> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.covianalytics.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Auto-Roll Forward

> Automatically advance assessments to the next review period so control owners always have a current task waiting.

## Overview

Auto-Roll Forward automatically creates the next assessment cycle for a control once the current one is signed off. Instead of waiting for an administrator to manually trigger the next review period, the system rolls the control forward to its next due date based on the configured frequency — ensuring there's never a gap in your assessment timeline.

***

## When to use it

Auto-roll forward is useful when:

* You want to ensure **continuous assessment coverage** with no gaps between review periods
* Your controls have **regular frequencies** (monthly, quarterly, annually) and the next review should start as soon as the current one completes
* You want to **reduce manual administration** — no need for someone to reset controls at the start of each cycle

***

## Setting it up

### Enabling auto-roll forward

1. Go to **Administration** > [Configuration](/admin/configuration)
2. Select the **Controls** tab
3. Look for the roll-forward or assessment cycle settings
4. Enable auto-roll forward and configure the default behaviour

### Configuring frequency per control

Each control's roll-forward schedule is determined by its frequency settings on the [Control Card](/controls/control-card):

* **Operational Frequency** — how often the control is performed (e.g., daily, weekly, monthly)
* **Testing Frequency** — how often the control's effectiveness is formally assessed (e.g., quarterly, annually)

When a control's assessment is signed off, the system uses the testing frequency to calculate the next review due date and creates the next assessment period automatically.

***

## How it works in practice

### The roll-forward cycle

1. A control's current assessment period is **Prepared** by the owner
2. The reviewer **Signs off** the assessment
3. The system automatically:
   * Records the completed assessment in [Tracks & Trends](/controls/control-card#tracks--trends)
   * Creates a new assessment period with the next due date
   * Resets the workflow status to awaiting preparation
4. The control appears in the owner's [Dashboard](/getting-started/dashboard) with the new due date

### What rolls forward

| Rolls forward                                  | Does not roll forward |
| ---------------------------------------------- | --------------------- |
| Due date (calculated from frequency)           | Preparer's comment    |
| Assessment period dates                        | Sign-off comment      |
| Owner and reviewer assignments                 | Supporting documents  |
| RAG rating (carried forward as starting point) |                       |

### Viewing the roll-forward history

* The [Control Card](/controls/control-card) shows the current assessment period and next review dates in the **Review Info** panel
* [Tracks & Trends](/controls/control-card#tracks--trends) shows every completed cycle with its dates, making it easy to see if any periods were missed
* The [Controls Dashboard](/controls/dashboard) reflects the new due dates immediately after roll-forward

***

## Tips & Tricks

<Tip>
  Check the **Next Review Before** dates in the Review Info panel on the [Control Card](/controls/control-card) to confirm the roll-forward calculated the right next date. If the frequency was recently changed, the next date should reflect the new frequency.
</Tip>

<Tip>
  Use the [Exceptions](/exceptions/overview) page to catch any controls where the roll-forward created a due date that's already passed — this can happen if an assessment was signed off late.
</Tip>

<Warning>
  If you change a control's testing frequency after roll-forward has created the next period, the existing due date won't automatically update. You may need to manually adjust the next review date on the Control Card.
</Warning>

<Note>
  Auto-roll forward works alongside the [Simplified Control Assessments](/features/simplified-assessments) feature. A simplified assessment triggers the same roll-forward as a standard one — the next period is created regardless of assessment type.
</Note>