CIS-PA Certified Implementation Specialist - Platform Analytics Questions and Answers

In a Performance AnalyticsJob Log, theInsertsvalue represents the number ofanalytics score records written to the databaseduring that job run. These inserts typically correspond to new indicator scores added to theIndicator Factstable.

This value does not represent business records such as incidents, nor does it indicate how many source records were evaluated. Records examined and calculations performed may be far greater than the number of inserts, as only final score results are stored. ServiceNow documentation confirms that Job Log insert counts reflectstored analytics results, making option B the correct interpretation.

AFormula Indicatorin ServiceNow Platform Analytics allows you to calculate a derived score usingup to five other indicators(automated or manual) through a mathematical expression. These component indicators must already exist and have collected data.

Formula Indicators arenot calculated at view time; instead, they arepre-calculated during data collectionand stored like other indicator scores. This ensures consistent historical trending and optimal dashboard performance. Aggregates such as count or sum are handled by automated indicators, not formula indicators. Formula indicators also cannot referenceindicator threshold values, as thresholds are used only for KPI status evaluation and visualization, not for calculations.

ServiceNow documentation clearly states the five-indicator limit and emphasizes that Formula Indicators are meant forderived metrics, such as percentages, ratios, or normalized scores, making optionBthe only correct definition.

Ascripted Breakdown Mappingis required when the breakdown value cannot be obtained through adirect field mappingor simple reference relationship. Categorizing requests based onthe number of times they were updatedrequires calculating a value dynamically (for example, counting updates from the audit history), which is not stored as a single field on the record. Because this value must be derived programmatically, a scripted mapping is necessary.

Options B and C use existing fields (category, priority) that can be mapped directly without scripting. Option D usesage ranges, which are handled throughBucket Groupsand thepa_bucketstable, not scripted mappings. ServiceNow documentation clearly states that scripted mappings are intended forcalculated, derived, or indirect values, making option A the correct answer.

TheAllow formula component to be NULLsetting controls how a Formula Indicator behaves when one or more component indicators return NULL values. When enabled, the formula continues to calculate using the available components instead of aborting the calculation.

If this setting is disabled and any component returns NULL, the entire formula result becomes NULL. The setting does not automatically convert NULLs to zero, nor does it skip calculation entirely. ServiceNow documentation explains that this option provides flexibility in environments where some component indicators may not have data for every period, ensuring the formula can still produce meaningful results. Therefore, option D accurately describes the behavior.

In ServiceNow Platform Analytics, thecolor of the score displayed in a Score widgetis determined by theIndicator’s relationship to its targetin combination with theDirection setting(Maximize or Minimize) of the Indicator. This behavior is part of the KPI evaluation logic and is consistent across dashboards and KPI Details.

When an indicator has a defined target, Platform Analytics compares thecurrent scoreagainst that target. Based on whether the indicator is configured tomaximize(higher is better) orminimize(lower is better), the platform automatically assigns a visual status—such as green (on track), yellow (warning), or red (off track). This status directly controls thecolor of the score valueshown in the widget.

Chart colors, field styles, or widget-specific settings donotinfluence the score color. Those options may affect line charts or visual styling, but not KPI status coloring. ServiceNow documentation clearly states that KPI status and score coloring are driven bytarget evaluation logic, makingoption Athe correct and verified answer.

Platform Analytics supports unit conversion for duration-based indicators through the Unit field on the Indicator record. When an indicator stores duration values (such as milliseconds), setting the Unit to Hours automatically converts and displays the values correctly without modifying the underlying data or recollecting scores.

Using formulas or scripts is unnecessary and discouraged when a built-in unit conversion is available. The Formula box is intended for mathematical aggregation logic, not unit conversion. ServiceNow documentation explicitly states that duration indicators should rely on the Unit setting to control how values are displayed, making option A the correct and supported approach.

During a Daily Data Collection job, Platform Analytics executesone database query per Indicator Source, not per indicator. Multiple indicators can reference the same indicator source, allowing the platform toreuse the result setand calculate multiple scores from a single query.

This design is a key performance optimization in Platform Analytics. Executing queries per indicator would significantly increase database load, especially in large implementations. ServiceNow documentation explicitly states that indicator sources are the unit of data retrieval during collection, making option B the correct and documented answer.

