---
title: Differences between regulatory event alert and source document alert
description: A regulatory event alert informs you of a regulatory change, while a source document alert signals the release or update of the related official document.
locale: en-US
canonical_url: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/australia/governance-risk-compliance/regulatory-change-management-service-portal/regulatory-event-alert-vs-source-document-alert.html
release: australia
product: Regulatory Change Management Service Portal
classification: regulatory-change-management-service-portal
topic_type: concept
last_updated: "2026-03-12"
reading_time_minutes: 1
breadcrumb: [Explore, Regulatory Change Management, Governance, Risk, and Compliance]
---

# Differences between regulatory event alert and source document alert

A regulatory event alert informs you of a regulatory change, while a source document alert signals the release or update of the related official document.

The following table outlines the key differences between a regulatory event alert and a source document alert, highlighting their purpose, content, and usage within the compliance process.

|Aspect|Regulatory event alert|Source document alert|
|------|----------------------|---------------------|
|Definition|A notification about changes or developments in laws, regulations, or policies.|A notification about the publication or update of an official regulatory source document.|
|Purpose|To inform stakeholders of new or amended regulatory requirements that may impact compliance.|To provide access to authoritative documents that support or detail regulatory changes.|
|Content source|Curated updates based on analysis of regulatory developments \(for example, by TRRI\).|Derived directly from official documents published by regulators or authoritative bodies.|
|Nature of information|Summarized and contextual insights about a regulatory event.|Original, unaltered content from official sources such as laws, guidance, or notices.|
|Use case|Helps assess impact and determine compliance actions or next steps.|Serves as a reference for legal interpretation, policy updates, and audit traceability.|
|Example|Alert about a change in data privacy regulations in the EU.|Alert linking to the official EU regulation amendment document published by the authority.|

**Parent Topic:**[Exploring Regulatory Change Management](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/governance-risk-compliance/regulatory-change-management-service-portal/what-is-rcm.md)

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