ServiceNow Tokyo Release: Important GRC Updates

In late September 2022, ServiceNow published their Tokyo release to the general public. 

The ServiceNow Tokyo release includes several exciting highlights to boost engagement and productivity, increase intelligence and trust for operations and security, and accelerate efficiency with specific, purpose-built solutions.

Our main takeaways from the ServiceNow Tokyo update:

The GRC (IRM) portion of the update included several new features that allow organizations to continue to improve their processes to manage risk and resilience in real time.

Updates On The ServiceNow GRC/IRM Side:

  1. ServiceNow continues to emphasize their position as the ‘platform of platforms’ for digital workflows.

ServiceNow aims to be the place where users can bring all of their GRC/IRM efforts together into one overarching platform, and it has done so by enhancing integration features with other platforms and improved digital-first, fully-integrated workflow automation solutions.

  1. The ServiceNow Tokyo release demonstrates a big focus on business continuity.

An improved business continuity manager including scenario analysis for operational resilience and a further improved risk heat map will allow companies to better track risks and the criticality associated with those risks. On the same note, an improved DevOps Accelerator allows users to ensure compliance issues are addressed without delaying development.

  1. ServiceNow is making ESG a priority with the Tokyo release.

ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) continues to grow as a priority for businesses and ServiceNow is following suit. In the Tokyo release, ServiceNow showcases a clean, intuitive interface for ESG management. This interface enables users to track their ESG goals and performance, along with enhanced ESG reporting capabilities. 

Updates On The Non-GRC/IRM Side of ServiceNow:

An exciting update that was released in the ServiceNow San Diego version but made more robust in the Tokyo version: Robotic Process Automation (RPA).

Robotic process automation allows users to take a given process (whether in ServiceNow or in a third-party software) and record the steps to execute that process. For instance, a user could record the steps to extract data out of a PDF document and build that into an automated process and seamlessly integrate that process into the ServiceNow workflow.

Other relevant ServiceNow Tokyo updates include:

  • ServiceNow Vault: a new security feature that protects business-critical ServiceNow applications with premium platform privacy and security controls.
  • Enterprise Asset Management: a new IT Asset feature that enables strategic asset planning and reduces Capital Expenditures.
  • Cloud Security Integrations: a security operations feature that allows visibility into deployed cloud container image vulnerabilities and drives prioritization. 
  • Admin Center: The inaugural release of this new application included within Tokyo features Adoption Blueprints, which provide a centralized view of applications included in your license and how you can use them to achieve measurable IT business outcomes which is particularly helpful to organizations needing to establish their GRC/IRM licensing landscape.

If your organization is considering employing the ServiceNow platform or integrating ServiceNow with your existing GRC solution, contact us for guidance or watch the replay of our webinar all about how to seamlessly integrate ServiceNow with your GRC/IRM solutions.