Configuring Service Observability

concept australia Updated Sep 10, 2026 1 min read configuring-service-observability.md

After you install Service Observability, you must connect external observability systems and map that data to services. You can also customize the out-of-the-box dashboards to show different information, including data from other ServiceNow products.

Configuration overview

Install Service Observability
If you have the system admin role, you can install the Service Observability application (sn_sow_svcobs). The application installs related ServiceNow® Store applications and plug-ins if they aren't already installed.
Activate the analyze service health skill
The analyze service health skill uses generative AI to provide an analysis of all Service Observability dashboards for the selected service. You need to activate this skill before using it.
Activate the analyze Service Observability dashboard skill
The analyze Service Observability dashboard skill uses generative AI to provide an analysis of a Service Observability dashboard. You need to activate this skill before using it.
Connect a Service Observability data source
Connect Service Observability to an external observability system. Service Observability displays metrics in the Service Operations Workspace (SOW) from that observability instance.
Create and manage data mappings
Map your services to the data from a connected external observability vendor instance, and view it in charts for the service.
Create and manage MetricBase data mappings
Map your services to metrics from MetricBase, and view them in charts for the service.
Customize Service Observability dashboard templates
You can customize the Service Observability dashboards on both the Overview and Observability tabs of the Service Details page. You can change or add metrics and related data to fit your business needs.

Parent Topic:Service Observability

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---
title: Configuring Service Observability
description: After you install Service Observability, you must connect external observability systems and map that data to services. You can also customize the out-of-the-box dashboards to show different information, including data from other ServiceNow products.
locale: en-US
canonical_url: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/australia/it-operations-management/service-observability/configuring-service-observability.html
release: australia
product: Service Observability
classification: service-observability
topic_type: concept
last_updated: "2026-09-10"
reading_time_minutes: 1
breadcrumb: [Service Observability, ITOM AIOps, IT Operations Management]
---

# Configuring Service Observability

After you install Service Observability, you must connect external observability systems and map that data to services. You can also customize the out-of-the-box dashboards to show different information, including data from other ServiceNow products.

## Configuration overview

-   **[Install Service Observability](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/it-operations-management/service-observability/install-service-observability.md)**  
If you have the system admin role, you can install the Service Observability application \(`sn_sow_svcobs`\). The application installs related ServiceNow® Store applications and plug-ins if they aren't already installed.
-   **[Activate the analyze service health skill](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/it-operations-management/service-observability/activate-the-analyze-service-health-skill.md)**  
The analyze service health skill uses generative AI to provide an analysis of all Service Observability dashboards for the selected service. You need to activate this skill before using it.
-   **[Activate the analyze Service Observability dashboard skill](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/it-operations-management/service-observability/activate-the-analyze-service-observability-dashboard-skill.md)**  
The analyze Service Observability dashboard skill uses generative AI to provide an analysis of a Service Observability dashboard. You need to activate this skill before using it.
-   **[Connect a Service Observability data source](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/it-operations-management/service-observability/connect-an-observability-data-source.md)**  
Connect Service Observability to an external observability system. Service Observability displays metrics in the Service Operations Workspace \(SOW\) from that observability instance.
-   **[Create and manage data mappings](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/it-operations-management/service-observability/create-and-manage-observability-data-mappings.md)**  
Map your services to the data from a connected external observability vendor instance, and view it in charts for the service.
-   **[Create and manage MetricBase data mappings](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/it-operations-management/service-observability/create-and-manage-metricbase-data-mappings.md)**  
Map your services to metrics from MetricBase, and view them in charts for the service.
-   **[Customize Service Observability dashboard templates](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/it-operations-management/service-observability/customize-service-observability-dashboard-templates.md)**  
You can customize the Service Observability dashboards on both the Overview and Observability tabs of the Service Details page. You can change or add metrics and related data to fit your business needs.

**Parent Topic:**[Service Observability](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/it-operations-management/service-observability/service-observability.md)