AnAutomated Indicatorin Platform Analytics is defined as aseries of measurements collected over timethat represent the performance of a process. These measurements are stored astime series data, allowing organizations to analyze trends, patterns, and historical performance. Automated indicators rely onindicator sourcesandscheduled data collection jobsto collect data at defined intervals, such as daily or hourly.

Option B describes asnapshot report, which represents data at a single point in time and does not support trending. Option C refers tobreakdowns, which categorize indicator scores for deeper analysis but do not define the indicator itself. Option D describes thedata collection job, which is a mechanism used by automated indicators but not the indicator definition. ServiceNow documentation explicitly states that indicators represent performance over time, making option A the correct and most complete description of an Automated Indicator.

TheKPI Detailsapplication provides anexploratory, in-depth view of individual indicators. It allows users to analyze trends, targets, forecasts, breakdowns, and historical performance beyond what is shown in high-level dashboards.

KPI Details is not a content pack and does not consist of predefined reports. While Analytics Hub displays summary KPI information, KPI Details is a dedicated application for deeper investigation and performance review. ServiceNow documentation clearly describes KPI Details as a drill-down analysis tool, making option B the correct answer.

A single Breakdown can be reused across multiple indicators—even when those indicators are based on different facts tables—by creating aseparate Breakdown Mapping for each indicator facts table.

The Breakdown defineswhatis being analyzed, while the Breakdown Mapping defineshowthe indicator facts relate to the breakdown source. Because different facts tables may store data differently, each requires its own mapping configuration. A scripted mapping is only required when no direct relationship exists, not simply because facts tables differ. ServiceNow documentation clearly states that reuse across facts tables is achieved through multiple mappings, making option D the correct answer.

ServiceNow best practice recommends running Performance Analytics data collections using a dedicated service account specifically created for analytics processing. This ensures consistent permissions, predictable access to data, and improved auditability.

Running collections as individual admins can introduce permission inconsistencies if roles change. The maint account is intended for system upgrades and maintenance, not scheduled analytics jobs. A dedicated Performance Analytics service account minimizes operational risk and aligns with ServiceNow security and governance guidelines.

ServiceNow documentation emphasizes the importance of service accounts for background processing, making option C the correct and recommended choice.

ThePA Contributorrole is designed for users who create and configureIndicators, Breakdowns, and Dashboards, but who should not have administrative control overdata collection jobs, indicator sources, or system-level analytics settings.

PA Admin has full control, including job and source management. PA Data Collector is focused on executing collection jobs only. PA Power User is primarily for analysis and dashboard consumption rather than content creation. ServiceNow documentation defines PA Contributor as the correct role for content creation without administrative privileges, making optionBcorrect.

AnIndex Indicatorin Platform Analytics represents a composite score calculated from multiple supporting indicators. According to ServiceNow best practices, both theIndex and its supporting indicatorsshould be normalized so thathigher values represent better performance. Therefore, the correct configuration is atarget of 100%with aMaximizedirection.

This standardization ensures consistent weighting and scoring logic across all contributing indicators. If supporting indicators were set to Minimize or had inconsistent targets, the index calculation would produce misleading or inverted results. Options involving a 0% target are incorrect because index scores are designed to trend toward full achievement, represented as 100%. ServiceNow documentation clearly states that index indicators assume maximization logic for proper normalization and aggregation, making option D the correct and documented choice.

The pa.getRate() method is used in Platform Analytics to calculaterates of performance over time, such as incidents resolved per day, requests closed per week, or changes per reporting period. This method works ontime series dataand applies aggregation logic to derive a rate rather than a raw count or sum.

pa.getChange() is used to calculate the difference between two data points, not a rate. pa.getIndicator() retrieves indicator metadata and does not perform calculations. gs.getDuration() is a general-purpose GlideSystem utility for calculating durations and is unrelated to analytics time series processing. ServiceNow documentation clearly identifies pa.getRate() as the appropriate API for rate-based calculations using historical indicator scores, making option D the correct answer.

In Performance Analytics scripted indicators, certainsystem-provided variablesare automatically available without being explicitly defined in the Fields list. The variablesscore_startandscore_endrepresent thestart and end timestampsof the reporting period for which the indicator score is being calculated. These variables are essential for time-aware calculations and historical accuracy.

Fields such as sys_created_on and sys_updated_on must be explicitly added to the Fields list if they are used in scripts. collection_job_start and collection_job_end are not available script variables in indicator calculations. ServiceNow documentation clearly identifies score_start and score_end as built-in variables available to Performance Analytics scripts, making optionsB and Fthe correct answers.