--- sourceDocument: Brazil Platform security sourceDocumentLink: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/platform-security Release : - brazil ft:locale : - en-US ft:publication_title : - Brazil Platform security ft:clusterId : - psec bundleId : - psec workflow : - Platform --- # Permissions-based access control # Permissions-based access control {#ariaid-title1} Release version: Brazil Updated September 10, 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 Permissions-based access control ServiceNow employs AI agents within Now Assist to automate tasks ranging from simple responses to complex problem-solving. These AI agents operate under strict permissions-based access controls to ensure they have only the necessary permissions and act within defined boundaries, following the principle of least privilege. Access control mechanisms include Agent Role Inheritance, identity types, granular roles, ACLs, and role masking. These controls prevent unauthorized access and agentic overreach, securing your ServiceNow instance. Show full answer Show less ## Key Features * **Access Control Lists (ACLs):** Determine which users can invoke AI agents and control their access scope. * **User Identities:** Define what data and resources an AI agent can access once invoked. * **Role Masking:** Allows configuration of an allow-list of roles that AI agents can inherit from invoking users, enforcing least-privilege access during tool execution. * **Guided Security Setup:** Step-by-step configuration for AI agents, agentic workflows, and custom skills to define user access and data access controls. * **Manual Access Testing:** Enables testing who can discover and invoke AI agents or workflows to verify access restrictions. * **Role References:** Documentation of roles such as Now Assist Admin and AI Admin Hub Console User, describing permissions needed to manage or view Now Assist features. ## Key Outcomes * AI agents operate securely within your ServiceNow instance, with access limited to defined permissions and roles. * Administrators can confidently configure and verify access controls, ensuring agents only perform authorized actions. * Risk of unauthorized data access or agentic overreach is minimized through role masking and ACL enforcement. * Clear role definitions support effective management and delegation of Now Assist administration and monitoring. Use Agent Role Inheritance, identity types, and granular roles to verify your AI agents have only the permissions they need, and can act only within their intended boundaries. ServiceNow uses AI Agents to perform tasks that range from simple automated responses to complex problem solving. AI agents are restricted by their assigner roles, and are subject to the same ACL limitations as standard users. ServiceNow Otto provides several mechanisms to enforce least-privilege access across your instance. * Access control lists (ACLs) that determine who can invoke an agent, user identities that define what data an agent can access once invoked. * Role masking that limits inherited permissions during tool execution {#naai-permissions-based-access-control__ul_apm_shy_q3c}These controls help avoid agentic overreach and verify that AI agents operate within boundaries you define. ## Access controls for AI agents {#naai-permissions-based-access-control__section_agent_access} The following topics describe how to implement, configure, and verify access controls for Now Assist AI agents and agentic workflows. [Implement access control in AI agents](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=aia-security-implementation&version=brazil&pubname=brazil-intelligent-experiences&ft:locale=en-US) : Understand how ACLs and user identities work together across agentic workflows, AI agents, and tools to control who can invoke an agent and what resources it can access once invoked. [Role masking in AI agents](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=aia-role-masking&version=brazil&pubname=brazil-intelligent-experiences&ft:locale=en-US) : Use role masking to define an allow-list of roles that agentic workflows and AI agents can inherit from invoking users, enforcing least-privilege access during tool execution. [Define security controls for an AI agent](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=define-sec-controls-aia&version=brazil&pubname=brazil-intelligent-experiences&ft:locale=en-US) : Step through the AI agent guided setup to configure who can access an agent and what data it can act on, covering both user access and data access settings. [Define security controls for an agentic workflow](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=define-sec-controls-aw&version=brazil&pubname=brazil-intelligent-experiences&ft:locale=en-US) : Step through the agentic workflow guided setup to configure who can access a workflow and what data it can act on, covering both user access and data access settings. [Test user access to an AI agent](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=test-aia-access&version=brazil&pubname=brazil-intelligent-experiences&ft:locale=en-US) : Run a manual access test to confirm that only the intended users can discover and invoke a given AI agent. [Test user access to an agentic workflow](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=test-aw-access&version=brazil&pubname=brazil-intelligent-experiences&ft:locale=en-US) : Run a manual access test to confirm that only the intended users can discover and invoke a given agentic workflow. [Configure security controls for a skill](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=nask-access-control&version=brazil&pubname=brazil-intelligent-experiences&ft:locale=en-US) : Configure access control for custom skills built with the AI Skill Kit to manage who can invoke skill-based functionality. ## Roles and permissions reference {#naai-permissions-based-access-control__section_roles} The following reference topics describe the roles installed with Now Assist and what each role permits. [AI Admin Hub roles](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=roles-installed-with-now-assist-admin&version=brazil&pubname=brazil-intelligent-experiences&ft:locale=en-US) : A reference list of the roles installed with AI Admin Hub, including the permissions required to activate and manage Now Assist features and skills. [Now Assist Admin \[sn_nowassist_admin.nsa_admin\]](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=roles-installed-with-now-assist-admin&version=brazil&pubname=brazil-intelligent-experiences§ion=sn-nowassist-admin-role&ft:locale=en-US) : Details the sn_nowassist_admin.nsa_admin role, which allows users to create, edit, and configure Now Assist skills and settings. [AI Admin Hub console user \[sn_nowassist_admin.user\]](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=roles-installed-with-now-assist-admin&version=brazil&pubname=brazil-intelligent-experiences§ion=sn-nowassist-admin-console-user-role&ft:locale=en-US) : Details the sn_nowassist_admin.user role, which provides read-only access to the AI Admin Hub console.