Integrations in ServiceNow can open up a world of possibilities, but they also come with unique challenges. I know that sometimes you come across situations that require practical and efficient solutions. Let’s unravel three crucial questions that often arise:
how to deal with large volumes of data
how to manage expired refresh tokens
how to secure credentials in OAuth 2.0 integrations.
Get ready to take your knowledge to the next level and turn your challenges into opportunities!
The inspiration for this article came directly from the ServiceNow community, from an insightful question from @sainath3 about interview questions. And make no mistake, these questions are not just theoretical; they reflect the real challenges we face on a daily basis. The ability to handle large volumes of data, credential security, and token management are crucial to the success of any integration.
And speaking of challenges, let’s remember that ServiceNow is an incredibly versatile platform, with countless integration possibilities. The most common, without a doubt, are REST and SOAP integrations. If your external tool communicates through these APIs, the door opens to a world of automation and efficiency. And who knows? Maybe there’s already a ready-made integration in ServiceNow, just waiting for you to configure it.
Let’s explore these possibilities together and find out how to turn your challenges into practical and effective solutions.
Q&A: Practical Solutions for Real Challenges
Let’s get straight to the point and address each of these questions with practical solutions and valuable insights:
How do you manage sending large amounts of data from 3rd party to SNOW?
Handling large volumes of data is a common challenge in integrations. The key here is efficiency and optimization. First, use pagination to break the data into smaller, manageable batches. This reduces the load on the system and avoids timeouts. Second, implement batch processing in ServiceNow to insert or update data efficiently. Use ServiceNow REST APIs with batch operations to minimize the number of calls. Third, consider using MID Server to optimize data transfer, especially if the data is on your internal network. Last but not least, monitor the integration performance and adjust parameters as needed. Remember, optimization is an ongoing process. Test and adjust your strategies to ensure efficient data flow. Note: I skipped the Import mentioned by @shivalika in the post.
If a refresh token is expired, how do you activate it automatically or how resolve the issue? (
If refresh token is expired how to activate automatically or how resolve the issue?)
Expired refresh tokens are a common hurdle in OAuth 2.0 integrations. The best approach is to implement a detection and automatic renewal mechanism. Use scripts in ServiceNow to check the token validity before each API call. If the token is expired, use refresh token to get a new access token. Set up an alert system to notify administrators if automatic renewal fails. Also, implement a manual recovery process for situations where automatic renewal is not possible. Remember: automation is key to a robust integration. Configure your system to handle expired tokens transparently and efficiently. Here are some excellent implementations created together with @Paulo Praxedes2
How do you securely send/keep username and password details to client In Auth2.0 will you ?
Credential security is essential in any integration. In OAuth 2.0, never send credentials directly in the request body or in the URL. Use the authorization code grant flow, which is the most secure. Store credentials encrypted in ServiceNow, using the Credential Store. Use encrypted variables in your code to access credentials. For the client, provide a secure endpoint (HTTPS) so that it can obtain the access token after authorization. Use short-lived access tokens and refresh tokens to minimize the risk of credential exposure. Implement audit logs to monitor access to credentials. Remember, security is a top priority. Follow security best practices to protect your customers’ credentials.
Practical Tips and Best Practices
In addition to specific solutions, I want to share some tips and best practices that can help you deal with these challenges:
Documentation: Maintain complete documentation of all your integrations, including configuration details, data flows, and
- Integration SMS
- Send SMS with Twilio, Notify and Flow Designer
- Integration Data source
- ServiceNow and Kace Integration
- ServiceNow and Zabbix
- Integration rested API
- Scripted rest API — Building your own API on the Servicenow
- Integration WebService
- Testing webservice / WEBSERVICE Service Now Guide — Everthing you need to know
- webservice criando uma solicitação / request — sc_req_item
- webservice criando um anexo
- webservice Incluir uma nova nota em um incidente
- Web Service Service Now Atualizando um incidente utilizando C#
- WebService Service Now — utilizando YARC
- Web Service Service Now Consultando um incidente utilizando C#
- CA SDM
- Create a SOAP message — CA SDM / CA Service Desk Manager
- Create a SOAP message — CA SDM / CA Service Desk Manager — LOGIN method
- Create a SOAP message — CA SDM / CA Service Desk Manager — LOGOUT method
