Why are all flow execution users (create_by) set to "system"?

[ayano]

Why are all flow execution users (create_by) set to "system"?
How is the situation different when the execution user of a flow is the name of the person who executed it and when it is system?

[Mark Manders]

If you want to update an incident task via a flow, which an end user has no access to (only the incident created), the flow won't run if it's set as 'user that triggered the flow'. System user can reach the record, so can update. I even have flows run on user (for obvious reasons like adding the updated by), but using sub flows that run as system, because the user just can't access the record it is updating (or getting information from).

So it's set to the user as which the flow is running.

[ayano]

Hi @Mark Manders ,
Thank you for your reply!
I still don't understand much.

Does this mean that "System" is entered in the "Create by" field when the person executing the flow does not have access to the target table?

Thanks and Regards,

[Mark Manders]

No. It is set to the 'entity' triggering the flow. For instance: if you have a flow triggering on a checkbox being ticked, it will show your name when you tick the box, but it will show system if some automation causes the box to be ticked (like a BR).

[Sumanth16]

Hi @ayano ,

When a user creates a record in out-of-the-box and the Stage on RITM changes to "request_approved", the "Start FlowDesigner Flow" in the same transaction BR will be activated and it will create a sys_flow_context using the same user ID used to initiate the flow.

The reason for the flow running as the system user is due to the customization of the Service Catalog Request out-of-the-box workflow. This customization involves introducing a timer that pushes the context creation to the system user.

 

Please refer to below threads:

https://support.servicenow.com/kb?id=kb_article_view&sysparm_article=KB0960325#:~:text=The%20reason%....

https://support.servicenow.com/kb?id=kb_article_view&sysparm_article=KB1158848

If I could help you with your Query then, please hit the Thumb Icon and mark it as Correct !!

Thanks & Regards,

Sumanth Meda