AnUpdate Setin ServiceNow is a mechanism thattracks and packages customizations and configuration changesso they can be transferred between instances (e.g., fromDevelopmenttoTestorProduction).
It is primarily used ininstance migrationandchange management, ensuring that changes made in one environment can beapplied consistentlyin another.
Tracks Customizations– Records changes to system configurations, such as Business Rules, Client Scripts, UI Policies, and Workflows.
Facilitates Deployment– Enables controlled migration of changes from one ServiceNow instance to another.
Reduces Manual Effort– Instead of manually reconfiguring settings in different environments, administrators can package updates into asingle unit.
Version Control– Ensures that onlyintended changesare moved between instances.
Key Features of Update Sets:
Why the Correct Answer is A:A. An Update Set allows administrators to group a series of changes into a named set and then move this set as a unit to other systems(Correct)
This accurately describes the primary function of anUpdate Set.
Administratorsgroupmultiple changes into anUpdate Set, export it, and apply it to another instance.
Example Workflow:
Admin makes configuration changes(e.g., modifies a Business Rule, updates a Workflow).
Update Set captures those changesin a structured format.
The Update Set is exportedfrom the Development instance.
The Update Set is importedinto the Testing/Production instance and applied.
Why the Other Options Are Incorrect:B. By default, an Update Set includes customizations, Business Rules, and homepages(Incorrect)
Update Setsdo include customizations and Business Rules, but theydo notinclude homepages by default.
Dashboards and homepagesrequire a separate process usingsys_portal_page and sys_ui_page tables.
C. An Update Set is a group of customizations that is moved from Production to Development(Incorrect)
Update Sets are typically movedfrom Development to Test/Production, not the other way around.
Best practice is to make changes inDevelopment, test them inTest/UAT, and then deploy them toProduction.
D. By default, the changes included in an Update Set are visible only in the instance to which they are applied(Incorrect)
This is misleading becausean Update Set can be exported and applied to multiple instances.
Once an Update Set isimported and committed, its changes become active in that instance.
Best Practices for Using Update Sets:✔Always preview an Update Set before committing itto ensure it contains the correct changes.
✔Use Named Update Sets, not the default "Default Update Set," to track changes effectively.
✔Ensure all related changes are included(e.g., dependencies such as script includes and tables).
✔Test Update Sets in a sub-production instancebefore applying them inProduction.
[References:ServiceNow Documentation: Update Sets Overview, ServiceNow Learning Path: Update Set Fundamentals, ServiceNow Docs: Moving Customizations Between Instances, , , , ]
