---
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


---

# Working with an exception rule

# Working with an exception rule {#ariaid-title1}

* Release version: Australia
* 
* Updated March 12, 2026
* 
* ![](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ico-clock) 1 minute to read

You can request an exception for vulnerabilities, vulnerable items (VIs), or configuration items (CIs) that can't be remediated or deferred immediately. By automating the VI deferral process, you can defer the matching VIs
based on the rule when the system identifies them.

You can perform the following tasks for an exception rule:

* [Create an exception rule](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/S_AKJMvtrHRp71wtq_XXoQ "Create a rule to automatically request an exception for a specific condition for a group of vulnerable items (VIs), such as a rule with a condition that is based on the vulnerability severity of these VIs. With this rule, you can defer new and existing VIs automatically if they match the approved rule condition.")
* [Approve an exception rule request](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/R63OPLAdSgLKJRh1h4XWgg "Assess exception rule requests from users so that you can approve or reject these requests.")
* [Activating an exception rule](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/T9UM__v9M963lMyttIXJrA "A rule is activated on its \"Valid from\" date. After activation, it automates the exception process for vulnerable items (VIs).")
* [Reopen an exception rule](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/JC7xBDLpCXStVnMdm4K5OQ "Reopen an exception rule that has been rejected, but you want to resubmit. Reopening the rule moves it to the Draft state.")
* [Update an approved exception rule](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/sU~pXbdrdcz~2ET7YkoqaQ "Cancel an approved rule to be able to update it. For example, before you can modify any dates or add a condition to an approved rule, you must cancel it so that the remediation task (VUL) is deleted, and the vulnerable items (VIs) move to the Open state.")
* [Delete an exception rule](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/ijzYgw2oj2KrCFp0w8gjew "Delete an exception rule that is not required anymore. For example, you can delete a rule if you don't want to defer a vulnerable item (VI) during ingestion.")

{#working-with-exception-rule__ul_xgp_frb_vmb}  
Note:  
Starting from v21.0 of Vulnerability Response, you can configure the time frames for approving false positives and exceptions, along with email notifications for both the approver and requester after a set number of days. When a request is raised, the vulnerable item changes to In-Review status and a state change record is created. If the approver doesn't respond within the configured time frame, the vulnerable item or remediation task reverts to Open status. The previous state is stored in the backup_state field. For more information, see [Configure approval rules for Exception Management](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/2qnBR86wWLeVhdcl7TH_5w "Starting with Vulnerability Response v15.0, use the flow designer to approve exception requests for exception management, exception rules, and false positive management. If you are deploying Vulnerability Response (VR) for the first time, the flow designer is enabled by default.").