Configuring auto-delete rules

  • Release version: Yokohama
  • Updated July 31, 2025
  • 1 minute to read
  • By configuring auto-delete rules, you can automate the process of deleting older findings and remediation tasks.

    The base system provides two preconfigured auto-delete rules that automatically remove closed records and any related records. One rule targets findings, and the other targets remediation tasks. These rules are inactive by default, so you must activate them manually before they can delete any records. You can use the two preconfigured rules or create your own to suit your specific needs.

    Configuration of auto-delete rules includes the following steps.

    Create or edit auto-delete rules

    Create rules to delete findings and remediation tasks automatically based on specific filter conditions. These rules help remove older records from the Findings and Remediation Task tables.

    Before you begin

    Role required: See Access control lists (ACLs) for administration rules

    Procedure

    1. Navigate to Workspaces > Security Exposure Management Workspace.
    2. Select Administration in the navigation pane.
    3. Select Review on the Auto delete rules tile.
    4. On the Rules page, select Auto delete in the navigation pane.
    5. Select New and fill in the fields on the form:
      Table 1. Auto-delete rule form
      Field Description
      Details
      Tablename Name of the table for which the rule is being applied.
      Matchfield Field for which the system monitors the duration.
      Age in seconds Age of the vulnerability record to be deleted. For both findings and remediation task rules, the age is 365 days. This age is displayed in seconds.
      Active Indicates whether the rule is active.
      Cascade delete Option to delete all matching records, plus any records referring to them. If this option isn’t selected, only matching records are deleted, but not the records that refer to them.
      Conditions
      Condition fields Filter conditions defining the records in the Findings and Remediation Task tables to which the rules apply.
      New condition set Adds more condition filter fields to choose from.
    6. Select Set conditions.
    7. Select the conditions.
    8. Select Set.
    9. Select Save.
      Once the rule is activated, the hourly platform function, Auto flush deletes those records from the table for which the rule is activated.

      If your environment contains millions of records that match your delete criteria, it's advisable to consult with ServiceNow Customer Support before enabling the auto-delete rules. They can assist you in deleting records through a phased process to ensure smooth and efficient data management.