Free ServiceNow CSA Practice Exam with Questions & Answers | Set: 5

In ServiceNow,Business Rulesare server-side scripts that executeat specific timesrelative to database operations. The"When" settingdetermineswhenthe Business Rule runs in relation to a record action (Insert, Update, Delete, Query).

Why is Option A Correct?Before

Executesbeforea record is saved to the database.

Used tovalidate data, modify values, or prevent an action(e.g., stopping an invalid update).

After

Executesaftera record is inserted, updated, or deleted.

Commonly used fortriggering notificationsor creating related records.

Async (Asynchronous)

Runsaftera database operation but executes inthe background.

Ideal forlong-running or performance-heavy tasks(e.g., integrating with external systems).

Display

Executesbefore a form loads, allowing modifications to fieldsbefore they are displayedto the user.

Typically used forpre-filling form fieldsbased on user roles or conditions.

Why Are the Other Options Incorrect?B. Prior to, Synchronous, on Update

"Prior to"is not a valid Business Rule execution timing.

"Synchronous"is a general term but isnot a specific execution timing optionin Business Rules.

"on Update"is a database operation,not an execution timing.

C. Insert, Update, Delete, Query

These aredatabase operationsthat trigger Business Rules,not execution timings.

Execution timing determineswhen(before, after, etc.), while these determinewhat triggers it.

D. Before, Synchronous, Scheduled Job, View

"Synchronous"is not a Business Rule timing option.

"Scheduled Job"refers toScheduled Jobs(not Business Rules).

"View"is a UI-related concept,not a Business Rule execution timing.

ServiceNow Business Rules - How They Work

ServiceNow Best Practices - Business Rule Execution Timing

ServiceNow Developer Documentation - Before, After, Async, and Display Business Rules

References to Official Certified System Administrator (CSA) Documentation:

In ServiceNow, users can log into theService Portalusingcertificate-based authentication methods. The two commonly supported methods are:

ACACis a smart card issued by theU.S. Department of Defense (DoD).

It is used by military personnel, contractors, and government employees for secure authentication.

ServiceNow supportsCAC authenticationby integrating with external identity providers.

APIV cardis used byU.S. federal agenciesfor authentication.

It followsFederal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) 201for identity verification.

ServiceNow allows users to log in using PIV authentication, ensuringsecure accessto government and enterprise systems.

1. Common Access Card (CAC) – (Correct Answer)2. Personal Identity Verification (PIV) – (Correct Answer)

Both CAC and PIV are widely recognized certificate-based authentication methodsused in ServiceNow for secure user authentication.

They provide multi-factor authentication (MFA)and meet federal security standards.

Why "C. CAC" and "E. PIV" are the Correct Answers?

A. Extended Validation Access (EVA) – Incorrect

No such authentication method exists in ServiceNow.Extended Validation (EV) certificatesare used for website security, not user authentication.

B. Organization Verification Card (OVC) – Incorrect

Not a recognized ServiceNow authentication method.

D. Domain Authentication Card (DAC) – Incorrect

No such authentication method exists in ServiceNow.

Explanation of Incorrect Options:

ServiceNow Docs: Common Access Card (CAC) Authentication

ServiceNow Docs: Personal Identity Verification (PIV) Authentication

ServiceNow CSA Study Guide – Authentication Methods in ServiceNow

References from Certified System Administrator (CSA) Documentation:

AService Level Agreement (SLA)in ServiceNow is a tracking mechanism that ensures tasks are completed within a specified time frame. SLAs help inmonitoring and enforcing deadlinesfor various tasks, such as incidents, changes, or service requests.

Tracks Task Duration

SLAs calculate theelapsed timesince a task was created and determine if it meets or breaches the defined resolution targets.

Ensures Timely Completion

SLAs definestart, pause, and stop conditionsbased on specific criteria (e.g., an incident must be resolved within 8 hours).

Visual Indicators

SLAs includeprogress bars, warning alerts, and breach notificationsto help users track deadlines.

Works with Business Rules and Workflows

SLAs can triggerescalations, notifications, or automated actionsif a task is at risk of breaching the SLA.

A. Task Escalation Clock(Incorrect)

No such feature called "Task Escalation Clock" exists in ServiceNow. Escalations are handled usingSLA workflows and escalation rules.

C. Inactivity Monitor(Incorrect)

TheInactivity Monitoris used to detect when a task has not been updated for a specific period, but it does not enforce time-bound completion.

