---
sourceDocument: Australia Security Management
sourceDocumentLink: https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/r/security-management

 Release :

    - australia

ft:locale :

    - en-US

ft:publication_title :

    - Australia Security Management

ft:clusterId :

    - security

bundleId :

    - security

workflow :

    - Technology


---

# Defer a Remediation task

# Defer a Remediation task {#ariaid-title1}

* Release version: Australia
* 
* Updated August 11, 2026
* 
* ![](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ico-clock) 1 minute to read

If you identify a finding or remediation task for which a fix is not yet available and can be safely deferred without additional analysis, you can use the Request Exception feature.

## Before you begin

Role required: sn_sec_exception.admin

## About this task

You can defer a finding or remediation task directly from its respective form in the Security Exposure Management workspace. Once submitted, the request is sent for approval.

A scheduled job runs every day checking for deferred remediation tasks that have reached their reopen date. On the day the task's deferral is set to expire, the task is reopened.  
Note:  
You can manually move change requests and remediation tasks through the states of their life cycles on their respective records with state synchronization enabled, but when the system registers that a CHG has changed its state, or you add a CHG or remove it from a remediation task, state synchronization potentially can override your manual intervention. However, change request states do not automatically move remediation tasks from the Closed or Deferred states.

## Procedure

1. Navigate to Security Exposure Management WorkspaceListRemediation Tasks.
2. Open a record.
3. Click Request Exception.
4. Fill in the fields on the form, as appropriate.  
   {#sem-defer-rem-task__table_s52_yvn_r6__entry__2}

   | Field | Description |
   |-|-|
   | Until | Select the date when the Defer state expires and the remediation task is reactivated. After the record is submitted, if [email notifications](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/JPkqSBydpqxEsGxwINbCCg "Set up email notifications to share useful information about important updates and activities such as approval and rejection of false-positive requests. Creating an email notification involves specifying when to send it, who receives it, and what it contains.") are defined, members of the group receive an email when the expiration date is within one week. When the defer date expires, the remediation task is set back to Open and a second email notification is sent out. |
   | Reason | Enter the reason for deferring the issue. Choices include: * Awaiting maintenance window * False positive * Fix unavailable * Risk accepted * Mitigating control in place * Other {#sem-defer-rem-task__ul_r55_vb1_xdb} |
   | Additional information | Enter any other relevant information. |
   [ ]

   {#sem-defer-rem-task__table_s52_yvn_r6}
5. Click Submit.  
   The group is marked In Review. A Reopen related link appears. The reopen date and reason appear in work notes under the Change Approvals tab.
{#sem-defer-rem-task__steps_tq4_cjq_fgc}

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