ServiceNow GRC / IRM: Recommended Learning Path and Key Concepts

yaswanthmad
Tera Contributor

3 weeks ago

Hello ServiceNow Community
I’ve recently started learning IRM / GRC on ServiceNow and would love some guidance on where to start, recommended learning paths, and useful documentation or resources. Any tips or suggestions from your experience would be really helpful.
Thanks in advance! 

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VaishnaviK3009
Tera Guru

3 weeks ago

Hi @yaswanthmad !!

 

1)Understand what IRM/GRC actually is (conceptually)

Before touching the tool, understand the discipline.

You should be comfortable with:

  • Risk vs Issue vs Control

  • Inherent risk vs residual risk

  • Control design vs control effectiveness

  • Policies → Statements → Controls → Tests

  • Compliance vs risk management vs audit

If the concepts are unclear, the ServiceNow UI will feel like random forms.

 

2) Recommended learning path (step-by-step)

Phase 1: ServiceNow IRM overview

Start broad.

Learn:

  • What modules exist in IRM

  • How they relate to each other

  • Typical user roles (risk admin, compliance analyst, auditor, business owner)

Modules to recognize:

  • Policy and Compliance Management (PCM)

  • Risk Management

  • Audit Management

  • Vendor Risk Management (VRM)

  • Business Continuity Management (BCM)

 Don’t try to learn all at once. Pick one first.

 

Phase 2: Start with Policy & Compliance OR Risk Management

These are the best entry points.

 

Option A: Policy & Compliance (very beginner-friendly)

You’ll learn:

  • Policy lifecycle

  • Policy statements

  • Control objectives

  • Controls

  • Control tests

  • Evidence collection

  • Attestations

This teaches how compliance frameworks map into ServiceNow.

 

Option B: Risk Management (more analytical)

You’ll learn:

  • Risk statements

  • Risk scoring

  • Risk assessment methodologies

  • Risk appetite

  • Issues & remediation tasks

  • Risk response (accept, mitigate, transfer)

If you want to work with ISO, SOX, SOC 2, NIST, compliance first is usually easier.

 

Phase 3: Go deeper into one specialization

After the basics:

  • Vendor Risk Management → very popular in the job market

  • Audit Management → good if you come from audit/accounting

  • BCM → niche but valuable

At this stage, you should also start learning:

  • IRM workflows

  • Flow Designer usage in IRM

  • Notifications & SLAs

  • Role-based access (who can see what)

 

3) Best official learning resources (must-use)

1. ServiceNow Now Learning (non-negotiable)

This is your primary resource.

Look for:

  • ServiceNow Fundamentals

  • IRM Fundamentals

  • Risk Management Fundamentals

  • Policy and Compliance Management Fundamentals

  • Vendor Risk Management Fundamentals (later)

Some courses are paid, but even the free ones + course outlines are gold.

 

2. ServiceNow Product Documentation

Use this while practicing, not just reading.

Search things like:

  • “ServiceNow IRM data model”

  • “Policy and Compliance lifecycle ServiceNow”

  • “Risk assessment ServiceNow”

Pay special attention to:

  • Table names

  • Relationships between records

  • OOTB workflows

3. Developer Documentation (yes, even for GRC)

You don’t need to be a developer, but you should understand:

  • How IRM uses Flow Designer

  • Script Includes used in assessments

  • Calculation logic for risk scoring

This is what separates “configurers” from “experts”.

 

4) Practice the right way (this is key)

Use a Personal Developer Instance (PDI)

  • Activate the IRM plugin

  • Load demo data

  • Break things on purpose

Practice scenarios like:

  • Create a policy → map controls → test controls → generate issues

  • Create a risk → assess → accept/mitigate → track remediation

  • Change risk scoring logic and see what breaks

 

Mark this as Helpful if it clarifies the issue.
Accept the solution if this answers your question.

Regards,
Vaishnavi
Associate Technical Consultant

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