--- 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 --- # Smart Assessment Engine # Smart assessments with Third-party Risk Management {#ariaid-title1} * Release version: Australia * * Updated June 2, 2026 * * ![](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ico-clock) 6 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 Smart assessments with Third-party Risk Management The integration of the Smart Assessment Engine (SAE) with Third-party Risk Management (TPRM) enhances the assessment process by supporting both the Classic assessment engine and SAE within the Vendor Management Workspace. SAE enables the creation of configurable internal and external questionnaires with advanced features such as logical question grouping, inline guidance, and automations. It requires enabling the SAE property and migrating from the Classic engine, after which only SAE templates can be used for new assessments. Show full answer Show less ## Key Features * **Enhanced user experience:** Improved navigation and a standardized UI for conducting both internal and external assessments. * **Advanced questionnaire design:** Group questions into sections and subsections, add attachments and reference information, and filter unanswered questions. * **Auto-save functionality:** Automatic saving of responses as users complete questions. * **Customizable risk rating scales:** Override default risk ratings at the template level for consistent and flexible risk evaluations. * **Assessment duration:** Define how long an assessment remains open when creating templates. * **Combined assessment views:** Respond to multiple questionnaires using the same SAE template in a unified interface. * **Risk scoring and normalization:** Standardize risk scores for consistent evaluation across assessments. * **Portal support:** Internal users access assessments via the GRC portal; external parties use the third-party portal. * **Question-level collaboration:** Add comments, worknotes, and flags with role-based access controls to facilitate review and communication. * **Conditional logic and display:** Skip logic hides irrelevant questions and visually de-emphasizes skipped sections, presented in a continuous scroll layout. * **Template versioning:** Supports deep copies of templates with version management, enabling edits through new versions rather than in-place changes. ## Limitations * All new assessments must use SAE templates; Classic engine assessments are no longer supported for new work. * Third-party risk assessors cannot manually create issues; issue creation must be automated via rules. * Signature functionality is not supported. * Automatic attachment of questionnaires based on inherent risk questionnaires (IRQ) is not supported. * Certain question types (percentage, ranking, image scale, custom metric) are unsupported and must be converted or recreated. * Excel export of SAE assessments is not available in the third-party portal. * Empty sections resulting from migration must be corrected before publishing templates. * Repeating assessments are not supported; event-driven management rules can be used instead. * Duration information for templates must be manually exported/imported across instances. * Management rules tied to non-SAE templates will not function correctly. * Scoring migration only proceeds without template migration errors. ## Next Steps for Customers To implement SAE with TPRM, administrators should configure assessment questionnaires and managers should set up management rules that trigger assessments based on tiers, providers, or events. The assessment results guide risk mitigation actions. Customers can further explore configuration, migration, template creation, adding instructions/questions, reference information, and scoring normalization to maximize the benefits of SAE within TPRM. With the integration of Smart Assessment Engine (SAE), TPRM now supports both the Classic assessment engine and SAE. You can create questionnaire templates and add instructions, questions, and reference information by creating templates using SAE in the Vendor Management Workspace. ## SAE overview {#tprm-sae-using__section_zhk_15s_m1c} The Smart Assessment Engine in Vendor Management Workspace enables you to create both internal and external questionnaires using configurable templates, logical grouping of questions, inline guidance, and automations. In the Vendor Management Workspace, you can view the templates available for TPRM. Confirm that the assessment template category is set to one of the supported TPRM template purposes. Also confirm that assessment targets are set to Third party and Engagement, along with any related components such as subsidiaries or engagement risk assessments that apply to your assessment. Only the assessment templates that are published are available for performing the assessments. For more information about the Smart Assessment Engine application, refer to [Exploring Smart Assessment Engine](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/ijwCRJsDLOFn4EMzVXunIg "The ServiceNowSmart Assessment Engine (SAE) helps you reduce the manual burden and costs of your assessment processes through automation."). Note: To use Smart Assessment Engine, you must enable the Smart Assessment Engine enabled \[sn_vdr_risk_asmt.sae_enabled\] property. After setting this property, you can't create new assessments and questionnaire templates using the Classic assessment engine. For the full list of prerequisites, including required scoped applications and template migration, see [Migrating from Classic Assessment Engine to Smart Assessment Engine](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/_IFNHdAAg~lR1jG6oNNjLQ "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.") and [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."). ## Benefits of using the Smart Assessment Engine experience {#tprm-sae-using__section_akr_sbl_4fc} The new assessment experience offers the following benefits. * Enhanced navigation: Use the improved navigation for a better user experience. * Assessment support: Conduct assessments for both internal and external parties in one standard UI. TPRM SAE questionnaire templates are