--- sourceDocument: Australia Governance, Risk, and Compliance sourceDocumentLink: https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/r/governance-risk-compliance Release : - australia ft:locale : - en-US ft:publication_title : - Australia Governance, Risk, and Compliance ft:clusterId : - grc bundleId : - grc workflow : - Technology --- # Migrating from Classic Assessment Engine to Smart Assessment Engine # Migrating from Classic Assessment Engine to Smart Assessment Engine {#ariaid-title1} * Release version: Australia * * Updated June 2, 2026 * * ![](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ico-clock) 5 minutes to read Summarize ![AI sparkle icon](https://servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ai-sparkle-icon) Summarized using AI This content was generated using new OpenAI-powered functionality. Results are provided on an as is basis and are not guaranteed to be accurate or complete. ## Summary of Migrating from Classic Assessment Engine to Smart Assessment Engine This guide explains the migration from the Classic Assessment Engine to the Smart Assessment Engine (SAE) in the Third-party Risk Management (TPRM) application, starting from version 21.0.x. Enabling SAE replaces the legacy engine permanently and introduces new features, automation, and templates designed to enhance assessment management. The migration impacts how assessments, templates, and rules operate, so careful evaluation and thorough testing in non-production environments are essential before enabling SAE in production. Show full answer Show less ## Key Features and Changes * **Enabling SAE:** Activated by setting the `snvdrriskasmt.saeenabled` property, which switches all assessments to use SAE templates and automation rules. * **Plugin Installation:** Automatically installs multiple SAE-related applications and plugins, such as Vendor Risk Management Workspace and Smart Assessment Core components, enabling the new engine's functionalities. * **Questionnaire Templates:** All new assessments must use SAE questionnaire templates. Migration converts classic templates to SAE format, but unsupported question types (percentage, ranking, image scale, custom metric) require manual adjustment or re-creation. * **Limitations:** * Issues can no longer be created manually from responses; only automated issue generation rules are supported. * Signature features and automatic questionnaire attachment based on inherent risk are not supported. * Excel export is not available for SAE assessments in the Third-party portal. * Empty sections from unsupported questions prevent template publication and must be addressed. * **Automation:** Event-driven management rules replace legacy repeating assessments for scheduling. * **Assessment and Template Management:** Post-migration, templates default to Draft status, requiring review and publishing. Published templates automatically update related assessment templates and automation rules to support SAE. ## Migration Process Migration can be performed individually or in bulk. After migration: * Review and publish each SAE questionnaire template to activate it within assessments. * Ensure assessment templates are marked as "Supports smart assessment" to enable SAE automation rules. * Continue any in-progress assessments with classic templates until completion; new assessments must use SAE templates. * Scoring migration occurs only if template migration has no errors. ## Comparison with Classic Assessment Engine SAE supports features similar to the classic engine but with enhancements such as: * Improved scoring and response automation. * Support for multiple assessable records per assessment. * Conditional visibility and preferred answer options replacing classic question dependencies and correct answers. * Domain separation and assessment scheduling enhancements. However, SAE limits some question types and manual issue creation, emphasizing automation and streamlined workflows. ## Recommendations for ServiceNow Customers * Test enabling SAE in non-production environments thoroughly before deploying to production. * Review migrated templates carefully, updating unsupported question types and removing empty sections to ensure publishability. * Verify all assessment templates and automation rules are marked as supporting SAE after migration. * Familiarize your team with the new automation rules, workspace, and questionnaire management features introduced with SAE. Learn what changes when you migrate from the Classic Assessment Engine to the Smart Assessment Engine, including feature differences, limitations, and setup requirements. This overview can help you and your team evaluate the impact before enabling the new engine. ## Enabling SAE in TPRM {#tprm-migrate-asmnt-sae__section_in2_pss_rfc} Starting with version 21.0.x of the Third-party Risk Management application, you can enable the Smart Assessment Engine (SAE) by setting the Smart Assessment Engine enabled (sn_vdr_risk_asmt.sae_enabled) property. After setting this property, SAE becomes the default assessment engine and replaces the legacy experience. The transition isn't reversible.