Configure a custom Access Control List (ACL) rule to secure access to new objects or to change the default security behavior.

Before you begin

Role required: security_admin

About this task

To create ACL rules, you must elevate privileges to the security_admin role.

For tables that are in a different scope from the ACL rule record, the types of rules are limited. For Scope Master tables to derive scope and execute scoped ACLS, set the glide.enforce_security_scope.<scope_name> property to true. This ensures ACLs in the global scope do not match when there are scope specific ACLs created on the relevant table. Examples are when securing data within shared application tables in the Global scope, such as sys_attachment or sys_question_answer tables.

Procedure

  1. Elevated privilege roles to the security_admin role.
  2. Navigate to System Security > Access Control (ACL).
  3. Tip: When creating a new ACL it is helpful to review the Deny-Unless ACL.
    Click New.
    Tip: When creating a new ACL, it is helpful to review the Deny-Unless ACL.
  4. Complete the form.
    Table 1. Access control fields
    FieldDescription
    Type Select what kind of object this ACL rule secures. The type of object determines how the object is named and what operations are available. This field becomes read only after the ACL rule is created. If you want to change the type, you must delete the ACL and create a new one with the correct type.
    Operation Select the operation this ACL rule secures. Each object type has its own list of operations. An ACL rule can only secure one operation. To secure multiple operations, create a separate ACL rule for each.

    If you are creating a rule for a report_view operation, see also Report_view access control.
    Decision Type Select the decision type of the ACL. Allow If allows access upon successful evaluation. Deny Unless denies access unless there is successful evaluation.See Deny-Unless ACL for more information.
    Admin overrides

    Select this check box to have users with the admin role automatically pass the permissions check for this ACL rule. Admin users pass regardless of what script or role restrictions apply. However, the nobody role, which only ServiceNow personnel can assign, takes precedence over the admin override option. If an ACL is assigned the nobody role, admin users cannot access the resource even when Admin overrides is selected. See Base system roles.

    Clear this check box if administrators must meet the permissions defined in this ACL rule to gain access to the secured object. Since administrators always pass role checks (see the description of the Requires role field), use the condition builder or Script field to create a permissions check that administrators must pass.
    Protection Policy Select this to set the protection policy on the ACL
    Name Enter the name of the object being secured, either the record name or the table and field names. The more specific the name, the more specific the ACL rule. You can use the wildcard character asterisk (*) in place of a record, table, or field name to select all objects that match a record type, all tables, or all fields. You cannot combine a wildcard character and a text search. For example, inc* is not a valid ACL rule name, but incident.* and *.number are valid ACL rule names.
    Note: Click the blue triangle to manually enter the record name or the table and field names of the object being secured. Use this option to secure an object that does not appear in the dropdown.
    Description Enter a description of the object or permissions this ACL rule secures.
    Active Select this check box to enforce this ACL rule.
    Advanced Select this check box to display the Advanced Condition fields. See step 6.
  5. (Optional) To narrow the scope of the ACL fill in the Conditions fields as necessary.
    Requires role Use this list to specify the roles a user must have to access the object. If you list multiple roles, a user with any one of the listed roles can access the object. The Requires role list appears as a related list.
    Note: Users with the admin role always pass this permissions check because the admin role automatically grants users all other roles.
    Data Condition Use this condition builder to select the fields and values that must be true for users to access the object.
    Note: The Condition field is case sensitive
  6. (Optional) If the Advanced box is checked, fill in the Advanced Conditions fields as necessary
    Script Enter a custom script describing the permissions required to access the object. The script can use the values of the current and previous Global variables in business rules as well as system properties. The script must generate a true or false response in one of two ways:
    • return an answer variable set to a value of true or false
    • evaluate to true or false

    In either case, users only gain access to the object when the script evaluates to true and the user meets any conditions the ACL rule has. Both the conditions and the script must evaluate to true for a user to access the object.

    Note: If the evaluated item is in a related list, current points to the item the related list is on, not to the current item the ACL is for. However, If the item you are evaluating the ACL for is not in a related list, current points to the actual item.
    Tip: If there is script in the Script field. This script executes even if the field is not displayed on the form.
  7. Right-click the form header and select Save.