D. Response Time Clock(Incorrect)

No specific "Response Time Clock" exists in ServiceNow.Response SLAstrack thetime taken to acknowledge a task, but this is part of the broader SLA system.

E. Business Time Remaining(Incorrect)

This isnot a specific featurebut rather a calculated field within SLAs that shows the time remaining before an SLA breaches.

Service Level Agreements (SLA) Overview:https://docs.servicenow.com/en-US/bundle/utah-it-service-management/page/product/service-level-management/concept/c_ServiceLevelAgreements.html

How SLAs Work in ServiceNow:https://docs.servicenow.com/en-US/bundle/utah-it-service-management/page/product/service-level-management/concept/slas-how-work.html

Key Features of SLAs in ServiceNow:Incorrect Options:Official References from Certified System Administrator (CSA) Documentation:

InServiceNow Knowledge Management, thepublishing and retiring process for knowledge articlesis managed throughWorkflows. These workflows define the steps an article must go through before it is published, updated, or retired.

Submission:

A user creates a knowledge article and submits it for approval.

Approval Process:

Based on the workflow, an article may require manager or SME (Subject Matter Expert) approval.

Publishing:

Once approved, the article ispublishedand made available in the Knowledge Base.

Updating & Versioning:

If edits are needed, the article enters adraft or reviewstate.

Retirement:

When an article is no longer needed, it follows the workflow toretire or archiveit.

Knowledge Approval Publish(requires approval before publishing)

Knowledge Instant Publish(automatically publishes the article)

Knowledge Retire(handles retiring or archiving articles)

A. Approval Policies(Incorrect)

ServiceNow does not use a separate "Approval Policy" for knowledge articles; approvals are managed within the workflow.

B. Approval Definitions(Incorrect)

There is no such specific feature in ServiceNow. Approvals are configured within workflows, not separate definitions.

C. Workflow Designer(Incorrect)

TheWorkflow Designeris a tool used tocreate workflows, but it does not control the publishing process directly. The workflows themselves do.

E. State Lifecycle(Incorrect)

While knowledge articleshave a lifecycle (Draft → Review → Published → Retired), this is controlledby workflows, not by an independent "State Lifecycle" feature.

Knowledge Workflows Overview:https://docs.servicenow.com/bundle/rome-servicenow-platform/page/product/knowledge-management/reference/r_KnowledgeWorkflows.html

ServiceNow Knowledge Management Process:https://docs.servicenow.com/en-US/bundle/utah-it-service-management/page/product/knowledge-management/concept/knowledge-management-overview.html

How Workflows Control Knowledge Article Publishing & Retiring:Common Knowledge Workflows in ServiceNow:Explanation of Incorrect Options:Official References from Certified System Administrator (CSA) Documentation:

InServiceNow, Favorites allow users to quickly access frequently usedmodules, records, lists, or reports. Favorites can be customized, including renaming them, changing their icons, or modifying their colors.

Changing the Label of a FavoriteTorename or edit a Favorite, you must use thePencil icon (✏️), which indicatesedit mode.

Navigate to theApplication Navigatoron the left-hand side.

Locate theFavoritessection.

Hover over the favorite item you want to rename.

Click on thePencil icon(✏️) to open the edit menu.

Update thelabel(name) and other properties like color or icon.

ClickSaveto apply changes.

A. Clock(Incorrect)

TheClock icontypically representsrecently accessed items, not Favorites.

B. Hamburger(Incorrect)

TheHamburger menu (☰)represents navigation menus but is not used to edit Favorites.

D. Three dots(Incorrect)

TheThree dots (⋮)often indicate a menu with additional options but do not specifically edit Favorites.

E. Triangle(Incorrect)

NoTriangle iconis used for renaming Favorites.

F. Star(Incorrect)

TheStar icon (⭐)is used toadd or removeFavorites, but not to rename them.

ServiceNow Favorites Overview:https://docs.servicenow.com/en-US/bundle/utah-platform-user-interface/page/administer/navigation-and-ui/task/t_CreateFavorites.html

Steps to Change the Label of a Favorite:Explanation of Incorrect Options:Official References from Certified System Administrator (CSA) Documentation:

InServiceNow, aTemplateis a tool used topre-fill commonly used fieldsin a form, saving time and ensuring consistency in data entry.

ATemplateis a predefined set offield valuesthat can be applied to a form toautomatically populate fields.

Users can create and apply templates tospeed up form completionandreduce errors.

Templates are especially useful forstandardized requests, such asincident logging, change requests, or task assignments.

