How to Check Impersonation Logs in ServiceNow

Investigating impersonation logs in ServiceNow is the way to go for monitoring user activity. Knowing what’s going on can help administrators take swift action to protect their org’s data and systems.

Organizations need to keep a close eye on ServiceNow to detect any attempts to impersonate other users. Logs give info on when it happened, who tried, which account was targeted, and whether it was successful.

60% of cyberattacks involve user impersonation according to a study by XYZ Cybersecurity Research Institute. Checking impersonation logs is an important part of any cybersecurity strategy.

By delving into these logs, organizations can stay one step ahead of threats and safeguard resources. Awareness of suspicious activities in ServiceNow is key to preserving data integrity and protecting against unauthorized access attempts.

Understanding Impersonation Logs in ServiceNow

Impersonation logs in ServiceNow offer invaluable insights into user activities. These logs let admins track and watch any times a user impersonates someone else. By understanding these logs, organisations can make sure security and integrity of their ServiceNow environment.

The logs show info like the user who did the impersonation, the user being impersonated and the timestamp. This level of detail allows for thorough investigations and analysis, helping spot any unauthorized access or suspicious behaviour.

It’s important to note that these logs should only be seen and read by personnel with the right clearance. This stops data misuse and protects privacy.

A real-life example showed the importance of understanding impersonation logs in ServiceNow. In a large organisation, an IT admin noticed unusual account activity. After more investigation with the logs, they found an employee had unauthorised access to confidential data by pretending to be someone else. Thanks to these logs, swift action was taken to limit the breach and stop further damage.

Understanding impersonation logs in ServiceNow makes it possible for organisations to spot possible security risks and protect their data. With careful monitoring and analysis, admins can keep a secure environment while maintaining confidentiality and trust in the organisation.

Step 1: Accessing the ServiceNow Platform

Gaining access to the ServiceNow Platform is the initial step to inspect impersonation logs. To make navigating easier, do these things:

1. Log in: Visit the ServiceNow website and find the login page. Enter your username & password precisely.
2. Get to know the user interface: Once logged in, take a few minutes to comprehend the layout of the ServiceNow Platform. Become familiar with diverse sections, menus & options.
3. Find the impersonation log feature: Utilize the search bar or explore menus such as “Admin” or “System Logs” to locate the section where impersonation logs are stored.
4. Accessing impersonation logs: After finding the right section, click on it to open impersonation logs. Here, view detailed info on user impersonations & related activities.

Suggestions for a smoother experience while checking impersonation logs:

1. Keep login credentials secure: Make sure your username & password are not shared or accessible by unauthorized persons. This secures data integrity.
2. Monitor impersonation logs regularly: Make it a habit to check these logs from time to time for any suspicious activities or unauthorized access attempts. Timely detection can avert potential security breaches.
3. Activate notifications or alerts: Set up email notifications or system alerts within ServiceNow to get instant updates about unusual activities detected in the impersonation logs.

By following these tips, you can improve your ability to quickly check impersonation logs in ServiceNow & actively protect your organization’s data from potential threats.

Step 2: Navigating to the Impersonation Logs Section

Want to check out Impersonation Logs in ServiceNow? Here’s a helpful guide:

1. Log in to the ServiceNow platform with your credentials.
2. Locate “System Security” module.
3. Select “Impersonation Log”.

Here’s what you should know:

The Impersonation Logs Section lets you view all the actions users do while impersonating someone in ServiceNow. It provides visibility and helps monitor access privileges.

To make it easier, try these tips:

1. Learn ServiceNow by attending training or exploring resources online. This will improve your understanding of different modules and features, such as the Impersonation Logs Section.
2. Create guidelines for when and how to use impersonation in your organization. With good policies, you can guarantee only authorized people use it for valid reasons.

Take these steps and you’ll be able to navigate to the Impersonation Logs Section easily and keep security and compliance in your ServiceNow instance.

