An Update Set in ServiceNow is a mechanism that tracks and packages customizations and configuration changes so they can be transferred between instances (e.g., from Development to Test or Production).
It is primarily used in instance migration and change management, ensuring that changes made in one environment can be applied consistently in 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 a single unit.
Version Control – Ensures that only intended changes are 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 an Update Set.
Administrators group multiple changes into an Update 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 changes in a structured format.
The Update Set is exported from the Development instance.
The Update Set is imported into 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 Sets do include customizations and Business Rules, but they do not include homepages by default.
Dashboards and homepages require a separate process using sys_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 moved from Development to Test/Production, not the other way around.
Best practice is to make changes in Development, test them in Test/UAT, and then deploy them to Production.
❌ 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 because an Update Set can be exported and applied to multiple instances.
Once an Update Set is imported and committed, its changes become active in that instance.
Best Practices for Using Update Sets:✔ Always preview an Update Set before committing it to 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 instance before applying them in Production.
ServiceNow Documentation: Update Sets Overview
ServiceNow Learning Path: Update Set Fundamentals
ServiceNow Docs: Moving Customizations Between Instances
References: