In a general sense, how is security applied to records in ServiceNow?

Security in ServiceNow is fundamentally managed through the assignment of roles. Roles define the level of access a user has to various records and functionalities within the platform, ensuring that users can only interact with data that pertains to their job functions. Each role can grant permissions for specific operations such as read, write, or delete on particular tables or records.

When a user tries to access a record, ServiceNow checks the roles associated with that user against the security rules configured for that record. If the user possesses the necessary roles, they can access the record; if not, access is denied. This model allows for granular control of data visibility and management based on user capabilities, thereby enhancing overall data security.

In contrast, workflows, scripts, and attributes do play roles in automation or functionality within ServiceNow, but they are not primarily responsible for defining access and security on records. Workflows manage processes, scripts handle logic and automation, and attributes typically involve metadata about records, but none govern user permissions like roles do. Therefore, roles are central to establishing and enforcing record security in ServiceNow.