Overview #

Starting from Quality Clouds for ServiceNow -Version 12.1, authentication has transitioned from API Key–based to Token–based.

This change simplifies the connection process between your ServiceNow instance and Quality Clouds, improving both security and user management efficiency.

 

Connecting ServiceNow to Quality Clouds #

With the new authentication method, there is no longer a need to manually retrieve an API Key from Quality Clouds.
Instead, you can establish the connection directly from the Quality Clouds App Configuration within ServiceNow.

Steps: #

1. Open the Quality Clouds App Configuration module in your ServiceNow instance.

2. Click Connect to Quality Clouds.

3. Once validated, the connection will automatically generate a Seed Token.

This Seed Token acts as the foundation for authentication and allows ServiceNow to:

• Distribute access tokens automatically to other users.

• Seamlessly grant access to users who belong to either the QC User or QC Admin groups.

You can follow the Quality Clouds Guided Setup module in Service now, which is a step-by-step guidance on the full configuration process. 

 

Alternative Method: Using an API Key #

In some cases, if the “Connect to Quality Clouds” option does not work due to network or configuration issues, Quality Clouds still supports the use of API Keys as an alternative method.

⚠️ Note: This approach is not the recommended method and should only be used when the automatic token connection cannot be established.

To use the API Key method: #

1. Log in to the QC Admin Portal.

2. Navigate to API Keys and create a new API Key.

3. Copy the generated key.

4. In your ServiceNow instance, open the Quality Clouds App Configuration.

5. Paste the key into the API Key field.

Once saved, this key will act as a new Seed Key, enabling the distribution of user tokens within ServiceNow to members of the QC User and QC Admin groups, just as with the token-based setup.

3. Benefits of the Token-Based Authentication #

With token-based authentication, you gain:

• ✅ Simplified configuration with fewer manual steps.

• 🔒 Improved security through token expiration and automatic renewal.

• 👨‍💼 Better control over access distribution and user lifecycle management.

4. Additional Resources #

For more details on the transition and technical background, refer to:
🔗 Transition from API Key to Auth Token in ServiceNow