Basic email setup

  • Release version: Zurich
  • Updated July 31, 2025
  • 1 minute to read
  • All production instances can send and receive email using ServiceNow - provided resources. The instance has an email address of instance@service-now.com.

    Network layout for standard email configuration

    Following is an example of a basic email network with ServiceNow as the domain.

    Figure 1. Basic email network
    Diagram showing standard ServiceNow email flow, including outbound and inbound messages routed through mail servers and DNS between a user email account and ServiceNow instance

    Basic email services and features

    • Mail servers maintained by ServiceNow.
      • Encrypt mail with opportunistic TLS (Transport Layer Security) if supported by your mail servers.

        If your internal mail servers send and receive messages via a TLS-encrypted channel, ServiceNow mail servers support that communication.

      • Provide a dedicated mailbox for your instance.
    • Pre-configured email accounts to connect to ServiceNow mail servers.
      • An SMTP account sends email to your primary Mail Exchange (MX) server from your instance email address of instance@service-now.com.
      • A POP3 account receives email sent to your instance email address of instance@service-now.com.
    • High availability features from ServiceNow datacenters.
    • Spam detection for incoming email.

    Administrators who want to use basic email services can do so by enabling the email properties for sending and receiving email.