# Get started with Compliance

Open the Compliance Portal, set up owners, and start tracking controls, evidence, and risks in your Space.

## Open the Compliance Portal

Sign in to [Dashio](https://app.dashio.net), select the Space you want to manage, and choose **Compliance Portal** from the portal selector. You need to be a Space owner or administrator, and your Space needs an active Compliance subscription or granted access.

If you cannot open the portal, check the selected Space and your role. **Access by request** means your Space needs access before you can use the workspace. If you see **Activation pending** after checkout, refresh the subscription status from that screen.

## Start with an owner, a control, and evidence

1. Open **Contacts** and choose **Create contact** to add the person responsible for the work.
2. Open **Compliance & audit → Controls** and create a control with a clear requirement, an owner, and a review due date.
3. Open **Evidence** to request supporting material or submit it for internal review. Link it to the control and describe the systems and dates it covers.
4. Return to **Overview**. **Control assessments** shows declared control status. The **Response queue** surfaces work that needs attention, such as evidence to review or controls approaching their review date.

![Compliance overview showing Control assessments and the Response queue in an example Space](/guides/compliance/overview.webp){width="1420" height="1246" loading="lazy"}

## Choose your next task

- [Manage controls and evidence](/guides/compliance/controls-and-evidence) to document a requirement and review supporting material.
- [Track and treat risks](/guides/compliance/risk-register) to assign accountability, choose a treatment, and review exposure after safeguards are in place.
- [Prepare an audit handoff](/guides/compliance/audit-preparation) to review gaps and export the agreed scope.
- [Automate the Compliance Portal](/developers/compliance) when you are ready to integrate with the API.