--- 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 --- # Upgrade tools and resources # Upgrade tools and resources {#ariaid-title1} Release version: Australia Updated April 7, 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 Upgrade tools and resources ServiceNow provides a comprehensive set of products and tools designed to enhance and streamline the upgrade process, ensuring smooth transitions to new platform releases while minimizing risk and maintaining platform health. These resources help you automate testing, manage upgrades centrally, and apply best practices effectively. Show full answer Show less ## Key Features * **Automated Test Framework (ATF):** Enables creation and execution of automated tests to verify instance functionality after changes such as upgrades or application development. It helps identify failures and areas requiring review. Tests should be run only in non-production environments to avoid data issues. * **Upgrade Center:** A centralized hub to plan, monitor, and manage upgrades. It includes the Upgrade Preview module to explore available release versions and anticipate upgrade impacts without performing the upgrade. The Upgrade Monitor tracks ongoing upgrade status, while the Upgrade visual task board manages post-upgrade skips. Upgrade History provides access to past upgrade records. * **Upgrade Tools:** Additional tools include: * **Now Support Upgrade Assist:** Automates upgrade scheduling to help keep your instance current. * **Known Error Portal:** Offers visibility into known issues for selected patch releases. * **Sample Upgrade Project Plans:** Provides downloadable templates in Excel, PDF, and Microsoft Project formats for tracking upgrade progress. * **Best Practices:** The ServiceNow Best Practices website delivers expert-curated guidance to accelerate upgrade outcomes and platform health maintenance. * **Support and Services:** Impact success plans offer tailored long-term adoption guidance, while expert services connect you with specialists to apply best practices and ensure smooth upgrades to the latest innovations. ## Key Outcomes * Efficient and automated upgrade testing to reduce manual effort and identify issues early. * Centralized upgrade planning and monitoring for better visibility and control over upgrade activities. * Access to automation tools and known issue insights to minimize upgrade risks and downtime. * Guidance on balancing customizations to maximize value while minimizing upgrade impact. * Availability of expert support and tailored success plans to ensure adoption and long-term platform health. Learn about ServiceNow products and tools that can improve your upgrade experience. ## Products Use these ServiceNow products to automate parts of your upgrade testing and manage your upgrades from one central place. [Automated Test Framework](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=automated-test-framework&version=australia&pubname=australia-application-development&ft:locale=en-US) : The Automated Test Framework (ATF) enables you to create and run automated tests to confirm that your instance works after making a change. For example, after an upgrade, during application development, or when deploying instance configurations with update sets. Review failed test results to identify the changes that caused the failure and the changes that you should review. Note: By default, the system property to run automated tests is disabled to prevent you from accidentally running them on a production system. Run tests only on development, test, and other non-production instances to avoid data corruption and outage. [Upgrade Center](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=uc-landing-page&version=australia&pubname=australia-platform-administration&ft:locale=en-US) : Use ServiceNow® Upgrade Center to plan and manage your upgrades. Use the Upgrade Preview module to explore different release versions available to you and gain insights about the experience of an upgrade without actually upgrading your instance. You can also monitor the status of any ongoing upgrade and view the summary of your latest upgrade with the new Upgrade Monitor module. The Upgrade Center also features an Upgrade visual task board (VTB) to manage post-upgrade skips. A separate Upgrade History module can be used to view all your past upgrades. ## Upgrade tools In addition to upgrade-related products, you can also use ServiceNow's upgrade tools. [Now Support upgrade assist](https://support.servicenow.com/kb_view.do?sysparm_article=KB0788171) : Stay current by automating your ServiceNow upgrades. Use an automated service to offload upgrade scheduling tasks. [Known Error portal](https://support.servicenow.com/kb_view.do?sysparm_article=KB0597477) : Review a list of known issues in selected patch release versions. Sample upgrade project plans : The [Upgrade planning checklist](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/yBK~NFwplFbDiFeeXGzRvg "Plan and track the activities related to your ServiceNow instance upgrade. To help ensure that you complete all the tasks for a successful upgrade, follow the step-by-step instructions in the upgrade planning checklist to track and plan the upgrade.") provides a quick look at the steps in an upgrade. If you'd like to track your upgrade progress in Excel, PDF, or Microsoft Project, you can download these sample project plans to get started. * [PDF](https://downloads.docs.servicenow.com/enus/paris/upgrade/servicenow-upgrade-planning-checklist.pdf) * [Excel](https://downloads.docs.servicenow.com/enus/paris/upgrade/servicenow_upgrade_sample_project_plan_v1.0.xlsx) * [MPP](https://downloads.docs.servicenow.com/enus/paris/upgrade/servicenow_upgrade_sample_project_plan_v1.0.mpp) ## Best practices Visit the ServiceNow [Best Practices](https://mynow.servicenow.com/now/best-practices/home) website for more information on how to accelerate outcomes with expert-curated best practices. [Upgrade quickly and maintain platform health](https://mynow.servicenow.com/now/best-practices/success-packs/core-platform-upgrade) : Plan and execute smooth ServiceNow AI Platform upgrades, reduce risk, cut costs, and adopt new features faster across your ServiceNow instance. [Balance value and risk with platform customizations](https://mynow.servicenow.com/now/best-practices/assets/businesssmart-customization) : Learn when and how to customize your instance to maximize value and minimize upgrade impact.
## Resources [ServiceNow Impact success plans](https://www.servicenow.com/impact.html) : Receive long-term adoption guidance and support with an Impact success plan tailored to you. [Expert services](https://www.servicenow.com/services/expert-services.html) : Connect with a ServiceNow expert who will help you apply best practices and tools to upgrade to the most recent ServiceNow innovations.