Azure Web Application Firewall Policy pattern-based discovery

  • Release version: Xanadu
  • Updated June 16, 2026
  • 2 minutes to read
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    Summary of Azure Web Application Firewall Policy pattern-based discovery

    The Azure Web Application Firewall (WAF) Policy pattern-based discovery in ServiceNow enables automated identification and mapping of Azure WAF policies and related resources within your cloud environment. This discovery leverages the Discovery and Service Mapping Patterns application to populate detailed data into both CMDB and non-CMDB tables to support comprehensive visibility and management of Azure WAF policies.

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    Key Features

    • Pattern Activation: The Azure WAF Policy discovery pattern is disabled by default and must be enabled to operate. Activating or deactivating patterns no longer counts as customization, allowing seamless updates while retaining previous activation states after upgrades.
    • Prerequisites: Verifying Microsoft Azure discovery prerequisites is required, including configuring Azure service accounts, especially for GovCloud environments where specific datacenter URLs are necessary.
    • Data Storage: Discovered data is stored in both CMDB tables (such as cmdbciwebacl for Web ACLs) and non-CMDB tables (such as cmdbazurewebapplicationfirewallpolicy for WAF policies). This dual storage supports detailed configuration and inventory management.
    • Resource Attributes: Key attributes collected include unique object IDs, resource kinds, locations, resource groups, subscription and tenant IDs, provisioning and policy states, and configuration item references.
    • CI Relationships: The pattern automatically creates relationships between discovered configuration items, such as linking Web ACLs to cloud load balancers, resource groups, and Azure datacenters, which enhances service mapping accuracy.
    • Tag Collection: Azure tags associated with WAF policies are collected and stored in the cmdbkeyvalue table, enabling effective tagging and categorization within the CMDB.

    Practical Benefits for ServiceNow Customers

    • Automates discovery and mapping of Azure WAF policies, reducing manual effort and improving data accuracy in the CMDB.
    • Provides visibility into policy states and configurations, aiding in compliance and security posture assessments.
    • Supports discovery in specialized Azure environments like GovCloud by accommodating necessary configurations.
    • Enables comprehensive service mapping through CI relationships, improving impact analysis and change management.
    • Collects and manages Azure tags to enhance resource organization and reporting capabilities.

    Discovery and Service Mapping Patterns finds Azure services on your cloud environment. Discovering some of these resources may require updating to the latest version of the Discovery and Service Mapping Patterns application from the ServiceNow Store.

    Pattern-based discovery and mapping requirements

    Verify the Microsoft Azure discovery prerequisites
    For more information, see the prerequisites section in Microsoft Azure Cloud components discovery using patterns.
    Enable the relevant pattern
    The pattern for this service is disabled by default. Starting with Visibility Content version 6.28.0, activating or deactivating a pattern won't be considered a customization, and it will continue to receive updates. Patterns that were previously activated or deactivated will reset to the latest predefined version after upgrading while retaining the last active field value. For more information on enabling patterns, see Activate a disabled pattern.
    Configure the Discovery schedule to support GovCloud
    Discovering Azure GovCloud (US) accounts requires using a datacenter URL when setting up an Azure service account. For more information, see Set up Azure service accounts.

    Discovery and Service Mapping Patterns application populates data in both CMDB and non-CMDB tables.

    Data stored in non-CMDB tables

    Discovery and Service Mapping Patterns application populates data in the non-CMDB table when running the Azure - Web Application Firewall Policy - Extended Inventory(LP) pattern.

    You can review the non-CMDB Azure tables by navigating to All > Configuration > Azure. You can also search the navigation filter for the specific pattern name.

    Table 1. Azure Web Application Firewall - Policy [cmdb_azure_web_application_firewall_policy]
    Field Description
    Object Id [object_id] The unique identifier of the resource.
    Kind [kind] The specific kind or variant of the resource.
    DC Location [location] The Azure region where the resource is deployed.
    Resource Group [resource_group] The name of the resource group containing the resource.
    Subscription Id [subscription_id] The subscription ID associated with the resource.
    Tenant Id [tenant_id] The Azure Active Directory tenant ID associated with the resource.
    Provisioning State [provisioning_state] The latest provisioning status of the resource.
    Configuration Item [configuration_item] References the Web ACL [cmdb_ci_web_acl] table.
    Policy State [policy_state] The current state of the policy applied to the resource.

    Data stored in CMDB tables

    Discovery and Service Mapping Patterns application populates data in the CMDB when running the Azure - Web Application Firewall Policy - Extended Inventory(LP) pattern.

    Table 2. Web ACL [cmdb_ci_web_acl]
    Field Description
    Object ID [object_id] The unique identifier of the resource.
    Name [name] The name of the resource.
    Location [location] The Azure region where the resource is deployed.
    Default Action [default_action] Indicates the effective operation mode of the web application firewall (WAF) policy. Possible values are allow and detect.
    • allow: policy is running in Prevention mode and is blocking traffic
    • detect: policy is running in Detection mode and is logging only
    Install Status [install_status] Install status of the resource. Default value is Installed.
    Operational status [operational_status] Operational status of the resource. Default value is Operational.
    Description [short_description] Type of resource. The value is set to microsoft.network/applicationgatewaywebapplicationfirewallpolicies.

    CI relationships

    The Azure - Web Application Firewall Policy - Extended Inventory(LP) pattern creates these relationships to support Azure Web Application Firewall Policy discovery.

    CI Relationship CI
    Cloud Load Balancer [cmdb_ci_cloud_load_balancer] Protected by::Protects Web ACL [cmdb_ci_web_acl]
    Resource Group [cmdb_ci_resource_group] Contains::Contained by Web ACL [cmdb_ci_web_acl]
    Web ACL [cmdb_ci_web_acl] Hosted on::Hosts Azure Datacenter [cmdb_ci_azure_datacenter]
    Azure Web Application Firewall - Policy [cmdb_azure_web_application_firewall_policy] References Web ACL [cmdb_ci_web_acl]

    Azure tag discovery

    The pattern collects tags and populates them in the Key Value [cmdb_key_value] table.
    Table 3. Key Value [cmdb_key_value]
    Field Description
    Key [key] Tag name.
    Value [value] Tag value.