Create a Template:

Navigate toSystem UI → Templates.

Define thefieldsand their default values.

Assign the template to aspecific table(e.g.,incident,change_request).

Apply a Template to a Form:

When filling out a form, users canselect a templatefrom theTemplate Bar.

The templateautomatically populatesthe pre-configured fields.

Example Use Case:

Scenario:A Service Desk agent frequently logs incidents forpassword resets.

Solution:A"Password Reset"template can be created with:

Short Description:"Password reset request"

Category:"Access"

Assignment Group:"IT Support"

When an agent applies this template, these fields areautomatically populated, saving time.

What is a Template in ServiceNow?How to Use a Template?

Why Option A (Template) is Correct?Templates are the official ServiceNow tool for pre-filling commonly used fields in a form.

Why Other Options Are Incorrect?B. Reference Qualifier→ Incorrect

Reference Qualifierscontrolwhich values appear in a reference field(e.g., filtering available users in theAssigned Tofield).

They donot populate fields automatically.

C. Formatter→ Incorrect

AFormatteris a UI component thatdisplays additional information(e.g., anActivity Formattershows an activity log).

It doesnot populate form fields.

D. Assignment Rule→ Incorrect

Assignment Rulesautomaticallyassign recordsto users or groups based on conditions.

They donot populate multiple fieldsin a form.

ServiceNow Docs – Creating and Using Templateshttps://docs.servicenow.com

ServiceNow Learning – Templates and Data Population

ServiceNow Best Practices – Using Templates for Efficiency

References from Certified System Administrator (CSA) Documentation:

In ServiceNow,Access Control Rules (ACLs)determine who cancreate, read, write, delete, or executerecords within a table. Each ACL rule evaluates three main permission requirements,all of which must be truefor the rule to apply. These requirements are:

TheConditions fieldin an ACL specifies predefined logic that must be met for the rule to apply.

Example: An ACL might specify that a record is only accessible if theStatefield is set to "Open".

Conditions areevaluated firstbefore checking roles or scripts.

ACLs can berestricted to users with specific roles.

If a user does not have the required role(s), the ACL denies access.

Example: Only users with the"itil"role can edit incidents.

If the ACL does not specify any role, all users may be eligible based on conditions and script evaluations.

ACL scripts provideadvanced conditional logicusingserver-side JavaScript.

Scripts allow complex rule evaluation, such as checking whether a user is the record’s creator.

Example: A script could restrict access to records wherecurrent.requested_for == gs.getUserID()(only allow users to see their own requests).

If a script is present in an ACL, it must returntruefor access to be granted.

Access control rules are only granted when all three evaluations return true.

Conditions act asfilters.

Roles definepermissions based on user roles.

Scripts allowadvanced access logic.

1. Conditions (A - Correct Answer)2. Roles (C - Correct Answer)3. Script (D - Correct Answer)Why "A. Conditions," "C. Roles," and "D. Script" are the Correct Answers?

B. Table – Incorrect

Access control appliesto specific tables, but defining a table itself is not one of the permission checks.

E. Table." – Incorrect

This is anincorrectly formatted optionand does not relate to access control evaluation.

F. Table.none – Incorrect

"Table.none" is not an evaluation factor in ACLs. Access control applies totable-level, field-level, and record-level, but "table.none" is not an access requirement.

Explanation of Incorrect Options:

ServiceNow Docs: Access Control Rules (ACLs) Overview

ServiceNow CSA Study Guide – Security and Access Control

ServiceNow Product Documentation: Evaluating ACLs and Permissions

References from Certified System Administrator (CSA) Documentation:

In ServiceNow,Data Policiesare rules thatenforce data consistencyby ensuring that specific fields meet certain conditionsbefore being saved to the database. They apply toall data operations, including form submissions, web services, and data imports.

Work at the server-side level, ensuring data integrity before it is stored.

Canmake fields mandatoryorread-onlyacross different interfaces (e.g., forms, API calls, imports).

UnlikeUI Policies, which apply only toforms, Data Policies apply to alldata transactions, including integrations and imports.

Help maintaindata quality and consistencyacross the system.

Making a Field Mandatory:

Ensure that the"Short Description"field is always filled before saving anIncident.

Enforcing a Read-Only Field:

Prevent users from modifying the"Created Date"field.

Standardizing Data on Import:

When importing employee data, ensure that the"Department"field is always set and not left blank.

Data Policies ensuredata accuracy and integritybefore it is stored.

