Tracking Background Scripts Execution History in ServiceNow
- nathanlee142
- May 14
- 3 min read
ServiceNow's Background Scripts feature is a powerful tool widely used by administrators and developers to execute scripts directly within the platform. However, when it comes to auditing and compliance, it's crucial to maintain visibility into who executed background scripts, when they were run, and what exactly was executed. Understanding the history of background scripts execution is critical for security audits, regulatory compliance, troubleshooting, and maintaining transparency within your ServiceNow environment.
This article will discuss how to effectively track and review the history of background scripts executed within your ServiceNow instance, highlighting key audit requirements and the solutions ServiceNow provides to achieve these goals.
Tracking Background Script Execution: Common Questions and Solutions
Many administrators face a common question: "How can I see the history of background scripts that have been run and identify who ran them?" ServiceNow provides built-in logging capabilities to support auditing needs. Let's explore these in detail.
Understanding ServiceNow's Built-In Logging: "ScriptBackgroundCheck" Log Entries
Every time a user executes a background script within ServiceNow, an entry is automatically created within the platform’s logging system (System Logs > All). Specifically, these logs have a source labeled ScriptBackgroundCheck. Although these entries do not store the complete scripts executed, they provide valuable metadata, including information about:
When the script was executed (timestamp)
Who executed the script (username)
Confirmation that a background script execution took place
To review these logs:
Navigate to the System Logs application module within ServiceNow.
Select All logs.
Filter the logs by adding a condition for the source field set to "ScriptBackgroundCheck".
This logging approach allows you to identify historical background script executions quickly and provides essential auditing capabilities out-of-the-box.
The "sys_script_execution_history" Table: Enhanced Auditing
Starting with the Madrid release, ServiceNow introduced a dedicated auditing table named sys_script_execution_history. This robust auditing solution offers a more detailed record of every background script executed, greatly facilitating compliance, auditing, and historical reporting.
The table sys_script_execution_history captures critical audit details, such as:
User: Who executed the script.
Timestamp: Exact date and time of execution.
Executed Script: A record of the actual script run by the user.
Accessing the Script Execution History:
To access this enhanced audit trail:
Log in to your ServiceNow instance.
Type sys_script_execution_history.list directly into the application navigator filter or use the navigation menu to locate it.
The resulting list provides a comprehensive history of executed scripts, clearly documenting who ran them and when they were executed.
Example Use Case:
Imagine your security team requests verification of background script executions during a certain incident period. Leveraging the sys_script_execution_history table, you can easily filter the records by date range and identify precisely which scripts were executed, their contents, and the individual responsible. This significantly speeds up internal audits and enhances organizational compliance.
Alternative Approaches and Additional Recommendations
While ServiceNow’s built-in logging mechanisms effectively meet most auditing needs, administrators may consider additional customizations for advanced compliance scenarios:
Implementing custom logging in background scripts to further document script intentions and outcomes in a dedicated audit log.
Utilizing additional developer tools or plugins to enhance audit trails further, depending on specific regulatory or security standards within your industry.
Though typically not necessary, such customizations provide additional flexibility and depth when dealing with particularly strict compliance requirements or detailed audits.
Conclusion
Effective auditing of background scripts is essential for maintaining compliance, ensuring transparency, and enhancing security within your ServiceNow environment. Leveraging ServiceNow's native features—such as the ScriptBackgroundCheck logs and the sys_script_execution_history table—enables organizations to achieve these auditing goals seamlessly.
