---
title: Managed Document features
description: Managed Documents is a lightweight, ITIL-based solution for creating and managing electronic documents within your instance.
locale: en-US
canonical_url: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/australia/servicenow-platform/document-management-services/r\_ManagedDocumentFeatures.html
release: australia
product: Document Management Services
classification: document-management-services
topic_type: reference
last_updated: "2026-03-12"
reading_time_minutes: 1
breadcrumb: [Managed Documents, Document Services, Manage content capabilities, Extend ServiceNow AI Platform capabilities]
---

# Managed Document features

Managed Documents is a lightweight, ITIL-based solution for creating and managing electronic documents within your instance.

This application adds a layer of control around any document by providing workflow, storage, security, and categorization options. It can be used for a variety of internal documents, such as policies and procedures, compliance documentation, and knowledge articles. Because it is integrated within the instance, Managed Documents offers a seamless alternative to 3rd-party systems.

|Feature|Description|
|-------|-----------|
|Check-in/Check-out|Track revisions, approval history, and automated notifications for approvers and reviewers. Useful for compliance and risk authors, policy and procedure writers, and contract administrators.|
|Categorization|Classify documents for organization and search.|
|Access control|Share documents with selected users.|
|Revision control|Track changes to documents.|
|Digital signature for approval|Integration with the Approval with E-Signature plugin.|
|Workflow|Support consistent content review and approval.|
|Security|Use high security setting.|

-   **[Managed Document concepts](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/servicenow-platform/document-management-services/r_ManagedDocumentConcepts.md)**  
The following concepts explain Managed Documents: Managed Document, Document Collection, Document Revisions, and Document Parameters.
-   **[Defining Document Workflow](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/servicenow-platform/document-management-services/r_DefiningDocumentWorkflow.md)**  
In the base system, all managed documents use the **Managed Documents** workflow after the **Active** check box is selected.
-   **[Defining Document Parameters](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/servicenow-platform/document-management-services/r_DefiningDocumentParameters.md)**  
Before using the Managed Documents application, the user with the `document_management_admin` role needs to set the parameters that define the kinds of documents to be managed through the application. Managed Documents provides both base and custom parameter options.
-   **[Domain separation and Managed Documents](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/servicenow-platform/document-management-services/domain-separation-managed-documents.md)**  
Domain separation is unsupported in Managed Documents. Domain separation enables you to separate data, processes, and administrative tasks into logical groupings called domains. You can control several aspects of this separation, including which users can see and access data.

**Parent Topic:**[Managed Documents](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/servicenow-platform/document-management-services/c_ManagedDocuments.md)