Contact us anytime to know more — Abhishek P., Founder & CFO CISIN
Why Integrate Azure Devops And Servicenow?
Your teams must discuss issues often, with differing details about what everyone should know, depending on the problem.
It can be hard to keep everyone on the same page without losing or duplicating information - an automated solution could prove extremely valuable in keeping everyone updated without duplications occurring. A tool capable of taking care of this automatically could prove an invaluable asset in meeting this challenge head-on.
Customer service teams tend to recognize issues engineers should know about and then pass along these concerns for resolution by support personnel.
Once complete, customer service can report back with results to pass along to clients and prospects.
Manual data exchange may be possible, but this method has several drawbacks that must be considered before considering this as a viable solution.
Manual data sharing takes time; important issues might not get passed along correctly, or duplicate information could be shared; data could arrive either formatted incorrectly or at an inappropriate level of detail.
Automating data transfer between teams requires a system capable of gathering it from both platforms, with conditions applied to sharing.
Save time and work by entrusting the integration tool with overseeing its process, guaranteeing data is exchanged efficiently under specific parameters.
How To Choose The Right Technology For Azure Devops Integration
Software integration solutions have become more widely available to connect platforms. When choosing one to link Azure DevOps and servicenow features , three criteria should be carefully considered before selecting one as your preferred integration option.
Decentralized integration (Autonomy)
Teams should have the power to modify their integration configuration independently; otherwise, it becomes cumbersome having to coordinate changes with another group that doesn't share your company or speak the same languages.
Teams should be free to share what information is necessary and in their interests. By choosing an autonomous solution for integrating new companies or platforms into your environment, reliance is maintained without significant alterations in environment changes or added services.
Reliability
Integration solutions must be designed to accommodate for downtime on either end and recover once everything has resumed operating.
When working online, outages may occur; therefore, any system in place must be able to reschedule data exchange without losing information and without incurring extra engineering charges.
Flexibility
As teams evolve and meet different needs, they may decide to alter or increase how much shared data or modify existing policies accordingly.
As teams expand and change over time, their needs could change, too; as this occurs, they could decide to increase or modify sharing amounts accordingly.
Integration must also consider any changes that arise within information entering a system and be capable of accommodating users from both ends of this connection.
Exalate was our solution of choice for integration purposes. Its flexible yet secure structure enabled our teams to operate autonomously while meeting all three associated challenges.
Let's now examine how to set up ServiceNow Azure DevOps Integration.
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Step-By-Step Instructions On How To Set Up An Azure Devops And Servicenow Integration
Install Exalate on both ends. We will create a connection link and examine its settings to understand which data are being transmitted and received.
We will explore ways of controlling data-sharing conditions.
Step 1: Installing Exalate In Azure Devops
Exalate must be installed on an Azure DevOps server for proper functioning.
Install Exalate through Microsoft Azure Marketplace. This will deploy its node into the cloud environment.
Docker can also help you install Exalate; for more details, please read further below.
Installing from the Marketplace directly is the method we will employ in this guide.
Be sure to log in as admin; after login, you should locate "Organization Settings" with its cog icon at the bottom-left of your screen.
If it doesn't show, scroll down.
Just click "Extensions," located on the left-hand menu, for further assistance.
Click the 'Explore Marketplace' button in the upper-right corner of the extension screen to search the Marketplace for products or services available to buy.
Step 2: Look For Exalate Devops In The Marketplace Search Field.
Clicking will take you to the marketplace page; install your software by pressing its green "Get" button.
Once selected from the dropdown list, click the "Install" blue button and install your software into that organization.
Exalate requires an evaluation license. To do this, navigate to Azure DevOps' left-hand menu and then to Exalate in that same place; select Exalate > License Details in Exalate and follow its steps to acquire one.
Enter your email in the popup window that opens after clicking on the image of a 30-day free trial, and copy/paste your evaluation code from within your email.
Clicking the green "License Key" button at the bottom-left will reiterate Exalate and its license details.
To register a license, copy and paste your key before clicking "Update."
Now you are all set up with Azure DevOps! When we reach step 3, return here to configure your connection.
Step 3: Install Exalate With Servicenow
Implement Exalate onto our ServiceNow instance.
