---
title: Essential SAFe
description: Apply lean and agile principles to your Agile Release Trains and teams, and develop and deliver work with fewer defects in the shortest viable lead time.
locale: en-US
canonical_url: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/australia/it-business-management/scaled-agile-framework-safe/essential-overview.html
release: australia
product: Scaled Agile Framework \(SAFe\)
classification: scaled-agile-framework-safe
topic_type: concept
last_updated: "2026-03-12"
reading_time_minutes: 3
breadcrumb: [Scaled Agile Framework \(SAFe\), Strategic Portfolio Management]
---

# Essential SAFe

Apply lean and agile principles to your Agile Release Trains and teams, and develop and deliver work with fewer defects in the shortest viable lead time.

Essential SAFe is the most basic configuration of SAFe that works in two levels for both product managers and team members. At the Agile Release Train \(ART\) level, product managers can capture and prioritize features in a centralized backlog. They can also monitor the progress of features in a visual task board.

At the Team level, team members can implement stories that are decomposed from features. To learn more about the levels, see the SAFe Board section below.

To start using the features of Essential SAFe, install the Agile - Scaled Agile Framework - Essential SAFe plugin \(com.snc.sdlc.safe\).

## SAFe Board

The table below provides an overview of how you can access the key levels of Essential SAFe on SAFe Board.

<table id="table_yfb_mhb_wdb"><thead><tr><th>

Level

</th><th>

Description

</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>

Agile Release Train \(ART\)

</td><td>

As a product manager, you can plan and monitor activities across teams within an ART by accessing the **ART** level on the **Scaled Agile Framework \(SAFe\)** &gt; **SAFe Board**. In addition, you can:-   manage the ART backlog in a centralized location.
-   define a program increment and identify the features that need to be completed within that program increment.
-   perform big room planning.
-   track all the features of the ART and view their transition from one state \(lane\) to another, in a visual task board.

</td></tr><tr><td>

Team

</td><td>

As a team member, you can plan and monitor activities within the team by accessing the **Team** level on the **Scaled Agile Framework \(SAFe\)** &gt; **SAFe Board**. In addition you can:-   manage the team backlog in a centralized location.
-   streamline sprint planning and completion activities.
-   track all stories and view their transition from one state \(lane\) to another, in a visual task board.

</td></tr></tbody>
</table>-   **[Components installed with Essential SAFe](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/it-business-management/scaled-agile-framework-safe/installed-with-EssentialSAFe.md)**  
Several types of components are installed with activation of the Agile - Scaled Agile Framework - Essential SAFe plugin \(com.snc.sdlc.safe\), including tables and user roles.
-   **[Quick start tests for Essential SAFe](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/it-business-management/scaled-agile-framework-safe/quick-start-tests-essentialSAFe.md)**  
Validate that Essential SAFe still works after you make any configuration change such as apply an upgrade or develop an application. Copy and customize these quick start tests to pass when using your instance-specific data.
-   **[SAFe entities](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/it-business-management/scaled-agile-framework-safe/key-entities-SAFe.md)**  
Learn about the various SAFe entities that are used to successfully plan, track, and deliver your software products.
-   **[SAFe PI objectives](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/it-business-management/scaled-agile-framework-safe/safe-pi-objectives.md)**  
Use SAFe program increment \(PI\) objectives to highlight the overall goals for a team or for an agile release train \(ART\) in a PI.
-   **[SAFe Board — ART level](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/it-business-management/scaled-agile-framework-safe/program-level-tabs.md)**  
As a product manager, you can plan and monitor activities across teams within your agile release train \(ART\) by accessing the ART level on the SAFe Board.
-   **[SAFe Board — Team level](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/it-business-management/scaled-agile-framework-safe/team-level-tabs.md)**  
As a team member, you can plan and monitor activities within your team by accessing the Team level on the SAFe Board.

**Parent Topic:**[Scaled Agile Framework \(SAFe\)](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/it-business-management/scaled-agile-framework-safe/SAFeoverview.md)

**Related topics**  


[Domain separation and Scaled Agile Framework \(SAFe\)]()

[Business stakeholder role for Essential SAFe and Portfolio SAFe]()

[Portfolio SAFe]()

[SAFe — Unified Backlog]()

[Performance Analytics Content Pack for Essential SAFe]()

[Work Progress Status for SAFe]()