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Release: Australia · Updated: 2026-03-12 · Official documentation · View source

Create a new WS-Security profile

Create a new WS Security profile to define how to authenticate a web services message when WS-Security is enabled.

Before you begin

Role required: web_service_admin or admin

Procedure

  1. Navigate to All > System Web Services > WS Security Profiles.

  2. Click New.

  3. Fill in the WS-Security Profile form (see table).

    FieldDescription
    NameEnter a unique name for the security profile.
    TypeSelect X509 to verify the request's certificate. Select Username to verify the request's user credentials.
    Run as userSelect the ServiceNow user the instance will impersonate if authentication succeeds and the Bind Session field is selected. All web services requests will be attributed to this user. For example, if you select the System Administrator user then the instance treats all web services operations as being done by the system administrator. Make sure the user you select has appropriate SOAP privileges if you are using the glide.soap.strict_security high security setting. This field is only visible when the type is X509.
    OrderEnter the order in which the instance checks security profiles. The instance checks all security profiles when processing an incoming SOAP request. If a request fails any security profile authentication requirement, the instance stops processing additional security profiles and fails the request.
    Bind SessionSelect this check box to have the instance impersonate the user listed in the Run as user field. You should only set this field for one profile at a time. If multiple profiles have this field selected, ServiceNow impersonates the user from the last successfully authenticated WS-Security profile. If no profile has this field selected, ServiceNow impersonates the user provided with the basic authentication headers or impersonates the default user (Guest).
    X509 CertificateSelect the certificate record containing the certificate for web service requests. ServiceNow only validates the request signature. It automatically trusts the certificate's certificate authority (CA). This field is only visible when the type is X509.
    Profile actionSelect how you want the instance to authenticate the user credentials. Select Authenticate with user if you want the instance to authenticate the request based on an existing user record. The request's credentials must match values in an existing user record. Select Specify user to authenticate if you want to list a user name and password combination that all web services requests must meet. The request's credentials must match the user name and password you list. This field is only visible when the type is Username.
    User field to match UserNameSelect the column from the User [sys_user] table containing the value you want match against the request's UserName. For example, if you select Email then the request UserName header must contain an email address matching an existing ServiceNow user. This field is only visible when the profile action is Authenticate with user.
    User nameEnter the user name that all web services requests must contain. This field is only visible when the profile action is Username.
    User passwordEnter the password that all web services requests must contain. This field is only visible when the profile action is Username
  4. Click Submit.

Parent Topic:SOAP web service

Related topics

SOAP web services security

WS-Security

WS-Security profiles