Once on Exalate's Integrations page, head directly to its Nodes feature to request one and fill in ServiceNow details on a popup form.
An email containing your node URL should arrive with it almost immediately afterward.
Download an XML update set from Exalate here; this file contains information to instruct ServiceNow on how best to utilize Exalate.
Download your copy now here!
Once your XML document has been safely stored, log back into your ServiceNow Account and navigate to the left navigation menu to see the All Applications icon (if that option still needs to be taken ).
Click "System Update Sets." If you have difficulty finding this menu item, use the Search Box. Once located, click on "Retrieved Update Sets."
Click "Import Update Set from XML" under Related Links, click the "Choose Files" button, select your XML downloaded earlier, and finally the "Upload Button" to complete this process.
Your Exalate XML will appear under "Uploaded Files," where it should be visible. Clicking it, select "Preview Update Set," and finally, "Accept Remote Update," should it prompt for installation updates.
Click "Commit Update Set," and Exalate will now be installed onto ServiceNow.
Next, we will explain how you can connect our platforms.
Step 4: Configure A Connection Between Azure Devops & Servicenow
For Azure DevOps & ServiceNow to communicate, it is necessary to log into one platform, create an invite, copy it over, and then copy and paste it into the other platform.
Once familiarized with Exalate, connecting to multiple platforms becomes effortless.
Create your invitation on any platform; for this example, let's begin with Azure DevOps, where Exalate can be found within "Organization Settings" under "Extensions."
If you haven't done so already, click "Connections" from Exalate's left-side menu to explore your connections.
If none exist yet, a list or message should indicate this fact - click either of them for the "Initiate Connection" button to initiate new relationships immediately.
On the next screen, enter the URL for your destination instance - in this instance, it would be our Exalate ServiceNow Node - before filling in additional fields that appear after providing this data.
Select the type of configuration for your connection from Exalate's two available types - Basic or Script.
The primary mode cannot be altered and is designed for simple use cases. Exalate offers a Free Plan in a Basic manner, which offers up to 1000 syncs a month free for testing purposes and getting acquainted with how Exalate functions.
Script mode lets you tailor each side independently using Groovy scripting, making this mode ideal for more advanced integration projects.
Here, you can set rules to exchange almost any form of data.
Upgrade from Basic to Scripted at any time!
Take a closer look at each mode.
Continue Basic Mode
Click "Basic" on the above screen before pressing "Next."
Select your project in Azure DevOps to synchronize ServiceNow entities. Choose it from the dropdown list and then click 'Next.
Exalate will ask you to verify whether or not you possess administrator access on the other side, ServiceNow, in this example.
If this is true for you, click "Yes, I am an administrator."
If you don't possess administrator access, an invitation code will be given and should be entered manually into ServiceNow.
This will be accomplished using the Script Mode.
Hit "Initiate," and your Basic mode connection between Azure DevOps & ServiceNow has been established, allowing you to synchronize any Incident, Work Item, or Task.
Here, we enter a work item number to begin synchronization with Azure DevOps.
If you go to ServiceNow and navigate there, you will see an identical screen requesting an incident key entry.
In either instance, click "Exalate."
Wait for Synchronization. When completed successfully, successful synchronization should resemble what can be seen below after an appropriate delay period has expired: an Incident created from your Work Item is now visible within ServiceNow with all status updates and critical pieces of data synced both ways.
Clicking the Remote Link generated by Azure DevOps or ServiceNow allows users to track a Work Item.
Primary mode synchronizes Work Items and Incidents between Azure DevOps entities and ServiceNow using triggers; bulkConnect allows for even quicker syncing capabilities.
Within moments, we will dive further into triggers. Let's move now on to:
Continue The Script Mode
Click "Next" to continue. With each side named separately, these names can then be combined into an indented connection name for you to generate and write additional comments about it or provide any descriptions if applicable.
Steps such as these should be addressed since understanding which connections belong to whom can prove invaluable for future reference by others who might need them.
Once all information has been entered, select the "Next" button to process your form.
Choose which project to synchronize via the connection, click the "Initiate button," and choose your target project(s).
Exalate generates an invitation code. Copy and save this code somewhere safe before clicking "Go to Remote" to access ServiceNow instances remotely.
If you select the first option, you will be brought back to the screen of connections where your connection has been marked as "Pending."