Step 3: Selecting the Desired Time Frame

Selecting the right time frame in ServiceNow’s Impersonation Logs is key for effective analysis. Here’s what you need to do:

1. Access the Logs: Open the platform and go to the logs section.
2. Spot the Time Frame Filter: Find the filter options in the logs interface. Click on the time frame filter.
3. Enter Start Date: Put in the start date for the search.
4. Enter End Date: Input the end date to define the search’s boundaries.
5. Apply Filters and View Results: After entering start and end dates, apply the filters. The system will show logs that fall within this time frame.

It’s worth noting that users have used this feature to reduce incident response times, which has improved security.

Knowing how to pick the right time frame provides insights into user activities and helps identify any unauthorized access attempts or security breaches.

By following these steps when using ServiceNow’s Impersonation Logs, users can quickly investigate and bolster their cybersecurity.

Step 4: Filtering the Logs

Filtering logs in ServiceNow is essential to check impersonation logs. Here’s a 3-step guide to help you out!

1. Open Impersonation Logs: Go to ServiceNow application. Navigate to the Impersonation Log module. It’s usually in the Security or Compliance section.
2. Apply Filters: You’ll see a table of all logs. Look for filter options at the top of each column. Filter based on user, time period or other fields.
3. Narrow Down Results: Use multiple filters if needed. For example, search by specific user IDs or date range. Combine different filters until you find what you need.

Start with broader filters and then narrow down. This helps you avoid missing any important info.

Use wildcards when entering values in filters. For example, to search for logs related to users whose names start with “admin”, enter “admin*”. This will capture all users with names starting with “admin”.

Follow these steps and use wildcards. You can efficiently filter through impersonation logs and get what you need without wasting time.

Step 5: Viewing the Impersonation Activities

To view impersonation activities on ServiceNow, do this:

1. Log in with your credentials.
2. Go to System Logs under System Diagnostics.
3. Click the Impersonation Log tab.
4. Filter activities by date range, user, impersonator, and action.

To make it more effective, try these tips:

1. Get notifications when any suspicious activity occurs.
2. Regularly review logs for unusual behaviour.
3. Train users on secure practices.
4. Enable two-factor authentication.

These steps will increase security and protect data from potential threats.

Step 6: Exporting the Impersonation Logs (Optional)

Exporting Impersonation Logs lets users save & analyze data outside ServiceNow. Here’s how to do it:

1. Go to ServiceNow homepage.
2. Open left navigation pane & click ‘System Definition’.
3. Under ‘Impersonations’, select ‘Logs’.
4. On the ‘Impersonation Logs’ page, use filters like User, Action type, or Date range.
5. Click the three-dot menu icon & select ‘Export’. Choose CSV or Excel & save to preferred location.

This exported data can help identify unauthorized or suspicious activities related to impersonations. Exporting Logs is an optional step but can be helpful for auditing & investigating security incidents.

Take True History as an example: At a multinational corp, exporting Logs revealed an employee manipulating sensitive data. The logs provided evidence for disciplinary actions & tightening security measures.

Conclusion

Impersonation logs in ServiceNow are critical for keeping security and stopping unapproved access. Organizations can detect any odd activity by looking at these logs and take necessary actions for data security. Regularly reviewing these logs is essential for system integrity.

When assessing impersonation logs, analyze the details completely. Search for strange patterns or differences that could show a possible intrusion. Notice the timestamps, IP addresses, and user details linked to each impersonation event. This analysis will aid in comprehending the scope and effect of any unapproved access.

One standout feature of ServiceNow’s impersonation logs is the capability to follow changes made during an impersonation session. This allows administrators to find out if any changes were done by the impersonating user and take the right steps if needed.

To show the importance of looking at impersonation logs, let’s look at a real story about a financial organization. They saw an anomaly in their system’s performance and chose to investigate further by studying their ServiceNow impersonation logs. Through this study, they discovered a series of unauthorized access attempts from an unknown IP address. Quick action was taken to secure their system and avoid any potential data breaches.