Amazon RDS DB Snapshot pattern-based discovery

  • Release version: Yokohama
  • Updated June 16, 2026
  • 2 minutes to read
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    Summary of Amazon RDS DB Snapshot pattern-based discovery

    The Amazon RDS DB Snapshot pattern-based discovery in ServiceNow enables automated detection and inventory of Amazon RDS database snapshots within your AWS cloud environment. It leverages Discovery and Service Mapping Patterns to populate detailed configuration and status data into both CMDB and non-CMDB tables, enhancing visibility and management of your AWS RDS snapshots.

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    Key Features

    • Pattern Activation: The RDS DB Snapshot discovery pattern is disabled by default but can be enabled without losing updates during upgrades, starting with Visibility Content version 6.28.0.
    • AWS Prerequisites: Requires fulfillment of AWS discovery prerequisites and removal of duplicate resources from the Resource Inclusion List to ensure accurate discovery.
    • GovCloud Support: Supports AWS GovCloud regions by configuring the correct datacenter URL when creating AWS service accounts.
    • Data Population: Discovers and stores snapshot metadata into:
      • Non-CMDB tables (e.g., cmdbawsrelationaldatabaseservicesdbsnapshot) capturing snapshot-specific fields such as ARN, availability zone, status, DB instance identifier, engine type, and engine version.
      • CMDB tables (e.g., cmdbcicmpresource) storing resource identity, type, and operational status.
    • CI Relationships: Automatically creates relationships linking snapshots to AWS datacenters and cloud resources, supporting comprehensive configuration management.
    • Tag Discovery: Collects AWS tags on snapshots and stores them as key-value pairs in the cmdbkeyvalue table for enhanced filtering and reporting.

    Practical Benefits for ServiceNow Customers

    • Ensures comprehensive and up-to-date visibility of Amazon RDS snapshots across your AWS environment directly within the ServiceNow platform.
    • Supports governance and compliance by tracking snapshot status, versions, and metadata systematically.
    • Facilitates impact analysis and operational insights through established CI relationships linking snapshots to other cloud resources and datacenters.
    • Enables effective resource tagging management, aiding cost allocation, automation, and policy enforcement.
    • Integrates seamlessly with existing Discovery schedules and AWS service account configurations, including support for AWS GovCloud regions.

    Discovery and Service Mapping Patterns finds AWS 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 AWS discovery prerequisites
    For more information, see the prerequisites section in Amazon AWS Cloud components discovery using patterns.
    Remove resources from the Resource Inclusion List table
    Verify that the relevant resource isn't listed in the Resource Inclusion List [sa_cloud_inventory_resource_whitelist] table to avoid duplicate discovery. For more information on removing resources from the Resource Inclusion List, see Amazon Web Services (AWS) Resource Inventory.
    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 AWS GovCloud (US) accounts requires using a datacenter URL when setting up an AWS service account. For more information, see Create AWS 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 Amazon AWS - Relational Database Services DB Snapshot - Extended Inventory (LP) pattern.

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

    Table 1. AWS Relational Database Services - DB Snapshot [cmdb_aws_relational_database_services_db_snapshot]
    Field Description
    Object Id [object_id] The Amazon Resource Name (ARN) that uniquely identifies the database snapshot.
    Name [name] A unique identifier for the RDS database snapshot.
    Availability Zone [availability_zone] The availability zone where the database snapshot was created.
    Status [status] The current state or progress of the database snapshot.
    Configuration Item [configuration_item] References the Cloud Resource [cmdb_ci_cmp_resource] table.
    DB Instance Identifier [db_instance_identifier] The identifier of the RDS DB instance associated with the snapshot.
    Engine [engine] The database engine used for the snapshot. For example: MySQL or PostgreSQL.
    Engine Version [engine_version] The version of the database engine for the snapshot.

    Data stored in CMDB tables

    Discovery and Service Mapping Patterns application populates data in the CMDB when running the Amazon AWS - Relational Database Services DB Snapshot - Extended Inventory (LP) pattern.

    Table 2. Cloud Resource [cmdb_ci_cmp_resource]
    Field Description
    Object ID [object_id] The ARN that uniquely identifies the database snapshot.
    Name [name] A unique identifier for the RDS database snapshot.
    Resource type [resource_type] Type of resource. The value is set to AWS::RDS::DBSnapshot.
    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.

    CI relationships

    The Amazon AWS - Relational Database Services DB Snapshot - Extended Inventory (LP) pattern creates these relationships to support Amazon RDS DB Snapshot discovery.

    CI Relationship CI
    Cloud Resource [cmdb_ci_cmp_resource] Hosted on::Hosts AWS Datacenter [cmdb_ci_aws_datacenter]
    AWS Relational Database Services - DB Snapshot [cmdb_aws_relational_database_services_db_snapshot] References Cloud Resource [cmdb_ci_cmp_resource]

    AWS 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.