--- sourceDocument: Yokohama IT Operations Management sourceDocumentLink: https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/r/yokohama/it-operations-management Release : - yokohama ft:locale : - en-US ft:publication_title : - Yokohama IT Operations Management ft:clusterId : - itom bundleId : - itom workflow : - Technology --- # Exploring synthetic monitoring # Exploring synthetic monitoring {#ariaid-title1} * Release version: Yokohama * * Updated July 31, 2025 * * ![](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ico-clock) 3 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 Exploring Synthetic Monitoring Synthetic monitoring enables proactive, automated testing of service endpoints by simulating user interactions. This technique helps identify bugs, performance issues, and outages prior to affecting real users. It continuously checks HTTP endpoints registered in the Configuration Management Database (CMDB) to ensure their availability, response times, and specific content in responses. Show full answer Show less ## Key Features * **Automated Testing:** Synthetic monitors call HTTP endpoints, generating alerts when tests fail based on predefined criteria such as status codes and response times. * **Flexible Deployment:** Tests can be run from an Agent Client Collector (ACC), a MID Server, or the ServiceNow platform, with requirements for endpoint accessibility. * **User Roles:** Different roles such as Synthetic Monitoring Administrator, Service Owner, and NOC Operator provide various levels of access to create, edit, and monitor tests. * **Alert Configuration:** Users can set up notifications for when tests do not succeed, enabling quick responses to potential issues. * **Visualization:** Operators and service owners can view aggregate monitor information, detailed test results, and historical logs for better insights into performance. ## Key Outcomes By implementing synthetic monitoring, ServiceNow customers can: * Proactively identify and resolve service issues before they impact users. * Gain insights into service performance and availability through detailed monitoring dashboards. * Quickly respond to alerts, ensuring higher service reliability and user satisfaction. * Adapt monitoring setups to align with changing business needs by editing and updating monitors as required. ## Next Steps To further enhance your understanding and use of synthetic monitoring, consider exploring: * Configuring synthetic monitoring * Identifying system issues using synthetic monitoring * Integrating synthetic monitoring with Service Observability Learn how synthetic monitoring provides proactive, automated testing of service endpoints. By simulating user interactions, it can identify bugs, performance issues, and outages before they impact real users. ## Synthetic monitoring overview {#exploring-synthetic-monitoring__cf-exploring-parent-overview} Synthetic monitors continually call HTTP endpoints in the Configuration Management Database (CMDB) to test availability, response times, or the presence of a defined string in the response body. When a test fails the configured criteria, it can alert you to endpoint issues before your customers do. For example, you might create a monitor that tests the GET HTTP endpoint of a service. You could configure that monitor to check for a status code of 200 and a response time of under 500 ms. If any code other than `200` is returned or the request takes longer than 500 ms, the test fails. An alert can then be generated and sent through Event Management. The synthetic monitoring tests can be run by an Agent Client Collector (ACC) deployed in your network, on a MID Server, or on the ServiceNow platform. Note: The HTTP endpoints must exist in the HTTP Endpoints \[cmdb_ci_endpoint_http\] table. Endpoints tested from the ServiceNow platform must be publicly accessible. ## Synthetic monitoring users {#exploring-synthetic-monitoring__cf-exploring-parent-users} {#exploring-synthetic-monitoring__table_ldk_l2v_pdc__entry__2} | User | Description | |-|-| | Synthetic monitoring administrator (Admin role) | Assigns roles, creates and edits monitors, and views monitor tests and their results. | | Service owner (Editor role) | Creates and edits monitors and can also view monitor tests and their results. | | Network operation center (NOC) operator (Viewer role) | Monitors tests and their results. | [Table 1. Synthetic monitoring users] {#exploring-synthetic-monitoring__table_ldk_l2v_pdc} ## Synthetic monitoring customer-hosted workflow {#exploring-synthetic-monitoring__cf-exploring-parent-workflow} Figure 1. Synthetic monitoring workflow Admins, service owners, and NOC operators use synthetic monitoring in the following way: 1. As a service owner, you determine which endpoints to monitor based on business criticality. 