Publishing turns a draft into the live assessment and creates a version you can look back on. Autosave is not the same as publishing.
Publish for the first time
Finish the wizard steps so the content is complete enough to stand as a record.
Choose Publish assessment.
Helper text explains: Creates version 1 and makes this assessment active. While it runs you'll see Publishing assessment…, then confirmation that version 1 is published and the assessment is active.
The site badge moves from Draft to Active.
Edit after publishing
Open the assessment and choose Edit (the session shows Editing instead of Read-only).
Make your changes — they still autosave as you work.
When ready, choose Publish new version.
Confirm in Publish new version?. You can add an optional Change summary (optional).
Helper text on a published view: Select Edit to change this assessment, then publish a new version when ready.
And more generally: Autosave does not create versions. Use Publish assessment or Publish new version to save an immutable snapshot.
Leave without publishing
If you try to leave while edits aren't published, you may see Leave without publishing? with Stay or Leave anyway. Leaving keeps the draft changes in the editor but does not create a new version for others.
Version history and PDF
Version history — open earlier published snapshots.
Print to PDF — export a report of the assessment.
Archive
When an assessment should no longer be live, use Archive assessment. Archived assessments stay on the record with an Archived badge. See Risk assessment statuses explained.
Organisation templates
Organisation templates use Approve & publish and Propagate to sites instead of the site Publish assessment button. That flow is in How organisation templates are approved and sent to sites.