deleted or may no longer be accessible. The settings page displays the ID of the missing object to help a Jira administrator investigate. |