What action must be completed before a policy can be automatically published?

For a policy to be automatically published in ServiceNow's Risk and Compliance module, it is essential that the policy undergoes a formal approval process. Automatic publication signifies that the policy has received the necessary validation within the organization, ensuring that it meets all compliance and governance standards. The requirement for approval by all approvers ensures that any stakeholders or responsible parties have reviewed and consented to the policy, aligning with established organizational procedures for policy management.

This comprehensive approach to approval helps maintain integrity and accountability in the organization's compliance practices, fostering trust and clarity among team members and stakeholders. Once all designated approvers give their consent, the policy can be deemed ready for publication. This step is crucial in minimizing potential risks associated with unauthorized or unvetted policies being implemented.

In contrast, while marking related control objectives as active, closing policy exceptions, or obtaining approval from just one approver are important steps in the overall policy management process, they do not encompass the entire scope of necessary validations for automatic publication. Only the collective approval from all required approvers solidifies the policy’s readiness for release.