ServiceNow Article: Now Platform Architecture

Introduction

The Now Platform is an application platform as a service that provides the infrastructure needed to develop, run, and manage applications. It enables the automation of business processes across the enterprise.

Key Features

• Single Data Model: Built on a flexible table schema, the Now Platform delivers a common set of core capabilities and reusable components, eliminating data silos and enabling workflows.

• Cloud Services: Manage IT strategy, operations, service delivery, and apps. Automate, predict, digitize, optimize, monitor, and resolve security risks.

• Fast, Personal Service: Deliver fast, personal service to employees.

• Connect Customer Service: Connect customer service with other teams to solve issues faster, cut costs, and boost satisfaction.

• Create Custom Applications: Create your own applications quickly using prebuilt libraries, tools, templates, scripts, and integrations.

• Enterprise Cloud: The ServiceNow system of engagement for the entire enterprise, not limited to a specific department or function.

Multi-Instance Architecture

• Nearly all clouds today—except ServiceNow—are built on a legacy construct called a multi-tenant architecture.
• ServiceNow cloud is built on an advanced architecture called multi-instance.
• In multi-instance architecture, your organization's data, applications, and customizations reside in a unique software stack called an instance.
• Each instance is isolated from every other instance, providing true data isolation.
• Hardware and software maintenance can be performed on individual customer instances, and issues can be resolved on a customer-by-customer basis.

Availability and Redundancy

• ServiceNow global data centers are paired with another data center to provide redundancy with failover support.
• Near-perfect availability with redundancy built in at every layer of the cloud, including devices, power, and network infrastructure.
• Advanced High Availability (AHA) capability for quick rerouting of customer traffic in the event of faults or outages.
• Real Availability tile in HI allows users to check the availability of instances at any time.

Backups and Security

• ServiceNow provides weekly full backups and daily differential backups of your data.
• Multiple technologies and levels of security are used to secure the cloud and your data.
• Certified compliant by third-party organizations, including ISO27001, SSAE 16 SOC1, and SOC2 Type 2.
• Encryption of data in transit, integration with SAML 2.0 compliant single sign-on services, and role-based access control for application and field security.

Domain Separation

• Domain separation, also known as multi-tenancy, allows separation of data, processes, and administrative tasks into logical groupings called domains.
• Control access to data based on domains, limiting visibility and access to specific users.
• Global domain accessible to all users, while other domains have restricted access based on user assignments.
• Use cases include separating client data for managed service providers and sharing policies across multiple organizations within a single ServiceNow instance.