2. As an admin or service owner, you configure locations to run the monitor from. Note: The ServiceNow hosted location is available by default and doesn't need to be configured. However, endpoints tested by that location must be publicly available. You can also run the monitor from an ACC Proxy cluster or a MID Server. 3. As an admin or service owner, you configure the monitor and then after it runs once, review the results of the tests. If the results aren't successful, you troubleshoot the configuration. You can also create an alert that fires when a test fails. 4. Synthetic monitoring runs tests based on the monitor's configuration and reports the results of each test. 5. As a service owner or operator, you monitor the test results and also respond to any generated alerts. {#exploring-synthetic-monitoring__cf-exploring-parent-workflow-ol} ## Synthetic monitoring benefits {#exploring-synthetic-monitoring__cf-exploring-parent-benefits} {#exploring-synthetic-monitoring__table_odk_l2v_pdc__entry__3} | Benefit | Feature | Users | |-|-|-| | View aggregate monitor information. View the synthetic monitoring home page where you can: * See an aggregate view of all monitors * View the status of all monitors. * Drill down into a monitor's details {#exploring-synthetic-monitoring__ul_xp2_xl2_h2c} | [View aggregate information about the monitors](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/InJNJE7WA~FmlpSn4DZ0eQ#identifying-system-issues__section_yll_v5k_fdc). | Operators, service owners | | Visualize synthetic test results. View the details page for a monitor where you can see: * The status and configuration of the monitor. * Charts that display test success and response time. * A historical log of synthetic test runs, including details and the response body. * A listing of alerts associated with the monitor. {#exploring-synthetic-monitoring__ul_qrq_24w_sdc} | [View a monitor and its tests](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/InJNJE7WA~FmlpSn4DZ0eQ#identifying-system-issues__section_yx4_2vk_fdc). | Operators, service owners | | Get real-time notifications for outages before they impact users. | [Optionally configure alerts when tests don't succeed.](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/og6Vyqr1eCu8m379NydQFQ "Plan and configure your implementation of synthetic monitoring.") | Operators, service owners | | Share insights with stakeholders. | [View aggregate monitor information](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/nYGCF4dAQBB20_aKvpyfKA "View information about all your synthetic monitors."). | Operators, service owners | | Update monitors to match your business needs. | [Edit existing monitors, including deactivation](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/wvCq_T5FRaieimBLjTFAeA "Edit or delete synthetic monitors after creating them."). | Service owner | | Embed monitor results in a Service Observability dashboard. | [Use synthetic monitoring with Service Observability](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/6bWDIM3A5bBoc2Be9qMEuw "Create a synthetic monitor to test your service's endpoints. Then display the results by customizing a Service Observability dashboard.") | Service owner | [Table 2. Synthetic monitoring benefits] {#exploring-synthetic-monitoring__table_odk_l2v_pdc} ## What to explore next {#exploring-synthetic-monitoring__cf-exploring-parent-links} To learn more about configuring and using synthetic monitoring, see: * [Configuring synthetic monitoring](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/og6Vyqr1eCu8m379NydQFQ "Plan and configure your implementation of synthetic monitoring.") * [Identifying system issues with synthetic monitoring](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/InJNJE7WA~FmlpSn4DZ0eQ "Tests run by synthetic monitors enable service owners and operators to view service endpoint performance at scale.") * [Synthetic monitoring reference](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/oEMQU3bK1xAeuYiUjMhOGQ "Reference topics provide additional information about the synthetic monitoring application, such as components installed and page details.") * [Use synthetic monitoring with Service Observability](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/6bWDIM3A5bBoc2Be9qMEuw "Create a synthetic monitor to test your service's endpoints. Then display the results by customizing a Service Observability dashboard.") {#exploring-synthetic-monitoring__ul_pdk_l2v_pdc}