If you were not automatically directed, visit ServiceNow.
Click "Connections" from the left-hand menu, and a list will appear with any existing connections.
Click "Accept Invitation" in the upper-right corner to accept it.
On the next screen, you will be provided with a text field to paste in your invitation code that Azure DevOps generated and click "Next." When finished, click the green "Next" button for further steps.
Your options for configuring it include immediately configuring it or closing this window and making changes later, as shown in step 4.
You have two methods available for doing this - instantly configuring or closing this window and making changes later (step 4).
As shown by our list of connections, our connection has been added with all the information chosen earlier. Now, we will edit its actions to control when they occur and its characteristics for optimal control and success.
Configure Your Connection To Determine What Information To Share.
Behold! A newly created connection in the Azure DevOps Connections list! When hovered, our relationship should become active.
Edit icons will now appear next to our names, allowing us to quickly modify triggers for synchronization, which we will do later in step two.
In addition, sync rules and statistics about your connection may be viewed and managed from here.
Statistics provide us with an easy way to gauge whether our changes bear fruit.
Select the Rules Tab as soon as possible.
View both incoming and outgoing sync rules here. The outgoing sync rule refers to items sent from Azure DevOps back into ServiceNow.
In contrast, inbound rules represent items entering Azure DevOps from ServiceNow.
servicenow aws presents us with a similar screen but with reversed relationships.
Take a closer look at Azure DevOps' newly introduced rules.
Control data mapping between platforms using several lines such as replica.summary=workItem.summary. The "Replica" represents the payload sent between Exalate nodes; it contains details regarding ServiceNow items synched with Work Items in Azure DevOps.
In this example, several fields are directly mapped together so that when they're synced up together, all summary, description, and priority fields will be copied across.
Modifying these can be easily customized as necessary; delete a line if a particular field doesn't need mapping, alter their fields if that would make more sense for your workflow, map to another area (workItem.labels= replica.
priority), add text (workItem.description='Synced With ServiceNow', etc), or even change text content within them to suit.
Fields automatically handles attachments and comments. Although more complex, their settings can still be customized if required - or you can even delete these fields if you no longer desire to map.
Discover editing rules by looking for areas beginning with "/*/ and ending with "*/." To gain more knowledge, check out our script helpers guide.
Step 5: Automate Synchronization Triggers
Now that we understand what type of content we send across platforms, let's focus on automating synchronization triggers.
These rules determine whether items between platforms should be exchanged automatically or manually.
Log into Azure DevOps and click "edit" on any connection icon. To edit triggers, if required, click 'Triggers" as seen here if not visible already.
If not, you'll also find this section under the menu bar on the left 'Triggers."
Now click the "Create Trigger Button" to be presented with the "Add Trigger Dialog." Choose an entity type from the dropdown list - in this instance, 'Work Item.' On other platforms or projects, additional choices may be available to you.
Use the textbox 'If' to enter a query that will select items matching your search. Useful for exchanging items between specific users or types - urgent questions with comments! You could set different triggers for items meeting various conditions.
Search queries written using Work Item Query Language (WIQL) should be used when conducting our work; here is a handy guide that details this approach, with particular regard to "Filter conditions (WHERE)." Please consult this document if interested.
Let's create an example query to synchronize items of the "task" type. Enter [Work Item type] = 'task in the if field to apply this trigger to all items where "task" has been specified as their item type - alternatively, you could substitute any field like Type or Task here instead.
Details should be added about what happened and why. Doing this makes it easier to go back later and edit; additionally, it enables others to understand what's happening.
An optional switch is also provided to activate the trigger; click this if your motivation doesn't respond. Use this tool quickly to turn existing triggers off or on as necessary.
You could later use it to switch existing ones off/on soon if required.
Once you click the green "Add" button, all triggers listed and active will become visible to you, and any items meeting these criteria will automatically synchronize themselves.
Avoid These Common Mistakes After Setting Up The Azure Devops Servicenow Integration.
When setting up Azure DevOps and ServiceNow integration, there are some things you should be aware of to ensure everything runs as smoothly as possible.
Clarification Of Role
As previously discussed, Azure DevOps software solutions and ServiceNow are two popular choices among developers for managing code deployment.
