AWS Backup Vault pattern-based discovery

  • Release version: Australia
  • 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 discover and map AWS Backup Vaults within their cloud environments using Discovery and Service Mapping Patterns. This capability is part of the Discovery and Service Mapping Patterns application and requires adherence to AWS discovery prerequisites and proper pattern activation.

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    Key Features

    • Pattern Activation: The AWS Backup Vault discovery pattern is disabled by default and must be enabled. Starting with Visibility Content version 6.28.0, enabling or disabling patterns does not count as customization and patterns reset to the latest version after upgrades.
    • Resource Inclusion List: To prevent duplicate discoveries, ensure AWS Backup Vault resources are removed from the Resource Inclusion List table [sacloudinventoryresourcewhitelist].
    • Data Population: Discovery populates data in both CMDB and non-CMDB tables:
      • Non-CMDB table: The pattern populates details in the cmdbawsbackupbackupvault table, including vault name, ARN, retention days, number of recovery points, vault state, vault type, and configuration item reference.
      • CMDB table: The cmdbcicmpresource table stores basic resource information such as ARN, name, resource type (AWS::Backup::BackupVault), operational status (default Operational), and install status (default Installed).
    • CI Relationships and References: The discovery creates relationships linking the AWS Backup Vault resource to the AWS Datacenter hosting it, supporting accurate infrastructure mapping. References connect Backup Vault records between CMDB and non-CMDB tables.
    • 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 for ServiceNow Customers

    • Automated discovery and accurate mapping of AWS Backup Vaults improves visibility into backup resources within the CMDB.
    • Maintaining updated, centralized data on backup vaults and their attributes facilitates efficient backup management and compliance tracking.
    • Integration of AWS tags enhances resource categorization and reporting capabilities.
    • Ensuring proper pattern activation and removal from the Resource Inclusion List prevents duplicate data and supports clean discovery processes.

    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.