Questions for the CTA were updated on : Dec 01 ,2025
A CTA is advising a large organization with multiple ServiceNow instances across different
departments. The client wants to streamline their application deployment process and ensure
consistency across instances. Which recommendation should the CTA prioritize regarding the
Application Repository?
C
Explanation:
To streamline application deployment and ensure consistency across multiple instances, the CTA
should prioritize recommending the use of the Application Repository to centralize and distribute
custom apps.
Here's why:
Centralized Repository: The Application Repository provides a central location to store and manage
custom applications.
Version Control: It allows for versioning of applications, making it easier to track changes and roll
back if needed.
Easy Distribution: Applications can be easily published and distributed to other instances from the
repository.
Consistency: Using the repository helps ensure that all instances have the same version of an
application, promoting consistency and reducing conflicts.
Why not the other options?
A . Use it for a Citizen Development program: While the repository can support citizen development,
it's not its primary purpose in this scenario.
B . Employ it for real-time collaborative coding: The repository is not designed for real-time
collaborative coding.
D . Use it as a backup for all global application packages: While it can be used for backups, its primary
benefit here is for centralized management and distribution.
Reference: ServiceNow Application Repository documentation
When advising on release and instance management, what should be considered as key governance
factors?
Choose 3 answers
B, C, E
Explanation:
Key governance factors for release and instance management include:
B . Operating model and development approach: Define the organization's approach to development
(e.g., Agile, Waterfall), release cycles, and how different teams collaborate on the platform.
C . Platform scope and deployed applications: Clearly define the scope of the ServiceNow platform
within the organization and the applications that will be deployed. This helps with planning and
resource allocation.
E . Number and purpose of instance environments: Establish a clear instance strategy, including the
number of instances (dev, test, prod, etc.), their purpose, and how they are used to support
development and deployment processes.
Why not the other options?
A . Release performance and instance usage analytics: While these are important for monitoring and
optimization, they are not primary governance factors.
D . Day-to-day instance performance metrics: These are operational metrics, not directly related to
governance decisions.
Reference: ServiceNow governance best practices, ITIL 4 framework
What are the types of splits in a multi-development environment stack?
B
Explanation:
In a multi-development environment stack in ServiceNow, the types of splits commonly refer to how
development efforts are organized and managed across different environments.
Product-based splits:
Development efforts are divided based on specific products or modules. For instance, one team may
work on ITSM while another works on ITOM.
Release-based splits:
Development is split by different release versions. Teams may work on different versions of the same
product for testing, updates, or new features.
These splits help manage concurrent development efforts efficiently, especially in environments with
multiple teams and priorities.
What are the advantages of a 5-stack instance structure that consists of development, quality
assurance, user acceptance testing, staging, and production?
Choose 3 answers
A, C, D
Explanation:
A 5-stack instance structure (dev, QA, UAT, staging, production) provides several advantages:
A . Staging instance for troubleshooting: The staging instance closely mirrors the production
environment, allowing for thorough testing and troubleshooting of changes before they are deployed
to production.
C . Deployment testing: Each instance serves a specific testing purpose (QA for functional testing,
UAT for user acceptance testing), ensuring comprehensive validation before production deployment.
D . Increased parallel activity: Different teams can work simultaneously in their respective instances,
increasing development and testing efficiency.
Why not the other options?
B . Lower maintenance effort: A 5-stack structure can actually increase maintenance effort due to the
need to manage multiple instances.
E . Single Dev track: A 5-stack structure typically supports multiple development tracks or branches.
Reference: ServiceNow instance strategy best practices
What is the primary factor in determining the number of MID Servers required for a standard
ServiceNow deployment?
B
Explanation:
The primary factor in determining the number of MID Servers needed is the number of targets and
interaction frequency.
Targets: The number of devices, applications, or external systems that ServiceNow needs to interact
with (e.g., for discovery, orchestration, integrations).
Interaction Frequency: How often ServiceNow needs to communicate with these targets (e.g.,
continuous monitoring, scheduled data imports).
Why not the other options?
A . The number of network routers in use: While network infrastructure is important, it's not the
primary factor for MID Server sizing.
C . The number of concurrent users on the instance: User activity impacts application server load, not
directly the number of MID Servers needed.
D . The geographical spread of the organization: Geographic spread can influence MID Server
placement, but the primary factor is the number of targets and interaction frequency.
Reference: ServiceNow MID Server documentation
What is the primary function of spokes in Integration Hub?
C
Explanation:
In ServiceNow Integration Hub, spokes act as connectors to third-party APIs. They provide a
standardized way to connect to and interact with external systems and applications.
Here's how spokes work:
Pre-built Connectors: Spokes offer pre-built connectors for many popular applications and services,
simplifying the integration process.
