--- sourceDocument: Brazil ServiceNow AI Platform Administration sourceDocumentLink: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/platform-administration Release : - brazil ft:locale : - en-US ft:publication_title : - Brazil ServiceNow AI Platform Administration ft:clusterId : - platadm bundleId : - platadm workflow : - Platform --- # User record # The User record {#ariaid-title1} Release version: Brazil Updated September 10, 2026 ![](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ico-clock) 3 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 The User record User records in ServiceNow establish the relationship between individuals and the ServiceNow instance. They include user credentials like username and password, as well as personal details such as contact information, location, and job title. These records are stored in theUsers \[sysuser\]table and may include service accounts that support platform features. Show full answer Show less ## Related Records and Access Control User records link to several other key tables to manage permissions and settings: * **Roles:** Define access to applications and modules. It is best practice to assign roles to groups rather than individuals to simplify administration. * **Groups:** Collections of users sharing common purposes. Group membership automatically grants all associated roles to users. * **Delegates:** Users designated to act with the permissions of another user, enabling delegated access. * **Skills:** Used to associate users with their training and expertise areas. * **Subscriptions:** Manage which users can access purchased subscriptions within the instance. ## User Preferences and Localization User accounts connect to personalized preferences that control UI configuration and notification settings. Starting with the Brazil release, date and time format preferences have moved to the **Language \& Region** section within user preferences, while time zone settings remain in the user profile. If no preferences are set, system defaults apply. ## System and Guest Users Automated processes may update records using system or guest users, for example: * The system user updates login-related fields when a user logs in. * The guest user updates fields related to failed login attempts or lockouts. To track such changes, enable auditing on the relevant tables and review audit histories. Learn about user records and their use within the ServiceNow AI Platform. ## User account records {#user__section_ifn_gpz_5sb} User records establish a relationship between an individual and your ServiceNow instance. User records consist of a user name, a password, and information relating to the individual, such as contact information, location, and job title. Figure 1. User record User records are stored in the Users \[sys_user\] table. Note: ServiceNow occasionally adds service accounts to the sys_user table to facilitate some platform features and functionality. For more information, see [KB1648003: (OOTB) Out of the box local user accounts in sys_user](https://support.servicenow.com/kb?id=kb_article_view&sysparm_article=KB1648003). ## Related records {#user__section_u5p_gsg_vsb} User records are associated with records on several other tables to control permissions, preferences, and other features. Roles : Roles control access to features and capabilities in applications and modules. For more information on roles, see [Managing roles](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/BN8~PKdbtJ9nfMNeX101UA "Administrators can create and configure roles that grant specific permissions, which govern what users and groups with that role can do."). Note: When possible, simplify user administration by assigning roles to groups. Create groups that contain all the roles necessary for specific personas, and then assign users to those groups. Groups : A group is a set of users who share a common purpose. Users assigned to groups are automatically assigned to all roles associated with that group. For more details, see [Creating groups](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/xronnFpnW0npkdrR6_IBbw "Admins can add users to one or more groups.") and [Managing roles](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/BN8~PKdbtJ9nfMNeX101UA "Administrators can create and configure roles that grant specific permissions, which govern what users and groups with that role can do."). Delegates : In addition to role and group assignments, users can be assigned as delegates, giving them permission to act with the same permissions as a delegator user. See [Delegating roles](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/xyOBZWsiQzGChiPWbj4S_w "Administrators can grant users the ability to assign roles within groups. However, these users can only assign roles that they already have.") for more information on delegation. Skills : Use skill management to associate users with their areas of training and expertise. For more information on skill management, see [Skill Management](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=skills-management&version=brazil&pubname=brazil-servicenow-platform&ft:locale=en-US). Subscriptions : Administrators use subscriptions to control which users have access to purchased subscriptions on their instances. Details on subscription management can be found at [Subscription Management](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/Pq1xZBed5ihC3z9efoPkGQ "Subscription Management enables you to proactively manage your subscriptions and monitor subscription usage on your instances."). User preferences : User accounts are also connected with user preferences. Users can save personalized preferences to configure many UI features, as well as preferences regarding the notifications they receive. Details on administering user preferences are found at [User preferences](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=c_UserPreferences&version=brazil&pubname=brazil-platform-user-interface&ft:locale=en-US). ## Date and time formatting {#user__section_nvm_d4q_23c} Note: From the Brazil release, Date format and Time format settings have been relocated from the user profile to the [Language \& Region](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=next-experience-language-preferences&version=brazil&pubname=brazil-platform-user-interface&ft:locale=en-US) section within the user's Preferences. The time zone setting continues to be available in the user profile from the Brazil release. For releases before Brazil, you can set your preferred date and time formatting through the User record. If you don't specify a preference in these fields, the system applies default formatting. Before the Brazil release, the Date format field appears in the User record by default and can be modified without specific permissions. However, the Time format field must be added to the User record by revealing additional form fields. For instructions on showing or hiding form fields, see [Configuring the form layout](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/v24NYERN3Kn0syk7MS5Aug#configure-form-layout "Administrators or users with the personalize_form role can configure the form and related list layout."). If you can't modify form fields, contact your organization's user administrator to update your time format preferences. The Date and time format field in User MenuPreferencesLanguage \& Region extends the options you select in the Date format and Time format fields of your User record. For more information, see [Configure Next Experience language and region preferences](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=next-experience-language-preferences&version=brazil&pubname=brazil-platform-user-interface&ft:locale=en-US). Time zone settings automatically sync between the User record and your preferences. ## System and guest users {#user__system-guest-users} Some automated processes use the system or guest user to apply and track changes to records. As a result, some records may show that they were last updated by system or guest. For example, when a user logs in for the first time in a day, some fields on that user's record are updated by the system user. These fields can include Last login and Last login time. If a user has a failed login attempt or is locked out, some fields on that user's record are updated by the guest user, such as Failed Login Attempts or Locked Out. If a record was last updated by the system or by guest users, you can identify the updated fields by enabling auditing for the table. View the audit history to see the changes. For more information, see [Configuring auditing for a table](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=t_EnableAuditingForATable&version=brazil&pubname=brazil-platform-security&ft:locale=en-US) and [Knowing about History sets](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=c_HistorySets&version=brazil&pubname=brazil-platform-security&ft:locale=en-US). *[\>]: and then