Azure Web Application Firewall Policy pattern-based discovery

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

    This pattern-based discovery capability within ServiceNow’s Discovery and Service Mapping Patterns application enables automated identification and mapping of Azure Web Application Firewall (WAF) policies and related resources in your Azure cloud environment. It supports populating detailed configuration and relationship data into both CMDB and non-CMDB tables, helping you maintain accurate visibility and control over your Azure WAF policies.

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    Key Features

    • Pattern Activation: The Azure WAF Policy pattern is disabled by default but can be enabled without it being considered a customization, ensuring it stays updated through releases.
    • Azure GovCloud Support: Special configuration of discovery schedules using datacenter URLs is required to discover Azure GovCloud (US) resources.
    • Data Collection:
      • Non-CMDB tables (e.g., cmdbazurewebapplicationfirewallpolicy) store detailed policy attributes such as object ID, location, subscription, and provisioning state.
      • CMDB tables (e.g., cmdbciwebacl) hold core configuration items like the Web ACL with properties including default action (allow or detect), install status, operational status, and description.
      • Tags from Azure resources are collected and stored in the cmdbkeyvalue table for metadata management.
    • CI Relationships: The pattern creates meaningful relationships between WAF policies, Web ACLs, resource groups, load balancers, and Azure datacenters to enable comprehensive service mapping and impact analysis.

    Practical Considerations for ServiceNow Customers

    • Ensure Microsoft Azure discovery prerequisites are met before enabling the pattern, referencing the Azure Cloud components discovery documentation.
    • Activate the Azure WAF Policy discovery pattern from the Discovery and Service Mapping Patterns application to start data collection.
    • Configure discovery schedules appropriately, especially when working with Azure GovCloud environments.
    • Review discovered Azure WAF policy data in both CMDB and non-CMDB tables within ServiceNow for configuration management and operational insights.
    • Leverage the established CI relationships for enhanced service mapping, impact analysis, and operational intelligence related to your Azure WAF deployments.

    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.