AWS Backup Vault pattern-based discovery

  • Release version: Zurich
  • Updated May 6, 2026
  • 2 minutes to read
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    Summary of AWS Backup Vault pattern-based discovery

    The AWS Backup Vault pattern-based discovery enables ServiceNow customers to automatically find and map AWS Backup Vault resources within their cloud environments. This discovery is part of the Discovery and Service Mapping Patterns application and helps populate relevant data into both CMDB and non-CMDB tables for comprehensive resource management.

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    Key Features

    • Pattern Activation: The AWS Backup Vault discovery pattern is disabled by default and requires enabling to function. Starting with Visibility Content version 6.28.0, enabling or disabling patterns is not considered customization and updates are preserved after upgrades.
    • Prerequisites: Customers must verify AWS discovery prerequisites and ensure the resource is not listed in the Resource Inclusion List table to avoid duplicate discovery.
    • Data Population: The discovery populates detailed AWS Backup Vault information in two key tables:
      • Non-CMDB Table: cmdbawsbackupbackupvault stores attributes such as vault name, ARN (object ID), max retention days, number of recovery points, vault state, and vault type.
      • CMDB Table: cmdbcicmpresource stores resource metadata including ARN, name, resource type (always AWS::Backup::BackupVault), operational status, and install status.
    • CI Relationships and References: The pattern creates relationships linking AWS Backup Vaults to AWS Datacenters (hosted on relationship) and references between non-CMDB and CMDB records to maintain data integrity and traceability.
    • AWS Tag Discovery: Tags associated with AWS Backup Vaults are collected and stored in the cmdbkeyvalue table, linking tag keys and values to the corresponding cloud resource.

    Practical Benefits

    • Enables automated and accurate discovery of AWS Backup Vault resources, reducing manual entry and errors.
    • Integrates AWS Backup Vault data seamlessly into ServiceNow CMDB, supporting better configuration and lifecycle management.
    • Facilitates visibility into backup vault metadata, operational status, and backup retention details to support compliance and operational monitoring.
    • Supports ongoing updates and maintenance without losing custom pattern configurations, ensuring discovery stays current with AWS environment changes.

    Discovery and Service Mapping Patterns finds AWS Backup Vaults 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 - Backup Backup Vault - 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 Backup Backup Vault [cmdb_aws_backup_backup_vault]
    Field Description
    Name [name] Name of the AWS Backup Vault.
    Object ID [object_id] Amazon Resource Name (ARN) that uniquely identifies the backup vault.
    Max Retention Days [max_retention_days] Maximum number of days a recovery point can be retained in the backup vault.
    Number of Recovery Points [number_of_recovery_points] Number of recovery points stored in the backup vault.
    Vault State [vault_state] Current state of the backup vault.
    Vault Type [vault_type] Type of the backup vault.
    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 - Backup Backup Vault - Extended Inventory (LP) pattern.

    Table 2. Cloud Resource [cmdb_ci_cmp_resource]
    Field Description
    Object ID [object_id] ARN that uniquely identifies the backup vault.
    Name [name] Name of the AWS Backup Vault.
    Resource type [resource_type] Type of resource. The value is set to AWS::Backup::BackupVault.
    Operational status [operational_status] Operational status of the resource. Default value is Operational.
    Install Status [install_status] Install status of the resource. Default value is Installed.

    CI relationships

    The Amazon AWS - Backup Backup Vault - Extended Inventory (LP) pattern creates the following relationships and references to support AWS Backup Vault 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 AWS Datacenter [cmdb_ci_aws_datacenter]
    Table 4. CI references
    CI Field Referenced CI
    AWS Backup Backup Vault [cmdb_aws_backup_backup_vault] 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 - Backup Backup Vault - 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.