{#tprm-migrate-asmnt-sae__grc-tprm-upgrade-info-2} Warning: Set this property in your non-production instances and conduct thorough testing before changing your production instances. Failure to do so may result in unexpected issues. ## Smart Assessment Engine limitations {#tprm-migrate-asmnt-sae__section_k41_ch5_rfc} The TPRM SAE questionnaire template has the following limitations. * All new assessments must use SAE questionnaire templates. * Third-party risk assessors can no longer create issues from the View responses page. Issues generation rules can be used to create issues automatically. * The signature feature isn't supported. * Automatic attachment of questionnaires to external assessments based on inherent risk questionnaire (IRQ) responses or IRQ-calculated risk tiers is currently not supported in Smart Assessment Engine. * The following question types aren't supported: percentage, ranking, image scale, and custom metric. You must either convert these question types to supported formats before migration or create new questions in the template designer after migration. Note: For the percentage and image scale question types, customers can use the Number type and Radio button type, respectively. Ranking and custom metric question types aren't supported. You must either convert these question types to supported formats before migration or create new questions in the template designer after migration. * In the Third‑party portal,the Excel export option available for Classic assessments is not supported for SAE assessments. * If a section in the classic template contains only unsupported questions, an empty section is created in the TPRM SAE template. TPRM SAE templates with empty sections can't be published; therefore, you must either add replacement questions to these sections or delete the empty sections before publishing. For more information on migration results, migration limitations, and creating TPRM SAE questionnaires, see [Results of migrating a template to a TPRM SAE template](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/AVS3tLqazNbXD299QuHVbQ "You can view the templates that were migrated to Smart Assessment format.") and [Create a TPRM SAE questionnaire or document request template](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/KdjQDs99~QJX2ZasxlJO~w "Create a TPRM SAE questionnaire or document request template that supports SAE for risk identification. After integrating SAE, new users must create SAE templates, and existing users can create additional templates after migrating their existing ones."). * The TPRM scoring migration proceeds only if there were no errors during the template migration. If there were errors, the TPRM scoring migration doesn't occur. For more information, see [Configure scoring for an assessment](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/tmcbN7_myQlZu~Z5QAb9vg "Set up scoring for your assessment responses to calculate meaningful scores at the assessment, section, or subsection level.") and [Normalization in assessment](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/nwVNpasbKaGfv5cutjni7w "Normalization in Smart Assessment Engine refers to adjusting assessment question scores to a common scale to promote fair comparison and prioritization."). * Event-driven management rules are the default option for scheduling assessments and replaces Repeating assessments. {#tprm-migrate-asmnt-sae__ul_bkh_43x_xgc} ## Plugin dependencies {#tprm-migrate-asmnt-sae__section_ekf_sss_rfc} After setting the Smart Assessment Engine enabled (sn_vdr_risk_asmt.sae_enabled) property, the following applications and plugins are installed automatically: * The Vendor Risk Management Workspace application \[sn_vrm_ws\] is automatically installed so you can use the Vendor Risk Management workspace where you can access SAE questionnaires and features. * The Smart Assessment Engine application and plugins are automatically installed enabling you to use the features of the Smart Assessment Engine for your assessments. Smart Assessment Engine application package that includes the following: * Smart Assessment Core plugin \[com.sn_smart_asmt\] * Smart Assessment Designer plugin \[com.sn_smart_asmt_desg\] * Smart Assessment Connected plugin \[com.sn_smart_asmt_conn\] * Smart Assessment Migration Tools plugin \[com.sn_smart_asmt_mig\] * Smart Assessment Dependencies plugin \[com.sn_smart_asmt_dep\] * Smart Assessment Post-assessment Actions plugin \[com.sn_impact_fwk\] and \[com.sn_smart_imp_auto\] * Smart Assessment Response Automation plugin \[com.sn_smart_resp_auto\] * Smart Assessment Scoring plugin \[com.sn_smart_scoring\] {#tprm-migrate-asmnt-sae__ul_bst_zb5_rfc} {#tprm-migrate-asmnt-sae__ul_njd_cb5_rfc} Note: For more information on these plugins, see [Configuring Smart Assessment Engine](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/JTT2cNos~rpBYRfzccmnTg "You can activate or upgrade the Smart Assessment Engine application by downloading it from the ServiceNow Store and then configuring the settings in the initial setup checklist to meet your needs.") and [Smart assessment configuration](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/Iw1VKDeXTdPK4OYFAkof2A "The TPR manager and TPR admin roles involve a broad variety of responsibilities. After the TPRM base system is set up, you configure Smart Assessment Engine specific settings as well as other assessment settings that enable and enhance everyday risk-assessment tasks. TPRM admins can enable SAE and work with SAE templates."). ## Migration Overview {#tprm-migrate-asmnt-sae__section_hgb_cj5_rfc} After setting the Smart Assessment Engine enabled (sn_vdr_risk_asmt.sae_enabled) property, all TPRM assessments will automatically use SAE templates and automation rules (tier-based rules, provider-based rules, event-driven rules and issue generation rules) that support SAE only. You will be able to continue any in-flight assessment until they are completed. You will not be able to create any new assessments with classic questionnaire templates. The following diagram shows the questionnaire to TPRM SAE template migration workflow. Figure 1. SAE migration workflow 1. Migrate templates either one by one or in bulk. After migration, all templates are in the Draft state by default. 2. Review each migrated questionnaire template individually to confirm that they're accurate and complete. 3. Publish TPRM SAE questionnaire templates. After publishing, the following actions occur automatically: * All the related assessment templates are updated to use the migrated questionnaire template. If all the questionnaire templates in an assessment template are published, the assessment template is automatically marked as Support smart assessment. * All issue generation rules are automatically marked as Support smart assessment if their related questionnaire template is published. * All automation rules (tier-based rules, provider-based rules, event-driven rules and issue generation rules) are automatically marked as Support smart assessment after their related assessment template is marked as Support smart assessment. {#tprm-migrate-asmnt-sae__ul_pkh_2kd_cgc} Note: For Issue-generation rules to work as expected when applied to an TPRM SAE questionnaire template, at least one question must have the option, Enable preferred response, set to true. 4. Review each assessment template to confirm it's marked as Supports smart assessment. If an assessment template isn't marked as Supports smart assessment, manually adding a new TPRM SAE questionnaire template to it updates its status. {#tprm-migrate-asmnt-sae__ol_zgq_xsq_xfc} For more information, see [Migrate a template to an SAE template](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/77LBemuP2fHAvSZIVdM5Sw "Migrate an existing questionnaire or document request template to a TPRM SAE questionnaire template. You must migrate all classic templates to TPRM SAE templates or create new ones before you can use SAE in TPRM."), [Create a TPRM SAE questionnaire or document request template](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/KdjQDs99~QJX2ZasxlJO~w "Create a TPRM SAE questionnaire or document request template that supports SAE for risk identification. After integrating SAE, new users must create SAE templates, and existing users can create additional templates after migrating their existing ones."), [Create an external assessment template](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/IwU0fCVVzYP7MjHOsvWDaw "When defining an assessment template, the third-party risk manager provides scheduling information for the third-party risk assessment."), and [Create an issue generation rule](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/mc3UH~l8AlOJETYSLDjH2w "Create an issue generation rule that will automatically create an issue based on question responses to external assessments. Issues help ensure that your concerns about a third party or engagement are remediated."). ## Classic assessment engine to Smart Assessment Engine comparison {#tprm-migrate-asmnt-sae__section_r1w_zj5_rfc} The following table shows the comparable features between the Classic assessment engine and Smart Assessment Engine. {#tprm-migrate-asmnt-sae__table_vkx_hjq_hcc__entry__2} | Classic assessment