Using Fortanix Data Security Manager with ServiceNow

  • Updated on Mar 12, 2025
  • Published on Jun 24, 2024
  • 2 minute(s) read
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1.0 Introduction

The purpose of this article is to describe the methods to configure and integrate Fortanix-Data-Security-Manager (DSM) SaaS solution with a ServiceNow instance for Customer managed encryption keys.

2.0 Prerequisites

3.0 Setting up the ServiceNow Instance

Refer to ServiceNow documentation on how to set up your ServiceNow instance and enable external KMS functionality.

Fortanix DSM SaaS service is globally available in North America, European Union, United Kingdom, Asia Pacific, and Australia regions. 

4.0 Setting up Fortanix DSM

  1. Sign up at https://smartkey.io/.

  2. Log in to the Fortanix DSM UI.

  3. Click the Integration tab in the left panel.

  4. On the Integration page, click ADD INSTANCE on the ServiceNow wizard.   

    ServiceNow2.png

    Figure 1: Integration tab

  5. Enter the details as shown in the following screenshot. 

    ServiceNow3.png

    Figure 2: ServiceNow details

    1. Instance Name: This is your active ServiceNow instance name. Please provide the exact instance name. Any error in the name may result in unsuccessful integration.

    2. Key expires after: Enter the period after which the key expires.

    3. API Gateway: Use Fortanix managed API gateway. Option to set up your own API Gateway is coming soon.

  6. Click SAVE to complete creating the application.

  7. You can view all the instances by clicking View All on the integration wizard.   

    ServiceNow4.png

    Figure 3: View all integrations

  8. To edit the Key Expiry Duration, click the Edit  ServiceNow6.png icon for a ServiceNow instance.  

    ServiceNow5.png

    Figure 4: Edit instance

    ServiceNow7.png

    Figure 5: Edit instance

  9. After the setup please contact ServiceNow support ([email protected]) and provide your endpoint in the following format:
    https://servicenow.fortanix.com/kek/<instance name>/<key_version>.

    The service now Support team will then enable the Customer Control Switch for your instance.

5.0 Disabling the Key (Kill Switch)

In case the key is compromised, you can disable the key using the steps below:

1. In the Fortanix ServiceNow wizard, change the "Key expires after" field to 0.

2. After 15 mins, the ServiceNow database should crash, and you will not be able to access it via ServiceNow UI. 

3. Raise a ticket with ServiceNow support team to inform the same. 

6.0 Enabling the Key (Kill Switch)

1. Change the "Key expires after" field to a value greater than 0 (recommended value: 2 days).

2. Raise a ticket with ServiceNow support team to re-enable the database.

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