Some information can remain private if desired; support teams don't necessarily need access to all technical details, while developers don't necessarily require knowledge of past customer interactions.
Care should be taken when selecting which fields to sync to ensure all teams receive the information necessary for effective operation.
Consider creating an area where customer support summarizes each issue rather than sending all comments out by default.
Customer support teams may find developer comments less helpful; instead, they require proof that an issue has been solved and its solution.
Therefore, you must devise your sync rules according to each team's requirements.
Too Many Messages
Teams should receive notifications whenever a ticket or comment is created or added; ensure the messages don't overwhelm people to promote greater engagement among team members and make synchronization more worthwhile for everyone involved.
Servicenow Azure Devops Integration: A Step By Step Guide
servicenow hr module and Microsoft Azure development services are the leading tools enterprises use for incident and DevOps management.
Integrating ServiceNow Azure can help companies increase productivity, enhance team collaboration, accelerate issue resolutions, and eliminate bottlenecks more effectively than any of these alone could.
Find out more about the advantages of Azure DevOps Integration.
What is the best way to integrate ServiceNow Azure DevOps?
On the market are various tools designed to assist with ServiceNow Azure DevOps integration. Each option varies in functionality, price point, and use cases covered.
Before selecting an integration platform, here are the primary considerations:
-
Does it work as a standalone program, or is it a plug-in? Plug-ins may require you to change your system.
They may not provide the most secure or functional solution, interfering with system operations and disrupting normal functioning.
On the other hand, standalone integration platforms offer one interface and source for all integration needs.
Hence, no modifications need to be made to source or target systems.
- No-code, low-code, or both? Low-code platforms often require you to possess programming expertise and write complex scripts to meet your requirements.
In contrast, platforms without this restriction allow users to build integrations quickly by clicking a few times.
-
Scalability and Customizations - Customization should be straightforward and user-friendly.
Software environments change constantly, and you must be flexible to adapt integrations as they evolve for the smooth functioning of all services and environments.
- Stability and Security In the ideal scenario, you'll be protected from downtimes, your data is entirely secure, and your integration tool adheres to the highest standards of Security.
When selecting an Azure DevOps Integration solution, many factors must be considered when choosing the most suitable tool.
This guide will demonstrate how you can easily integrate ServiceNow Azure DeVOps and ZigiOps.
ZigiOps is an integration platform that does not require coding to connect systems within minutes without needing a developer.
ZigiOps features an extensive library of templates ready for use while remaining fully configurable.
Booking a demo with ZigiOps will let you start exploring ServiceNow Azure DevOps Integration immediately. Starting a Proof-of-Concept immediately after that may also prove fruitful.
Benefits Of Servicenow Azure Devops Integration
Transparency on critical issues that impact users
- Increased traceability of IT operations and activities
Automating repetitive tasks reduces human work and errors caused by people.
Cost and effort optimization strategies
Synchronization of updates between ADO and SNow Teams in real-time.
- Enhance communication and collaboration across teams.
Setup Of Servicenow Azure Devops Integration With Zigiops
ZigiOps can be deployed on-premises or as an iPaaS service; integrations can be launched and configured similarly, regardless of which platform is chosen for installation and configuration.
Here, we use on-prem, which requires just minutes to set up; detailed installation instructions are here.
Sign in to ZigiOps once the software has been installed.
Connecting Your Azure Devops Instance
Azure DevOps can also be connected via TFS' Connected Systems page via "Add New System." When adding it from here, enter your instance URL, Organization name, username, Private Access Token/API Key from Azure DevOps, and whether to use TFS or Azure DevOps Service for this instance.
The "Connected systems" menu can connect your Azure DevOps System.
Here, the essential items needed are as follows.
Work Items (Read and Write).
Once all details have been entered, click "Save" to save and test if your connection works successfully.
Servicenow Azure Integration Templates
As soon as your connection to ZigiOps has been successful, you can configure its ServiceNow Azure DevOps Integration.
ZigiOps offers templates that are ready-to-use and quickly loaded via mouse click. These preloaded integration templates cover many everyday use cases for ServiceNow Azure DevOps Integration; furthermore, you may create or customize existing integration templates as needed.
The ZigiOps template can be easily tailored to meet the integration requirements.
