--- sourceDocument: Asset Management sourceDocumentLink: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/it-asset-management Release : - brazil ft:locale : - en-US ft:publication_title : - Asset Management ft:clusterId : - itam bundleId : - itam workflow : - Technology --- # Software discovery # Software discovery {#ariaid-title1} Release version: Brazil Updated September 10, 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 ServiceNow customers can leverage Software Discovery to automatically identify and import software installations across their environments. This process supports effective Software Asset Management (SAM) by populating the Software Installations table with accurate data. Discovery can be performed using ServiceNow Discovery, Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM), or other third-party discovery tools integrated with the Configuration Management Database (CMDB). Show full answer Show less ## Key Features * **ServiceNow Discovery Integration:** Automatically discovers software installations and stores data in the Software Installations \[cmdbsamswinstall\] table. Discovery uses customizable patterns covering industry-standard software such as Citrix XenApp, VMware vCenter, Microsoft SQL Server, and Oracle Database. When discovery records are created, they link to a Discovery Model table to maintain data consistency. The Discovery plugin must be activated for this functionality. * **Microsoft SCCM Integration:** Supports discovery of software in desktop environments using SCCM 2012 v2 or 2016 plugins, both certified with ServiceNow SAM. The corresponding SCCM Integration and Software Usage plugins must be installed. SCCM plugins support several SCCM versions but will be deprecated in the Tokyo release. For new integrations, customers should use the Service Graph connector for Microsoft SCCM available from the ServiceNow Store. Existing users of SCCM plugins should use the Migration Readiness Tool to transition to the Service Graph connector, ensuring continued support and enhanced capabilities. * **Third-Party Discovery Integration:** Other discovery tools can be integrated manually or via applications from the ServiceNow Store to support comprehensive SAM. ## Practical Benefits for ServiceNow Customers * Automates collection and normalization of software installation data for accurate software asset records. * Supports a range of software and environment types, including datacenters and desktops. * Enables integration flexibility by supporting ServiceNow Discovery, Microsoft SCCM, and third-party discovery tools. * Prepares customers for future platform updates by guiding migration from legacy SCCM plugins to the Service Graph connector. 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=brazil&pubname=brazil-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=brazil&pubname=brazil-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=brazil&pubname=brazil-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=brazil&pubname=brazil-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=brazil&pubname=brazil-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/R8KIbhOlVP2jaxk6hLeETA "Activate the Microsoft SCCM software usage plugin to integrate your software usage data with the ServiceNow AI Platform.").