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

Create a risk indicator

Create a risk indicator to identify the possibility of a future adverse impact on your organization. Indicators are an early warning system, and they enable you to take preventative action on the risks.

Before you begin

Role required: sn_risk.manager or sn_risk.admin

About this task

Generally, indicators are automatically created using the normal process of indicator templates. You can also manually create new indicators. You can also create an indicator by using an indicator template. When you relate an indicator template to a risk statement, the risk indicators are automatically generated.

Procedure

  1. Navigate to All > Risk > Indicators > Indicators.

  2. Click New.

  3. On the form, fill in the fields.

FieldDescription
CategoryCategory of the indicator. For example, select Risk Indicator to create a risk indicator.
Inherit from templateOption to create the indicator from an existing template.
TemplateTemplate used to create the indicator. This field appears only if the Inherit from template option is selected.
Override templateOption to override the template's properties such as the name of the indicator.
NameName of the indicator. If you select a template in the Template field, then this field is automatically set to the template name.
DescriptionBrief description of the indicator. This field is automatically set if you select a template in the Template field.
EntityEntity used to filter risks.
Applies to recordRecord that the entity applies to.
RiskFiltered risk that is related to the indicator.Note: If you have selected an indicator template, then the risk is also filtered based on the template.
Owning groupGroup that owns the indicator.
OwnerOwner of the indicator. This field is automatically set to the owner's name based on the risk.
Method
TypeMethod used to determine the type of indicator. The choices are as follows:- Manual: Manual indicators are used for data that cannot be retrieved from a ServiceNow instance because it comes from an external system, such as customer data from a third-party sales system. - Basic: Basic indicators are automated indicators based on an indicator source. The indicator source specifies a table and a frequency at which the scores from this table are saved. - Script: Scripted indicators use a custom script to collect the data.
Target typeType of the target value. The choices are as follows:- None: Use this option if you do not want to set up any target or threshold for the indicator. - Percentage: Use this option to determine the indicator result by a percentage value. - Count: Use this option to determine the indicator result by a count value or total number.
Value mandatoryOption to decide if a value must be compulsory in the indicator task for a manual indicator. Note: This option appears only if Manual is selected from the Type field. This option is automatically selected when Count or Percentage is selected from the Target type field.
TargetValue to determine if the indicator will pass or fail.
Result based on target valueResult configuration field. The choices are as follows:- Passed - Failed For example, assume you enter 100 in this field. If the indicator result output is more than 100, then the indicator status will pass or fail based on the value configured in this field.
Instructions for collecting dataMore instructions on how to collect data.
Supporting Data
Note: Starting with version 10.1, the system displays the actual historical data for the supporting data records from the indicator results or indicator tasks.
Collect supporting dataOption to enable collecting supporting data or evidence every time the indicator runs.
Source tableTable used for collecting supporting data.
Supporting data fieldsFields of the source table that are used for collecting the supporting data.
Sample sizeMinimum number of records that must be used for collecting supporting data.
Basic Criteria
To filter the data on the source table, use the basic criteria. This section appears only when Manual or Basic is selected from the Type field.
CriteriaCriteria to filter the data from the source table.
Use reference fieldOption to enable the use of the Reference field.
Reference fieldConnection between the supporting data table and the Applies to record field of the entity.
Additional Criteria
To create indicators with targets, use the advanced filter criteria. This section appears only when you select Basic from the Type field. This section is used to provide more filter criteria.
Additional criteriaMore criteria to filter the data to calculate the target value. This section only appears when Percentage is selected from the Target type field.
Schedule
Collection frequencyCollection frequency for indicator results. Indicator tasks and results are generated automatically based on the indicator schedule.
Next run timeNext collection time for indicator results. This field is automatically set based on the value in the Collection frequency field.
Results
StatusStatus of the indicator to show whether the indicator passed or failed.
Previous statusPrevious status of the indicator to show whether the indicator passed or failed.
  1. Click Submit.

Result

The risk indicator is created and is ready to be executed.

Parent Topic:Using Risk Management