We will use a template for this ServiceNow Azure DevOps Integration Guide that converts ServiceNow incidents to Azure DevOps issues.
Click "Add New Integration" from the Configurator Menu; search your systems, view available templates for them, and load one by clicking it!
ZigiOps Integration Templates for ServiceNow Azure DevOps Integration are now available.
Integration Configuration
After loading the template, it may be helpful to make modifications from the dropdown menus.
We want to create an Azure DevOps ticket from an incident created in ServiceNow, with any changes occurring there being immediately visible in Azure DevOps and vice versa.
Destinations will determine our priority; in our example, ServiceNow will be our first system, and Azure DevOps will be our ultimate destination.
- Use ServiceNow as the source system
- Azure DevOps can be used as a system of destination
- Select the incident entity type in ServiceNow.
- Choose the entity type in the Azure DevOps ticket.
You can also set up correlation logic. ZigiOps can use the system ID to connect each incident in Service
custom scripts
lines of code
wide range
search syntax
Zapier, Exalate
Now with its work item in Azure DevOps. Back-sync updates are possible.
Initial configuration of ServiceNow Azure DevOps Integration with ZigiOps.
Integration Operations or Actions
After the general settings are completed, we can move on to the various operations or actions an integration performs.
ZigiOps supports an unlimited number of integrations. In our case, we have:
- Create Issue (in Azure DevOps)
- Update issue (in Azure DevOps if there are changes to ServiceNow)
- Update Incidents (In ServiceNow, when changes are made in Azure DevOps and back-syncing is required)
Azure Devops Issue
By clicking "Create Issue," we can customize our settings for creating a new Azure DevOps issue. Listening or polling are available; for example, we chose polling with an interval setting of 10 seconds.
Set an Azure DevOps trigger to open a new issue.
Once we've established trigger conditions and any necessary expressions within ZigiOps, we can set trigger conditions or add words as necessary.
Here is a step-by-step guide to creating presentations within this software system.
ZigiOps allows users to set conditions and filters to integrate ServiceNow Azure DevOps.
ServiceNow Azure DevOps integration mapping
The "Field Map Tab," located in the upper-right corner, allows us to set how accumulated data will be delivered.
Integrate ServiceNow Azure DevOps into ZigiOps via mapping.
ZigiOps allows users to easily create simple mappings or combinations of values and conditions, providing an opportunity for rapid prototyping.
Here is an in-depth description of how mappings work within ZigiOps.
Update Azure Devops Issue
Update your Azure DevOps issue when any changes occur to a ServiceNow incident.
By clicking "Update Issue," users can create triggers, conditions, and expressions depending on their use case.
Update Azure DevOps when integrated with ServiceNow through ZigiOps.
We can customize the mapping to meet our exacting standards.
As ServiceNow defines each status through numbers, Azure DevOps would only have been able to interpret its different states with including conditions in our example.
ZigiOps can assist in mapping Azure DevOps issues updated when ServiceNow is integrated.
Update ServiceNow Incident
As in our example, the final integration step involves updating both ways as necessary so everything remains current in real-time.
We will ensure this by setting an alert when any updates take place within Azure DevOps issue or ServiceNow incident.
Again, we see this action's trigger, trigger conditions, and expressions.
Integrate Azure DevOps and ServiceNow incidents using ZigiOps for incident updates.
Adjust the mapping. The conditions Within our ZigiOps template ensure ServiceNow Azure DevOps Integration will function successfully.
Field Mapping of "Update Incidents" within ServiceNow Azure DevOps Integration in ZigiOps
The last step to complete integration is clicking "Save."
Now is the time to test our integration! Start by creating an incident in ServiceNow; ZigiOps takes over, transfers the relevant fields from our mapping, and automatically closes off ServiceNow once Azure DevOps developers mark an issue as resolved.
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Conclusion
Enterprises of today often face difficult obstacles such as automating repetitive tasks, resolving customer concerns and keeping pace with competition.
To succeed in doing this, businesses rely on perseverance combined with appropriate tech tools in order to overcome them successfully.
ServiceNow Azure DevOps can significantly boost overall product performance and delivery. ZigiOps, a powerful integration platform that makes integration seamless without writing code, protects data in case of downtime while ServiceNow updates continually to stay ahead of their game.