They apply toforms, web services, import sets, and background processes.

They help organizationsmaintain standardized and structured data.

A. Data Policies enforce security – Incorrect

Security is enforced usingAccess Control Lists (ACLs), not Data Policies.

B. Data Policies standardize data in Update Sets – Incorrect

Update Sets trackconfiguration changes, not data validation.

D. Data Policies apply to lists to standard data – Incorrect

Data Policies do not specifically target lists; they enforce rules at thedatabase level.

ServiceNow Docs: Data Policies Overview

ServiceNow CSA Study Guide – Data Policies vs. UI Policies

ServiceNow Product Documentation: Enforcing Data Consistency with Data Policies

Key Features of Data Policies:Example Use Cases of Data Policies:Why "C. Data Policies enforce data consistency" is the Correct Answer?Explanation of Incorrect Options:References from Certified System Administrator (CSA) Documentation:

In ServiceNow, theApplication Navigatorallows users to browse and accessApplications and Modules. Toexpand or collapsethe Application Navigator, users interact with theApplication Menu icon (☰), commonly known as the "Hamburger" menu.

Locate thethree-line "Hamburger" icon (☰)at the top-left of theApplication Navigator.

Double-clickorsingle-clickto expand/collapse the list of applications and modules.

A. Star(Incorrect)

TheStar icon (⭐)representsFavorites, allowing users to mark frequently used modules for quick access.

B. Clock(Incorrect)

TheClock icon (⏱️)is forRecently Viewed Items, showing the user's most recent navigations.

D. Funnel(Incorrect)

TheFunnel icon (????)is afilterused to refine search results or application lists, not to expand/collapse the navigator.

Navigating the Application Menu:https://docs.servicenow.com/en-US/bundle/utah-platform-user-interface/page/administer/navigation-and-ui/concept/c_NavigationAndTheUserInterface.html

How to Expand/Collapse Applications & Modules:Explanation of Incorrect Options:Official References from Certified System Administrator (CSA) Documentation:

In ServiceNow,UI Actionsare used toadd buttons, links, and context menu itemson forms and lists to enhance user interaction.

UI Actions provide interactive elementssuch asbuttons, links, and context menu optionson forms and lists.

UI Actions allow execution ofserver-side and client-side scripts, includingGlideAjax and GlideRecordcalls.

They can be configured to execute underspecific conditions, such asuser roles, field values, or record states.

Examples of UI Actions include:

Submit, Update, and Deletebuttons on forms.

Custom action buttonssuch as "Escalate Incident" or "Resolve Task".

List context menu itemssuch as "Approve" or "Reject" for workflow items.

A. UI Policies:Used fordynamically showing, hiding, or making fields mandatory, butnot for adding buttons or links.

B. UI Settings:No such module in ServiceNow.

D. UI Config:Not a valid option; UI Actions, not "UI Config," control buttons and menus.

UI Actions Overview:ServiceNow Docs

Configuring UI Actions for Forms and Lists

Why is the Correct Answer "UI Actions"?Why Not the Other Options?References from the Certified System Administrator (CSA) Official Documentation:By usingUI Actions, developers canenhance the user experienceby providing interactivebuttons and menu optionsin ServiceNow.

InServiceNow Reporting,Function Fieldsare used toperform calculations, manipulate text, and transform datain a report. These fields allow users to applyarithmetic operations, coalescing, concatenation, and length calculationson existing data.

Arithmetic Operations– Performaddition, subtraction, multiplication, and divisionon numeric fields.

Coalesce– Combine multiple fields into one (useful for handling NULL values).

Concatenation– Join multiple string fields together (e.g., combining first and last names).

Length Calculation– Measure the length of a text field (e.g., checking character count in a description field).

Function fields aredesigned specifically for calculations and data transformationsin reports.

They allowadvanced data processing without requiring scripting.

A. Sourcing Fields→Incorrect

"Sourcing Fields" isnot a valid termin ServiceNow reporting.

C. Computational Fields→Incorrect

While this term sounds relevant,ServiceNow does not use "Computational Fields" in reporting.

D. Calculation Fields→Incorrect

"Calculation Fields" is not an official ServiceNow reporting term.

Function fields handle calculations, not a separate category called "Calculation Fields."

Key Functions of Function Fields:Why is "B. Function Fields" the Correct Answer?Why the Other Options Are Incorrect?

