--- sourceDocument: Australia Asset Management sourceDocumentLink: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/australia/it-asset-management Release : - australia ft:locale : - en-US ft:publication_title : - Australia Asset Management ft:clusterId : - itam bundleId : - itam workflow : - Technology --- # Software discovery # Software discovery {#ariaid-title1} Release version: Australia Updated March 12, 2026 ![](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ico-clock) 2 minutes to read Summarize ![AI sparkle icon](https://servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ai-sparkle-icon) Summarized using AI This content was generated using new OpenAI-powered functionality. Results are provided on an as is basis and are not guaranteed to be accurate or complete. ## Summary of Software discovery After importing your software entitlements, you can use ServiceNow Discovery or Microsoft SCCM to identify software installations across your environment and transfer this data into the ServiceNow AI Platform. Discovery primarily supports datacenter environments while SCCM is commonly used for desktop environments. Additionally, you can integrate other third-party discovery tools with the Configuration Management Database (CMDB) to enhance Software Asset Management (SAM). Show full answer Show less ## Discovery Integration ServiceNow Discovery automatically populates the Software Installations table, enabling software normalization and reconciliation. To use Discovery, activate the Discovery plugin. The system uses predefined or customizable discovery patterns for common software such as Citrix XenApp, VMware vCenter, Microsoft SQL Server, and Oracle Database. Discovered software records are linked to corresponding entries in the Discovery Model table to maintain accurate data relationships. Post-discovery, normalization processes run to refine the data. ## SCCM Integration Microsoft SCCM can be used alone or alongside Discovery Home to detect software on devices, especially in desktop environments. Certified plugins are available for SCCM 2012 v2 and 2016 to integrate with Software Asset Management. These plugins enable software usage tracking and data importation into ServiceNow. However, these SCCM plugins are deprecated starting with the Tokyo release. New integrations should use the Service Graph connector for Microsoft SCCM, available from the ServiceNow Store, which offers improved functionality and a migration path for existing plugin users. ## Practical Implications for ServiceNow Customers * Utilize Discovery for automatic, pattern-based software detection and normalization, especially in datacenter contexts. * Leverage SCCM integration for comprehensive desktop software discovery and usage tracking. * Consider third-party discovery tool integrations via manual setup or ServiceNow Store applications to tailor discovery to your environment. * Plan migration to the Service Graph connector for Microsoft SCCM to stay current with supported integration methods and ensure seamless data import. After you've imported your entitlements, use ServiceNow Discovery or Microsoft SCCM to discover software installations in your environment and transfer that data into the ServiceNow AI Platform. Figure 1. Infographic showing setting up of ServiceNow Discovery or Microsoft SCCM While you may use Discovery Home for datacenters and Microsoft SCCM for desktop environments, you can integrate other third-party discovery solutions with CMDB to support Software Asset Management. To integrate a different discovery solution, add it manually, or you can download an application, from the [ServiceNow Store](https://store.servicenow.com/sn_appstore_store.do#!/store/home). For more information about integrating a discovery source manually, see the [Customer Success Center](https://www.servicenow.com/success.html). To learn more about collecting data after you've integrated with both Discovery and SCCM, see [Collect software data with either SCCM or Discovery](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=c_DiscoveryAndSCCMTogether&version=australia&pubname=australia-it-operations-management&ft:locale=en-US). ## Discovery integration {#sam-software-discovery__section_jxd_1cy_3jb} ServiceNow Discovery is used to automatically populate the Software Installations table so the software can be normalized and reconciled. Note: To use Discovery, the [Discovery plugin](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=t_ActivateTheDiscoveryPlugin&version=australia&pubname=australia-it-operations-management&ft:locale=en-US) must be activated. Discovery uses patterns in the discovery process that can be created or customized. The base system contains a wide range of patterns that cover most industry standard network devices and applications. The following are some of the base system patterns used by Software Asset Management. * Citrix XenApp * Citrix XenDesktop, * VMware vCenter * Microsoft SQL Server * Microsoft Exchange Server * Oracle Database {#sam-software-discovery__ul_vb1_zmx_pjb} You can also customize other patterns for Software Asset Management. For more information, see [Create or modify patterns](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=t_CreatePatternPatDef&version=australia&pubname=australia-it-operations-management&ft:locale=en-US). Discovered software is stored in the Software Installations \[cmdb_sam_sw_install\] table. When software install records are written to the Software Installations table, a business rule verifies whether the unique combination of the discovered publisher, discovered product, and discovered version exist in the Discovery Model table. * If so, the reference to the discovery model is set in the Software Installations table. * If not, a new record is created in the Discovery Model table, and that discovery model reference is set in the Software Installations table. {#sam-software-discovery__ul_ss2_sxs_yz} After discovery, normalization is run. For more information on Discovery, see [Discovery with Software Asset Management](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=c_DiscoSWAssetMgmtTableSchema&version=australia&pubname=australia-it-operations-management&ft:locale=en-US). ## SCCM integration {#sam-software-discovery__section_gnk_d11_bjb} You can use SCCM by itself or with Discovery Home to identify software on your devices. Note: While you may use Microsoft SCCM for discovering software installations in your desktop environments, you can integrate other third-party tools. Both Microsoft SCCM 2012 v2 and 2016 plugins are certified with Software Asset Management. The corresponding Microsoft SCCM Integration plugin must be installed to integrate Microsoft SCCM with Software Asset Management. Microsoft SCCM Integration plugins: * Integration --- Microsoft SCCM 2012 v2 (com.snc.integration.sccm2012v2) plugin * Integration --- Microsoft SCCM 2016 (com.snc.integration.sccm2016) plugin {#sam-software-discovery__ul_ppz_dzc_cjb} Microsoft SCCM Software Usage plugins: * Integration --- Microsoft SCCM 2012 v2 Software Usage (com.snc.samp_usage_sccm) plugin * Integration --- Microsoft SCCM 2016 Software Usage (com.snc.samp.usage_sccm_2016) plugin {#sam-software-discovery__ul_qpz_dzc_cjb} The Integration --- Microsoft SCCM 2016 plugin is compatible with SCCM versions 1606, 1906, 1910, and 2002. Important: These Microsoft SCCM plugins will be deprecated in the Tokyo release. If you are integrating with SCCM for the first time, request and install the Service Graph connector for Microsoft SCCM application from the [ServiceNow Store](https://store.servicenow.com/) instead. If you have already activated one of the Microsoft SCCM plugins on your ServiceNow instance, use the Migration Readiness Tool for Service Graph Connector for SCCM store application to prepare your instance for migration from the Microsoft SCCM plugin to the Service Graph connector. See [Service Graph connector for Microsoft SCCM](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=cmdb-integration-sccm&version=australia&pubname=australia-servicenow-platform&ft:locale=en-US) for more information on the Service Graph connector. For more information on SCCM and how to import your data into your instance, see [Microsoft SCCM software usage](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/nTPmt4NDzw1IpeDSaBn8gg "Activate the Microsoft SCCM software usage plugin to integrate your software usage data with the ServiceNow AI Platform.").