Use the ACL configuration watcher
Use the ACL configuration watcher after you elevate to security_admin role.
Before you begin
Role required: security_admin
Procedure
-
Open an ACL that is a record-type ACL.
-
Perform an action on the ACL, such as modifying it, or selecting an option from the context menu like Insert.
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If you modified any values on the Access Control form, right-click the header and select Save or click Update or Delete.
The Security Rules window appears. The system did not yet perform the database action on the ACL, so the changes are not yet saved.
These are examples of security rules on the Visual Task Board application's Private Task [vtb_task] table. See ACL configuration watcher for a description of the items on this window.
[Omitted image "vtb_task_deativate.png"] Alt text: Deactivating an ACL
[Omitted image "vtb_task_add.png"] Alt text: Adding an ACL
[Omitted image "vtb_task_read_delete.png"] Alt text: Deleting an ACL
[Omitted image "vtb_task_read_modify.png"] Alt text: Modifying an ACL
-
Just as with the execution plan, you can click Show all to show all related ACLs, including those that are overridden and generic ACLs that apply to all records, or click Show Effective to show only the immediate ACLs related to the one you are viewing.
-
Hover your mouse over any of the ACLs to see a description.
---
title: Use the ACL configuration watcher
description: Use the ACL configuration watcher after you elevate to security\_admin role.
locale: en-US
canonical_url: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/australia/platform-security/access-control/t\_UseTheACLConfigWatcher.html
release: australia
product: Access Control
classification: access-control
topic_type: task
last_updated: "2026-09-10"
reading_time_minutes: 1
breadcrumb: [ACL configuration watcher, ACL debugging tools, Advanced ACL configuration, Access Control Lists \(ACLs\), Access Management]
---
# Use the ACL configuration watcher
Use the ACL configuration watcher after you elevate to security\_admin role.
## Before you begin
Role required: security\_admin
[Elevate to a privileged role](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/platform-security/t_ElevateToAPrivilegedRole.md)
## Procedure
1. Open an ACL that is a record-type ACL.
2. Perform an action on the ACL, such as modifying it, or selecting an option from the context menu like **Insert**.
3. If you modified any values on the Access Control form, right-click the header and select **Save** or click **Update** or **Delete**.
The Security Rules window appears. The system did not yet perform the database action on the ACL, so the changes are not yet saved.
These are examples of security rules on the Visual Task Board application's Private Task \[vtb\_task\] table. See [ACL configuration watcher](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/platform-security/access-control/c_ACLConfigWatcher.md) for a description of the items on this window.
\[Omitted image "vtb\_task\_deativate.png"\] Alt text: Deactivating an ACL
\[Omitted image "vtb\_task\_add.png"\] Alt text: Adding an ACL
\[Omitted image "vtb\_task\_read\_delete.png"\] Alt text: Deleting an ACL
\[Omitted image "vtb\_task\_read\_modify.png"\] Alt text: Modifying an ACL
4. Just as with the [execution plan](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/platform-security/access-control/t_ShowACLExecutionPlan.md), you can click **Show all** to show all related ACLs, including those that are overridden and generic ACLs that apply to all records, or click **Show Effective** to show only the immediate ACLs related to the one you are viewing.
5. Hover your mouse over any of the ACLs to see a description.
| title | Use the ACL configuration watcher |
| description | Use the ACL configuration watcher after you elevate to security\_admin role. |
| locale | en-US |
| canonical_url | https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/australia/platform-security/access-control/t\_UseTheACLConfigWatcher.html |
| release | australia |
| product | Access Control |
| classification | access-control |
| topic_type | task |
| last_updated | 2026-09-10 |
| reading_time_minutes | 1 |
| breadcrumb | ACL configuration watcherACL debugging toolsAdvanced ACL configurationAccess Control Lists \(ACLs\)Access Management |