--- sourceDocument: Australia Workflow Data Fabric sourceDocumentLink: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/integrate-applications Release : - australia ft:locale : - en-US ft:publication_title : - Australia Workflow Data Fabric ft:clusterId : - crint bundleId : - crint workflow : - Creator --- # Connect # Connect to external systems {#ariaid-title1} * Release version: Australia * * Updated March 12, 2026 * * ![](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ico-clock) 2 minutes to read Summarize ![AI sparkle icon](https://servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ai-sparkle-icon) Summarized using AI This content was generated using new OpenAI-powered functionality. Results are provided on an as is basis and are not guaranteed to be accurate or complete. ## Summary of Connect to external systems Connect Hub is a unified workspace within ServiceNow designed to streamline the discovery, building, and management of integrations between ServiceNow and external systems. It provides a single interface that consolidates key integration tasks such as exploring external systems, configuring connectors, and managing secure connections. Show full answer Show less ## Key Features * **Discover External Systems:** Explore and identify integration opportunities with over 200 third-party systems including Microsoft Teams, Jira, and Snowflake. * **Build and Manage Connectors:** Utilize prebuilt integration components such as Spokes, Zero Copy Connectors, and custom connector types from a comprehensive connector library. * **Configure Connections and Credentials:** Securely manage authentication details, endpoint URLs, and access controls for integrations between ServiceNow and external systems. * **Specialized Integration Tools:** Use Connect Hub as the starting point for building Spokes and setting up Model Context Protocol clients. ## Connectors and Connections Explained Connect Hub distinguishes between **connectors** and **connections**, which are foundational concepts for integration development: * **Connectors:** Prebuilt components that define how ServiceNow communicates with specific external applications. They include all necessary actions, triggers, and data-mapping logic. Connectors are reusable across multiple integrations. * **Connections:** Instances that contain specific configuration details such as credentials and endpoint URLs required to establish communication with an external system. Connections are created by selecting a connector and specifying environment-specific authentication information. The relationship is one-to-many: one connector can support multiple connections, allowing for reuse of integration logic across different environments (e.g., development, staging, production) while maintaining separate credentials and configurations for each. ## Practical Implications for ServiceNow Customers * Connect Hub simplifies integration management by consolidating discovery, configuration, and security into a single interface. * Customers can quickly leverage existing connectors to integrate with popular third-party systems without building from scratch. * By separating connectors and connections, organizations can efficiently manage multiple environments with consistent integration logic but distinct credentials. * Connect Hub serves as a centralized starting point for advanced integration development including building Spokes and using Model Context Protocol clients. ## Additional Information The latest version of Connect Hub is v2.2.0. Customers can visit the ServiceNow Store to explore available apps and submit requests related to Connect Hub. Connect Hub is a unified workspace for discovering, building, and managing integrations between ServiceNow and external systems. It consolidates discovery, configuration, and management into a single interface. ## Key capabilities of Connect Hub {#connecthub-connect-to-external-systems__section_jfh_gq1_23c} Connect Hub provides a consolidated interface to accomplish key integration tasks : Discover external systems and integration opportunities : Explore available [external systems](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/NVnwWEibd7s0ABflHeG1eQ#connecthub-create-external-systems "Create a custom external system to organize integrations beyond the default systems.") and identify connection methods for over 200 third-party systems like MS Teams, Jira, and Snowflake. Build and manage connectors : Access prebuilt integration components including Spokes, Zero Copy Connectors, and custom connector types. Browse the connector library to select appropriate tools for your integration scenarios or integrate Model Context Protocol clients. Configure connections and credentials : Set up and manage secure authentication details, endpoint URLs, and access controls for your integrations between ServiceNow and external systems. Access specialized integration tools : Use Connect Hub as the entry point for building Spokes and setting up Model Context Protocol clients. ## Understanding connectors and connections {#connecthub-connect-to-external-systems__section_mqv_3q1_23c} Connect Hub distinguishes between two fundamental integration concepts: connectors and connections. Understanding this relationship is essential for effective integration development. Connectors : Prebuilt integration components that define communication with specific external applications. A connector acts as a translator between ServiceNow and the target system, providing actions, triggers, and data-mapping capabilities. For example, a Jira connector contains all the logic needed to interact with Jira's API, including available operations like creating issues or updating workflows. Connectors are reusable tools that you configure once and use across multiple connection instances. Connections : Specific configuration instances that contain the credentials and endpoint details needed to establish communication with a particular external system. A connection holds authentication information such as API keys, OAuth tokens, or user name and password combinations, along with the target system's URL. You create a connection by selecting a connector and providing the specific credentials for your environment. For example, you might use the Jira connector to create separate connections for your development, staging, and production Jira instances. The relationship between connectors and connections follows a one-to-many pattern. A single connector supports multiple connection instances, enabling you to reuse integration logic across different environments or system instances while maintaining separate credentials and configurations for each. For example, you can have one Jira spoke connector but have three different connections: one each for development, staging, and production respectively. ## Request apps on Store {#connecthub-connect-to-external-systems__section_vxq_m23_vjc} Visit the [ServiceNow Store](https://store.servicenow.com/sn_appstore_store.do#!/store/home) website to view all the available apps and for information about submitting requests to the store. ## Application version {#connecthub-connect-to-external-systems__section_tnm_f23_vjc} Connect Hub v2.2.0 is the latest version.