API Abstraction: Spokes abstract the complexity of different APIs, providing a consistent interface for
interacting with various systems.
Actions and Triggers: Spokes define actions (to perform operations on the external system) and
triggers (to listen for events in the external system).
Why not the other options?
A . To design custom automation workflows: While spokes are used within automation workflows,
their primary function is to connect to external systems.
B . To create custom user interface designs: UI design is not the primary role of spokes.
D . To manage ServiceNow database connections: Database connections are handled by other
mechanisms within ServiceNow.
Reference: ServiceNow Integration Hub documentation
A CTA is guiding a client through the final step of planning a ServiceNow integration. What critical
aspect should the CTA prioritize when gathering technical details?
A
Explanation:
In the final planning stage of a ServiceNow integration, the CTA should prioritize assessing network
and system communication needs. This involves:
Connectivity: Verifying network connectivity between ServiceNow and the external system. This
includes checking firewalls, ports, and any required network configurations.
Protocols: Determining the communication protocols to be used (e.g., REST, SOAP, JDBC).
Security: Ensuring secure communication channels, including authentication and encryption
requirements.
Performance: Considering bandwidth requirements and potential performance impacts on both
systems.
Why not the other options?
B . Determining the color scheme for integration UI: While UI considerations are important, they are
not the primary focus during the technical details gathering stage.
C . Planning the communication for the integration go-live: Communication planning is important but
separate from the technical details of the integration itself.
D . Estimating the projected integration data metrics: Data volume estimates are useful, but the
primary focus is on ensuring successful communication between the systems.
Reference: ServiceNow integration best practices, Network communication fundamentals
In Identity Provider (IdP) initiated SSO, what is the primary protocol used for communication
between the IdP and the enterprise application?
D
Explanation:
The primary protocol used for communication between the Identity Provider (IdP) and the enterprise
application in IdP-initiated SSO is Security Assertion Markup Language (SAML).
Here's how SAML works in IdP-initiated SSO:
User Authentication: The user initiates the login process at the IdP.
Assertion Generation: After successful authentication, the IdP generates a SAML assertion containing
information about the user's identity and attributes.
Assertion Sending: The IdP sends the SAML assertion to the enterprise application (ServiceNow in
this case).
Assertion Validation and Access: ServiceNow validates the assertion and grants access to the user
based on the information in the assertion.
Why not the other options?
A . JSON Web Token (JWT) authentication: JWT is a token format, often used with OAuth or OpenID
Connect, but not the primary protocol for IdP-initiated SSO.
B . OAuth 2.0 authorization framework: OAuth is primarily used for authorization, granting access to
resources, rather than authentication.
C . OpenID Connect (OIDC) protocol: OIDC is an authentication layer built on top of OAuth 2.0, but
SAML is more commonly used for IdP-initiated SSO.
Reference: SAML 2.0 specification, ServiceNow SSO documentation
What are valid methods for bulk data export from ServiceNow?
Choose 3 answers
A, D, E
Explanation:
ServiceNow provides several methods for exporting bulk data:
A . Using an external ODBC connector to query tables: ODBC (Open Database Connectivity) allows
external applications to connect to the ServiceNow database and extract data using SQL queries. This
is a powerful method for extracting specific data sets.
D . Utilizing export sets with MID Server scheduling: Export sets define the data to be exported. The
MID Server acts as an intermediary between ServiceNow and external systems, enabling scheduled
data exports to files or other destinations.
E . Extracting data using HTTP-based web services: ServiceNow provides REST APIs that allow you to
programmatically extract data from the platform. This is a flexible method for integrating with other
systems and automating data extraction.
Why not the other options?
B . Using SMS push notifications for data extraction: SMS notifications are not suitable for bulk data
extraction.
C . Using printed reports for data extraction: Printed reports are not designed for efficient data
extraction. They are intended for human-readable output.
Reference: ServiceNow data export documentation, ServiceNow REST API documentation
What are common group types used in ServiceNow for managing foundational data?
Choose 3 answers
A, B, C
Explanation:
ServiceNow uses various group types to manage foundational data and control access to
information. The most common ones include:
A . Assignment groups: These groups are used to assign tasks and responsibilities to specific teams or
individuals. They are often used in ITSM processes like incident management, problem management,
and change management.
B . Workflow groups: These groups are used to define who receives notifications and approvals
within workflows. They help automate processes and ensure that the right people are involved at
each stage.
C . Security groups: These groups control user access to different parts of the ServiceNow platform
and its applications. They are used to enforce security policies and restrict access to sensitive data.
Why not the other options?
D . Financial groups: While ServiceNow has applications for financial management, "financial groups"
is not a standard group type within the platform.
E . Process groups: While processes are essential in ServiceNow, "process groups" is not a standard
grouping mechanism. Processes are typically managed through workflows and applications.
