ServiceNow follows a multi-tiered architecture that consists of various components working together to deliver its enterprise service management capabilities. Here’s an overview of the architecture and key components of ServiceNow:
1. User Interface (UI) Tier:
The User Interface tier is the front-end component of ServiceNow that provides the user interface through which users interact with the platform. It includes the ServiceNow web-based interface and the Service Portal, which offers a customizable self-service portal for users to access services and submit requests.
2. Application Tier:
The Application tier handles the business logic and application functionality of ServiceNow. It consists of several components:
– Application Server: The Application Server executes the business logic and processes user requests. It handles tasks such as data retrieval, processing workflows, and executing business rules.
– Web Server: The Web Server acts as an intermediary between the user interface and the application server. It handles user requests, manages session information, and serves web pages to the user interface.
– Integration Hub: The Integration Hub facilitates seamless integration with external systems and applications. It provides connectors, APIs, and tools to enable data exchange and process automation between ServiceNow and other systems.
– Orchestration: Orchestration allows the automation of complex, cross-domain workflows and processes. It enables integration with external systems, tools, and services, orchestrating tasks and actions across various platforms.
3. Database Tier:
The Database tier stores and manages the data used by ServiceNow. It includes the underlying relational database management system (RDBMS), such as MySQL, Oracle, or Microsoft SQL Server, where ServiceNow stores configuration data, user information, records, and other data elements.
4. Persistence Layer:
The Persistence Layer handles data access and storage operations between the Application tier and the Database tier. It includes components such as the Object Relational Mapping (ORM) layer, which maps ServiceNow objects and records to the underlying database structure.
5. Integration Components:
ServiceNow integrates with various external systems and applications to exchange data and automate processes. It provides integration components such as APIs, web services, connectors, and MID Servers (Management, Instrumentation, and Discovery Servers) to facilitate integration with third-party systems.
6. ServiceNow Store:
The ServiceNow Store is an online marketplace where customers can access and install applications, plugins, and extensions developed by ServiceNow and third-party vendors. It offers additional functionalities, industry-specific solutions, and pre-built integrations to enhance the capabilities of the ServiceNow platform.
7. Security and Access Controls:
ServiceNow incorporates robust security measures to protect data and ensure secure access. It includes features like user authentication, role-based access controls, encryption, and auditing capabilities to maintain data integrity and comply with security standards.
These are the main components that make up the architecture of ServiceNow. The distributed nature of the architecture allows for scalability, high availability, and flexibility to meet the demands of organizations of various sizes and complexities.
