How to manage SaaS risk in ServiceNow with security controls
ServiceNow is a mission-critical platform that underpins IT operations, asset management, and enterprise workflows. It also stores some of an organization’s most sensitive data—from CMDB records and asset inventories, to personal and financial information.
Effective ServiceNow security is more than turning features on. Companies need the right security controls in place to continuously assess risk, maintain visibility, and prevent configuration drift. Here’s a checklist of seven critical ServiceNow security controls designed to protect data, reduce exposure, and support a stronger security posture:
1. Regularly Review and Tighten Role-Based Access Controls (RBAC)
ServiceNow’s RBAC structure can become complicated, leading to role creep and excessive permissions. Ensure your Access Control Lists (ACLs) are correctly configured and regularly audited to prevent unauthorized access.
Key actions to take:
- Use Automated Role Reviews to detect over-privileged users and streamline permissions.
- Implement Least Privilege by dynamically adjusting roles to match current responsibilities.
2. Lock Down System Configurations and API Permissions
Misconfigurations in system settings or API permissions are common entry points for attackers, especially when workflows involve sensitive data like CMDB records or IT assets.
Key actions to take:
- Secure critical settings, such as API permissions and data import/export rules, to minimize exposure.
- Set alerts for unauthorized changes to business rules or workflows.
3. Enforce Security Baselines for Customizations
ServiceNow’s extensive customization capabilities can lead to security risks if not managed properly. Consistent enforcement of security baselines helps protect against misconfigurations.
Key actions to take:
- Define and Apply Security Baselines: Establish baseline policies for data access, user permissions, and system configurations, and enforce them consistently.
- Detect and Correct Policy Deviations: Automatically identify and remediate deviations from established security baselines.
4. Control External User Access and Activities
External collaborators like partners or vendors often require access to ServiceNow, but this can create data exposure risks. Limit access to only what’s necessary and monitor their activities.
Key actions to take:
- Assign specific roles and restricted permissions for external users, ensuring they can only access what is strictly necessary.
- Continuously monitor external user activity, setting up alerts for suspicious behavior, such as unauthorized data access or changes to configurations.
5. Secure Third-Party App Integration
ServiceNow integrates with third-party apps like Slack and DocuSign to extend functionality. But, these integrations can introduce vulnerabilities if not properly managed, especially through unvetted APIs or excessive permissions.
Key actions to take:
- Use OAuth Scopes to restrict third-party app permissions to only what’s necessary.
- Regularly audit and monitor app configurations and API usage for unsecured endpoints or unusual activity.
6. Run Continuous Compliance Audits and Remediate Gaps
Compliance with frameworks like SOC 2 and GDPR are crucial when managing sensitive data within ServiceNow. Automating compliance audits can reduce manual effort and ensure standards are consistently met.
Key actions to take:
- Schedule Automated Compliance Scans against your security policies.
- Generate on-demand Compliance Reports to demonstrate adherence to regulatory requirements.
7. Detect and Respond to Threats with Advanced Monitoring
Privilege escalations or abnormal data access patterns could indicate a compromised account or insider threat. Implement centralized monitoring to detect and quickly respond to potential threats.
Key actions to take:
- Centralize Logs for Threat Detection: Aggregate logs from key ServiceNow modules to spot suspicious patterns and potential threats.
- Set Alerts for High-Risk Activities: Enable alerts for actions like privilege changes or unusual data access to quickly mitigate security risks.
How AppOmni helps secure ServiceNow
AppOmni simplifies these essential security practices by providing deep visibility and control over your ServiceNow environment. With automated management of configurations, permissions, and integrations, AppOmni strengthens your security posture, ensuring resilience against evolving threats.
With AppOmni, security teams can:
- Access control & drift prevention: Continuously audit ServiceNow ACLs, roles, and configurations to enforce governance and prevent risky security drift.
- Data & PII protection: Apply least-privilege and Zero Trust access across ServiceNow data, workflows, scripts, and portals to reduce exposure and data leakage.
- Automated compliance monitoring: Track and report on ServiceNow compliance for ISO 27001, NIST 800-53, SOX, and more while detecting unauthorized workspace access.
- Threat Detection & Response: Stream normalized ServiceNow logs to SIEM and SOAR tools to detect suspicious activity and respond faster to security threats.
- AI Agent & Integration Security: Discover, govern, and monitor ServiceNow AI agents and SaaS integrations to block malicious prompts and risky access paths.
With built-in expertise, clear guidance, and automation, AppOmni makes securing SaaS environments easier and more effective than ever.