engine features | Smart assessment engine features | |-|-| | Metric Type​ | Template | | Metric Category | Section | | Metrics | Questions | | Additional Information​ | Justification | | Assessable Record | Scope | | Multiple Assessable Records in one Assessment | Combined Assessments | | Schedule and Trigger Assessments | Trigger Assessment Flow Action | | Domain Separation | Domain Separation | | Question Dependency | Conditional Visibility | | Correct Answer | Preferred Answer | | Scoring | Scoring | | Automated response | Response Automation | [Table 1. Comparable features] {#tprm-migrate-asmnt-sae__table_vkx_hjq_hcc} The following diagram shows the relationship between assessment templates and questionnaires after enabling SAE. Figure 2. Assessment templates post-upgrade * Before setting the Smart Assessment Engine enabled (sn_vdr_risk_asmt.sae_enabled) property, the following are used by default. * Existing questionnaire templates * Existing assessments {#tprm-migrate-asmnt-sae__ul_jdg_3nq_xfc} * After setting the Smart Assessment Engine enabled (sn_vdr_risk_asmt.sae_enabled) property, the following are used by default. * SAE questionnaire templates (New or migrated). * Assessments marked as Supports smart assessment. * Tier-based, Provider-based, and Event-driven management rules only work with assessments marked as Supports smart assessment. {#tprm-migrate-asmnt-sae__ul_iqj_znq_xfc} {#tprm-migrate-asmnt-sae__ul_wnq_2nq_xfc} Note: All questionnaire templates must be reviewed and published. All assessment templates and automation rules must be reviewed to confirm they're marked as Supports smart assessment. **Related concepts** * [Smart assessment configuration](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/Iw1VKDeXTdPK4OYFAkof2A "The TPR manager and TPR admin roles involve a broad variety of responsibilities. After the TPRM base system is set up, you configure Smart Assessment Engine specific settings as well as other assessment settings that enable and enhance everyday risk-assessment tasks. TPRM admins can enable SAE and work with SAE templates.") * [Scoring assessments](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/N35hEm9waeS14VJJHB9CqQ "Scoring in Smart Assessment Engine is a systematic way to evaluate responses to various questions within an assessment. By attributing scores to answers, you can translate qualitative responses into quantitative data, offering a measurable and comparable outcome for each assessment.") * [Normalization in assessment](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/nwVNpasbKaGfv5cutjni7w "Normalization in Smart Assessment Engine refers to adjusting assessment question scores to a common scale to promote fair comparison and prioritization.") **Related tasks** * [Migrate a template to an SAE template](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/77LBemuP2fHAvSZIVdM5Sw "Migrate an existing questionnaire or document request template to a TPRM SAE questionnaire template. You must migrate all classic templates to TPRM SAE templates or create new ones before you can use SAE in TPRM.") * [Create a TPRM SAE questionnaire or document request template](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/KdjQDs99~QJX2ZasxlJO~w "Create a TPRM SAE questionnaire or document request template that supports SAE for risk identification. After integrating SAE, new users must create SAE templates, and existing users can create additional templates after migrating their existing ones.") * [Add instructions and questions to an assessment template](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/oJ0zuZATpn_dGC~zfMNLjA "Add instructions and questions to an assessment template by using the Smart Assessment Engine application. You can use instructions and questions to help gather precise and relevant information from designated responders.") * [Add reference information to an assessment template](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/bAmcMPVqLeFb2OZyF1FDUw "Add reference information to an assessment template so that assessors can access the information they need while responding to assessments by using the Smart Assessment Engine. With an assessment template, you can minimize the need for external references and can improve the efficiency of the assessment process.") **Related reference** * [Results of migrating a template to a TPRM SAE template](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/AVS3tLqazNbXD299QuHVbQ "You can view the templates that were migrated to Smart Assessment format.") * [How legacy metric types are migrated to sections in templates](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/CWCw4ad5bxJGyiQCEnFMyA "Legacy metric types are migrated to specific sections in the assessment templates in the Smart Assessment Engine application.")