AWS IAM User pattern-based discovery

  • Release version: Australia
  • Updated May 13, 2026
  • 2 minutes to read
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    Summary of AWS IAM User pattern-based discovery

    The AWS IAM User pattern-based discovery enables ServiceNow customers to identify and inventory AWS IAM Users within their cloud environment using Discovery and Service Mapping Patterns. This functionality requires the latest version of the Discovery and Service Mapping Patterns application and adherence to AWS discovery prerequisites.

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    Key Features

    • Pattern Activation: The AWS IAM User discovery pattern is disabled by default and must be enabled manually. Starting from Visibility Content version 6.28.0, enabling or disabling patterns is no longer treated as a customization and patterns will reset to the latest predefined version after upgrades while preserving the last active state.
    • Resource Inclusion List: To prevent duplicate discoveries, ensure the relevant AWS IAM User resources are not listed in the Resource Inclusion List table (sacloudinventoryresourcewhitelist).
    • Data Storage: The discovery populates data in both CMDB and non-CMDB tables:
      • Non-CMDB Data: Data collected by the Amazon AWS - IAM User - Extended Inventory (LP) pattern is stored in non-CMDB AWS tables accessible via the ServiceNow navigation.
      • CMDB Data: Key information about IAM Users is stored in the Cloud Resource [cmdbcicmpresource] and AWS IAM User [cmdbawsiamuser] tables with attributes such as name, Amazon Resource Name (ARN), user ID, and resource type.
    • CI Relationships and References: The discovery pattern establishes relationships between the IAM User cloud resources and other configuration items such as Cloud Service Accounts. These references enable deeper mapping without cluttering the CI Relationship table.
    • AWS Tag Discovery: Tags associated with IAM Users are collected and stored in the Key Value [cmdbkeyvalue] table, linking tag keys and values to the corresponding cloud resource records.

    Practical Use for ServiceNow Customers

    By enabling and configuring the AWS IAM User pattern-based discovery, ServiceNow customers can automatically populate and maintain an accurate inventory of AWS IAM Users in their CMDB and related tables. This facilitates improved cloud governance, compliance, and operational management by providing visibility into user identities, their attributes, and associated metadata such as tags. Ensuring the pattern is enabled and resources are properly managed in the inclusion list helps avoid duplicate data and maintains data integrity.

    Discovery and Service Mapping Patterns finds AWS IAM Users 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 AWS 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 AWS Resource Inventory discovery with 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.

    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 - IAM User - 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 IAM User [cmdb_aws_iam_user]
    Field Description
    Name [name] Name of the IAM user.
    Object ID [object_id] The Amazon Resource Name (ARN) of the IAM user.
    User ID [user_id] The stable and unique string identifying the user.
    Path [path] The path used to organize the user within the IAM hierarchy. If no custom path is set, the value is /.
    Configuration Item [configuration_item] References the Cloud Resource [cmdb_ci_cmp_resource] table.

    Data stored in CMDB tables

    Discovery and Service Mapping Patterns application populates data in the CMDB when running the Amazon AWS - IAM User - Extended Inventory (LP) pattern.

    Table 2. Cloud Resource [cmdb_ci_cmp_resource]
    Field Description
    Name [name] Name of the IAM user.
    Object ID [object_id] The ARN of the IAM user.
    Resource type [resource_type] Type of resource. The value is set to AWS::IAM::User.
    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 - IAM User - Extended Inventory (LP) pattern creates the following relationships and references to support AWS IAM User discovery. References link to records in other tables and don't appear in the CI Relationship [cmdb_rel_ci] table.

    Table 3. CI relationships
    CI Relationship CI
    Cloud Resource [cmdb_ci_cmp_resource] Hosted on::Hosts Cloud Service Account [cmdb_ci_cloud_service_account]
    Table 4. CI references
    CI Field Referenced CI
    AWS IAM User [cmdb_aws_iam_user] Configuration Item [configuration_item] Cloud Resource [cmdb_ci_cmp_resource]
    Key Value [cmdb_key_value] Configuration item [configuration_item] Cloud Resource [cmdb_ci_cmp_resource]

    AWS Tag discovery

    The Amazon AWS - IAM User - Extended Inventory (LP) pattern collects tags and populates them in the Key Value [cmdb_key_value] table.

    Table 5. Key Value [cmdb_key_value]
    Field Description
    Key [key] Tag name.
    Value [value] Tag value.
    Configuration item [configuration_item] References the Cloud Resource [cmdb_ci_cmp_resource] table.