Reference: ServiceNow user and group management documentation
What are the recommended error handling strategies for ServiceNow integrations?
Choose 3 answers
B, C, E
Explanation:
Effective error handling is crucial for maintaining the reliability and stability of ServiceNow
integrations. Recommended strategies include:
B . Establish a process to review and monitor errors: Regularly review integration logs and error
reports to identify trends, potential issues, and areas for improvement.
C . Classify errors into specific categories: Categorizing errors (e.g., data errors, connection errors,
authorization errors) helps with troubleshooting and identifying root causes.
E . Log all errors to a centralized location: Maintain a centralized log of all integration errors for
analysis and troubleshooting. This provides a comprehensive view of integration health.
Why not the other options?
A . Ignore minor errors to reduce system load: Ignoring errors can lead to data inconsistencies and
integration failures. All errors should be addressed appropriately.
D . Create email notifications for all integration errors: While notifications can be useful for critical
errors, sending emails for all errors can lead to alert fatigue and may not be the most efficient way to
manage errors.
Reference: ServiceNow integration best practices, Error handling in software development
As an implementation progresses, which elements does a ServiceNow capability map typically
indicate?
Choose 3 answers
A, B, C
Explanation:
A ServiceNow capability map evolves as an implementation progresses. It typically indicates:
A . Deployed products: The map shows which ServiceNow products or modules have been deployed
and are actively used within the organization.
B . Maturity of deployment: It may visually represent the maturity level of each deployed product,
indicating how fully it is being utilized and integrated.
C . Integration points with external systems: The map highlights how ServiceNow integrates with
other systems and applications within the organization's IT landscape.
Why not the other options?
D . Licensed unused products: While this information might be useful, it's not typically shown on a
capability map, which focuses on active deployments.
E. Business unit organizational structure: This is not directly related to the ServiceNow
implementation or its capabilities.
Reference: ServiceNow implementation best practices, Capability mapping
What is the primary purpose of analyzing an organization's existing architecture as a CTA?
B
Explanation:
The primary purpose of analyzing an organization's existing architecture as a Certified Technical
Architect (CTA) is to identify issues and gaps in the system. This analysis helps to:
Understand the Current State: Gain a clear picture of the current architecture, including its
components, integrations, and limitations.
Identify Pain Points: Pinpoint areas where the architecture is not meeting business needs or causing
challenges.
Assess Risks: Evaluate potential risks and vulnerabilities within the architecture.
Inform Recommendations: Provide a basis for making recommendations for improvements and
future architecture planning.
Why not the other options?
A . To evaluate existing system performance: While performance is important, it's one aspect of the
broader architectural analysis.
C . To recommend a product roadmap: A product roadmap might be an outcome of the analysis, but
the primary purpose is to understand the current state and identify areas for improvement.
D . To evaluate existing testing practices: Testing practices are important, but they are not the
primary focus of architectural analysis.
Reference: ServiceNow CTA exam blueprint, Architectural analysis best practices
What are included in the domains of technical architecture in ServiceNow?
Choose 3 answers
B, C, D
Explanation:
The domains of technical architecture in ServiceNow encompass the key areas that ensure the
platform's stability, security, and scalability. These include:
B . Security Management: This domain focuses on securing the ServiceNow instance, including access
control, authentication, data encryption, and vulnerability management.
C . Environment Management: This domain deals with the management of the ServiceNow
instances, including instance strategy, upgrades, patching, and performance monitoring.
D . Data Management: This domain covers aspects of data governance, data quality, data integration,
and data security within the ServiceNow platform.
Why not the other options?
A . Risk Management: While important, risk management is a broader organizational concern that
extends beyond technical architecture.
E . App Dev Management: Application development management is a specific area within the
broader technical architecture, focusing on the development and deployment of applications on the
platform.
Reference: ServiceNow technical architecture documentation, ITIL 4 framework
How does a phased implementation diagram differ from a ServiceNow capability map?
C
Explanation:
A phased implementation diagram focuses specifically on showing which products are implemented
in each phase of a ServiceNow rollout. It provides a visual representation of the implementation
timeline and the planned deployment of different ServiceNow products or modules over time.
How it differs from a capability map:
Capability Map: A capability map provides a broader view of the ServiceNow platform and its
capabilities. It maps business processes or functions to the ServiceNow products that support them.
It's not specifically tied to implementation phases.
Why not the other options?
A . It provides an overall picture of all products in use: This is more aligned with a capability map.
B . It maps end-user requirements to products: While this might be considered during
implementation planning, it's not the primary purpose of a phased implementation diagram.
D . It tracks products migrated across phases: While migrations might be part of the implementation,
the diagram focuses on showing what's implemented in each phase, not the migration process itself.
Reference: ServiceNow implementation best practices, Project management methodologies