Difference between Service Account and Credentials

[Vee Jay Recana]

Can anyone explain what's the difference between Service Accounts and Credentials? Where are they being used and what's their purpose.

Like, is credentials being used only to access target IPs/Servers and the Service Account we created for MID server is used to access MID server only? Does Service Account needs to be enrolled in MID server also?

Thank you!

[SK Chand Basha]

Hi @Vee Jay Recana 

Refer this blog

https://www.zluri.com/blog/service-accounts-vs-user-accounts

Mark it helpful & accept solution! If this helps you to understand

[Vee Jay Recana]

This is helpful in understanding service accounts but still doesn't answer my question if how do Credentials and Service Account differ from one another. Like, what's their uses and purposes.

[neetusingh · Accepted solution]

@Vee Jay Recana  - Okay, here's a simpler explanation of service accounts and credentials  –

Service Accounts: Like a Work Permit for the MID Server

Think of a service account as a special "work permit" for the MID Server. The MID Server is a little program that helps ServiceNow talk to other computers in your network. The service account tells your computer "Hey, it's okay for the MID Server to run and do its job." It's like giving the MID Server the permission it needs to operate.

   What it does: Lets the MID Server program run on your computer.

   Where it's used: Mainly for the MID Server.

   Think of it as: Permission slip.

Credentials: Like Keys to Different Buildings

Credentials are like keys that unlock different buildings (servers, databases, etc.) that ServiceNow needs to access. They contain the usernames and passwords needed to log in to those systems.

   What they do: Give ServiceNow the "keys" (usernames/passwords) to access other systems.

   Where they're used: To access servers, databases, cloud services, and other external stuff.

   Think of them as: Keys or login details.

Main Differences

   Service Account: Allows the MID Server to run in the first place. It's about allowing the program to operate on a computer.

   Credentials: Allow the MID Server (or other ServiceNow processes) to access other systems. It's about proving you have permission to see the information inside those systems.

In Simple Terms, Imagine you have a delivery service (ServiceNow).

   The service account is like the permit that allows your delivery truck (MID Server) to drive on the roads.

   The credentials are like the keys to the buildings where you need to make deliveries (servers, databases).

You need both to make the delivery happen! The truck needs permission to drive, and the driver needs keys to access the buildings.

[Vee Jay Recana]

This answers all my questions! However, do Service Accounts should be enrolled both in ServiceNow (As a user account) and in Active Directory of server where MID server was installed? Or it's purely configured in MID server only? For context, I don't have any experience installing and configuring a MID server yet so my questions may be a bit dumb. Thank you so much for answering my questions in a very simple way.