---
sourceDocument: Australia Release Notes
sourceDocumentLink: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/release-notes

 Release :

    - australia

ft:locale :

    - en-US

ft:publication_title :

    - Australia Release Notes

ft:clusterId :

    - rn

bundleId :

    - rn


---

# Hermes Messaging Service release notes

# Hermes Messaging Service release notes {#ariaid-title1}

Release version: Australia  
Updated March 12, 2026  
![](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ico-clock) 1 minute to read  
The ServiceNow®
Hermes Messaging Service application enables you to integrate your Apache Kafka environment with your ServiceNow® instance. Hermes Messaging Service was enhanced and updated in the Australia release.

## About Hermes Messaging Service {#hermes-messaging-service-rn__hermes-messaging-service-rn-highlights}

* Create more Hermes topics for specific events or integrations with an expanded topic limit.
* View granular usage metrics in the Hermes Usage Dashboard.
* Restrict access to the Hermes cluster based on the client IP address.
* Manage Hermes configuration properties and background jobs from the Hermes Settings page.
* Protect message data on broker disks with encryption at rest, with support for customer-supplied keys.
{#hermes-messaging-service-rn__ul_whj_sw5_bhc}

See [Hermes Messaging Service](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=hermes-messaging-service&version=australia&pubname=australia-servicenow-platform&ft:locale=en-US) for more information.{#hermes-messaging-service-rn__hermes-messaging-service-rn-highlights-2}

## Activation and other requirements

Activation information

:   Hermes Messaging Service is a ServiceNow AI Platform feature that is available with activation of the ServiceNow Stream Connect Installer (com.glide.hub.stream_connect.installer) plugin or the installation of the Log Export Service application. For details, see [Activating the Hermes Messaging Service](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=hermes-messaging-service-activation&version=australia&pubname=australia-servicenow-platform&ft:locale=en-US).{#hermes-messaging-service-rn__hermes-messaging-service-rn-activation-1}

## July 2026 {#ariaid-title2}

The ServiceNow®
Hermes Messaging Service application enables you to integrate your Apache Kafka environment with your ServiceNow® instance. Hermes Messaging Service was enhanced and updated in the Australia release.

### What's new {#hermes-messaging-service-rn-2026-07__hermes-messaging-service-rn-new-features}

[Hermes Settings page](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=c-hermes-settings&version=australia&pubname=australia-servicenow-platform&ft:locale=en-US)
:   Enable maintenance users and administrators to view and modify Hermes configuration properties and manage background jobs directly from the Hermes Settings page.

[Encryption at rest for Hermes topics](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=encryption-at-rest&version=australia&pubname=australia-servicenow-platform&ft:locale=en-US)
:   Protect message data stored on broker disks by enabling encryption at rest on
    individual Hermes topics. Choose between ServiceNow-managed keys or customer-supplied keys using the
    Bring Your Own Key (BYOK) model.
{#hermes-messaging-service-rn-2026-07__hermes-messaging-service-rn-new-features-1}

## Australia {#ariaid-title3}

The ServiceNow®
Hermes Messaging Service application enables you to integrate your Apache Kafka environment with your ServiceNow® instance. Hermes Messaging Service was enhanced and updated in the Australia release.

### What's new {#hermes-messaging-service-rn-release__hermes-messaging-service-rn-new-features}

[Expanded topic limits in Hermes](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=exploring-hermes-messaging-service&version=australia&pubname=australia-servicenow-platform&ft:locale=en-US)
:   Create more topics in Hermes with an increased topic limit. The total number of partitions across all topics can't exceed 960.

[Hermes Usage Dashboard improvements](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=monitoring-data-usage-hermes&version=australia&pubname=australia-servicenow-platform&ft:locale=en-US)
:   View Hermes data usage by source, including the total number of bytes received and bytes sent over time, in the Hermes Usage
    Dashboard.

[Access restrictions by IP address](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=restricting-access-hermes-topics&version=australia&pubname=australia-servicenow-platform&ft:locale=en-US)
:   Restrict access to Hermes by enabling IP address access control rules.

[View-only role](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=hermes-messaging-service-roles&version=australia&pubname=australia-servicenow-platform&section=hermes-messaging-service-roles-4&ft:locale=en-US)
:   Enable administrators to view topics and namespaces in Hermes by granting the hermes_viewer role instead of the full admin role.
{#hermes-messaging-service-rn-release__hermes-messaging-service-rn-new-features-1}