extended to include additional attributes such as the risk area and the option to include previous responses, which aren't available in the base SAE templates. TPRM SAE templates must be created directly within the Vendor Management Workspace to ensure that they include the necessary attributes and can be used for TPRM assessments. * Organize questions: Group questions into subsections and sections for better organization. * Add attachments: Attach the files directly to the individual questions. * Add reference information: Add reference information to a questionnaire template to help ensure that assessors and respondents can access the necessary information they need while completing a questionnaire. * Filter questions: Quickly identify and filter unanswered questions. * Auto-save for questionnaires: Save your work automatically as you complete each question within a questionnaire. * Standardized risk rating scale definition: Override the default risk rating scales at the template level for both internal and external assessments. * Assessment duration: Define the duration of an assessment when creating a questionnaire template. * Combine assessments: Respond to questionnaires by using the same SAE template in a single, streamlined view. * Risk scoring and score normalization: Standardize the risk scores for a consistent evaluation using the more flexible scoring settings available in SAE. * Support for the GRC and third-party portals: Internal assessment responders can use the GRC portal to access and complete internal assessments and external assessment responders can use third-party portal to complete external assessments. * Question-level comments, worknotes, and flags are available in SAE assessments. Any user with read access to an assessment instance can add and view question-level comments. Worknotes and question flags require a role assigned at the template category level. TPRM reviewers, assessors, and managers have this access in all out-of-the-box TPRM template categories. Third party and engagement contacts can view and respond to question-level comments but cannot access worknotes or set question flags. * When a question triggers a skip, downstream conditional questions are hidden and sections containing only skipped questions are visually de-emphasized. Assessments render in a continuous scroll layout, making it easier to focus on relevant questions without scrolling past hidden content. {#tprm-sae-using__ul_hx1_p5r_4fc} ## Smart Assessment template versioning {#tprm-sae-using__section_sae_template_versioning} SAE templates in TPRM now support explicit versioning. Each version is a full copy of the template (deep copy). When a new version is published, the previously published version is automatically retired. Retired versions remain visible for reference but cannot be used for new assessments. To create a new version of a template, use the Create Version action on the template record in the Vendor Management Workspace. Editing a published template in place is no longer supported --- you must create a version instead. Template versions can also be deleted. For more information on template versioning in SAE, see [Template versioning](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/o0XAnVIoitK~YX8LDrG86Q "Template versioning in Smart Assessment Engine enables organizations to maintain multiple versions of assessment templates over time. The ongoing assessments continue to exist even if their related version is retired or superseded by new versions."). Templates shipped through the Unified Content Management (UCM) module are also versioning-compatible. For more information about activating and updating templates through UCM, see [Activate or update Smart Assessment templates](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/p8PCvdnhKjj4lRJ8tWSo5Q "Manage SAE templates for TPRM from the Unified Content Management page in the Vendor Management Workspace. You can view available templates, select template versions, activate or update templates for use in Third-party Risk Management assessments, and update templates when newer versions are released."). ## Smart Assessment Engine limitations {#tprm-sae-using__section_k41_ch5_rfc} SAE with TPRM 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 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. 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. * 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."). * Repeating assessments aren't supported. You can use Event-driven management rules. * When transferring TPRM SAE questionnaire templates between instances, the update set won't include the duration information. Users must export the duration information manually from the `sn_smart_asmt_duration` table and import it into the target instances. * If an assessment template isn't updated to support SAE assessments, the related tier-based, provider-based, and event-driven management rules won't run as expected. * 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. {#tprm-sae-using__ul_shv_kfg_wfc} Note: For more information on migration results and migration limitations, 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."). ## What to explore next {#tprm-sae-using__section_gxd_mvh_ldc} To get started, the TPR admin configures the assessment questionnaire and the TPR manager configures the tier-based, provider-based, or event-driven management rules that determine when an assessment is sent to a third party or engagement. Based on the assessment results, appropriate risk mitigation measures are identified and implemented. To learn more about configuring and using SAE with Third-party Risk Management, see: * [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.") * [Migrating from Classic Assessment Engine to Smart Assessment Engine](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/_IFNHdAAg~lR1jG6oNNjLQ "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.") * [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.") * [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.") * [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.") * [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.") {#tprm-sae-using__ul_szq_5vh_ldc}