ServiceNow Docs: Function Fields in Reportinghttps://docs.servicenow.com/en-US/bundle/utah-performance-analytics-and-reporting/page/use/reporting/concept/c_FunctionField.html

References from Certified System Administrator (CSA) Documentation:This confirms that"Function Fields" is the correct answerfor performingarithmetic, coalescing, concatenation, and length calculationsin reporting.

TheFlow Designermodule in ServiceNow is used to create and manageautomationsthat involve business logic such asapprovals, tasks, notifications, and integrations. It provides ano-code/low-codeenvironment where users can define automated workflows without needing to write scripts.

Automates Processes– Handles approvals, notifications, and task assignments.

No-Code Interface– Users can build workflows using adrag-and-dropinterface.

Replaces Legacy Workflows– Flow Designer is themodernalternative to Workflow Editor.

Integrates with Spokes– Can connect to other systems usingIntegration Hub.

Triggers– Define when a flow starts (e.g., record changes, schedules, API calls).

Actions– Define what happens (e.g., create a task, send an email, update a record).

Conditions– Add logic to control execution paths.

B. Process Automation > Flow Administration→ Used formanaging existing flows, not creating new ones.

C. Process Automation > Workflow Editor→ This is thelegacyworkflow automation tool, replaced by Flow Designer.

D. Process Automation > Process Flow→ No such module exists in ServiceNow.

E. Process Automation > Active Flows→ Displaysalready running flows, but does not allow new flow creation.

InServiceNow IntegrationHub, third-party API integrations within aFlow Designerflow are known asspokes. Aspokeis a scoped application containingFlow Designer actions and subflowsthat allow the flow to interact with external systems or ServiceNow applications.

Spokes in IntegrationHub

Aspokeis a collection ofpredefinedandcustomactions, subflows, and data streamsused to integrate with external systems.

Spokes provide ano-code/low-codeapproach to integrating third-party applications.

Examples ofprebuilt spokesavailable in ServiceNow include:

Slack Spoke(for Slack API integrations)

Microsoft Teams Spoke(for Teams integration)

Jira Spoke(for integrating with Atlassian Jira)

How Spokes Work

When a flow needs to interact with an external system (e.g., sending data to Jira or retrieving information from Slack), itcalls an action from a spoke.

Each spoke containsmultiple predefined actionsthat execute API requests or perform tasks like creating records, updating data, or fetching information.

Comparison with Other Options

A. an action→ Incorrect

Actions are individual steps in a flow, not the complete integration package. Actions exist inside spokes.

C. a connection→ Incorrect

Aconnectionis a configuration that stores authentication details (e.g., API keys, OAuth tokens) used by a spoke.

D. an integration step→ Incorrect

No such term as “integration step” exists in ServiceNow IntegrationHub.

ServiceNow Docs - IntegrationHub Overview:https://docs.servicenow.com/en-US/bundle/utah-integrationhub/page/integrate/integrationhub/concept/integrationhub-overview.html

ServiceNow Docs - Spokes in Flow Designer:https://docs.servicenow.com/en-US/bundle/utah-integrationhub/page/administer/integrationhub-spokes/concept/available-spokes.html

Key Concepts Related to IntegrationHub and SpokesOfficial References from the Certified System Administrator (CSA) Documentation:

TheCommon Service Data Model (CSDM)is a framework provided by ServiceNow that ensures your application's data correctly maps to theConfiguration Management Database (CMDB)tables. It standardizes howconfiguration items (CIs), services, and relationshipsare structured within the CMDB.

Standardized Data Model:Ensures consistent and correct CMDB data structuring.

Alignment with CMDB Best Practices:Helps businesses align their IT assets, services, and business functions effectively.

Better Service Mapping:Provides structured relationships between business services and their technical components.

Compliance & Governance:Ensuresdata integrityby enforcing best practices for CMDB population.

Key Functions of CSDM:

Incorrect Answer Choices Explanation:B. Service Mapping Utility (SMU)– Service Mapping is used fordiscovering and mapping dependenciesbut is not a data model framework.

C. Service Schema Map (SSM)– No such official term exists in ServiceNow documentation.

D. CMDB Class Manager (CMDBCM)– This is a tool used tomanage CI classesbut does not define a data model framework like CSDM.

E. CI Class Manager (CICM)– Incorrect term; CMDB Class Manager is used for CI class hierarchy management, not for mapping applications to CMDB tables.

ServiceNow Documentation: Common Service Data Model (CSDM)CSDM Overview

ServiceNow CMDB Best PracticesCMDB and CSDM Alignment

Official CSA Documentation Reference: