Amazon VPC Flow Log pattern-based discovery

  • Release version: Australia
  • Updated May 13, 2026
  • 2 minutes to read
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    Summary of Amazon VPC Flow Log pattern-based discovery

    The Amazon VPC Flow Log pattern-based discovery in ServiceNow enables automated detection and mapping of Amazon Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) Flow Logs within your AWS cloud environment. It integrates this information into your Configuration Management Database (CMDB) and related tables, helping you maintain an accurate inventory of your cloud network traffic logs.

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    This functionality requires the Discovery and Service Mapping Patterns application, which you may need to update to the latest version from the ServiceNow Store for full compatibility and feature support.

    Key Features

    • Pattern activation: The VPC Flow Log discovery pattern is disabled by default and must be enabled to start discovery. Activating or deactivating patterns no longer counts as a customization and patterns reset to the latest predefined versions upon upgrading.
    • Prerequisites: Verify AWS discovery prerequisites and ensure the VPC Flow Log resources are not listed in the Resource Inclusion List table to avoid duplicate discovery.
    • Data storage: Data from discovery is stored in both CMDB and non-CMDB tables:
      • Non-CMDB tables: Populated when running the Amazon AWS - VPC Flow Log - Extended Inventory (LP) pattern, allowing you to review AWS-specific inventory data.
      • CMDB tables: Key details about the flow logs and associated resources are stored in the Cloud Resource [cmdbcicmpresource] and AWS VPC Flow Log [cmdbawsvpcflowlog] tables.
    • CI relationships and references: The discovery pattern creates relationships between flow logs and AWS datacenters and references linking flow logs to cloud resources to ensure comprehensive mapping.
    • AWS Tag discovery: Tags associated with VPC Flow Logs are collected and stored in the Key Value [cmdbkeyvalue] table, linked to the relevant cloud resource, enabling effective tagging and categorization.

    Key Outcomes

    • Accurate discovery and inventory of Amazon VPC Flow Logs within your AWS environment.
    • Populated CMDB and non-CMDB tables with detailed flow log information, including status, resource associations, and tags.
    • Clear visibility into flow log operational and delivery status, aiding troubleshooting and monitoring.
    • Maintained CI relationships that support comprehensive service mapping and impact analysis.
    • Streamlined activation and maintenance of discovery patterns with automatic updates and reduced customization complexity.

    Discovery and Service Mapping Patterns finds Amazon Virtual Private Cloud (Amazon VPC) Flow Logs 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 - VPC Flow Log - 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 VPC Flow Log [cmdb_aws_vpc_flow_log]
    Field Description
    Name [name] The flow log ID, used as the display name.
    Object ID [object_id] The unique identifier of the flow log.
    Resource ID [resource_id] The ID of the resource associated with the flow log, such as a VPC, subnet, or network interface.
    Deliver Logs Status [deliver_logs_status] The status of the log delivery. The value is SUCCESS or FAILED.
    Flow Log Status [flow_log_status] The status of the flow log. The value is ACTIVE when the flow log is running.
    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 - VPC Flow Log - Extended Inventory (LP) pattern.

    Table 2. Cloud Resource [cmdb_ci_cmp_resource]
    Field Description
    Name [name] The flow log ID, used as the display name.
    Object ID [object_id] The unique identifier of the flow log.
    Resource type [resource_type] Type of resource. The value is set to AWS::VPC::FlowLog.
    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.

    CI relationships

    The Amazon AWS - VPC Flow Log - Extended Inventory (LP) pattern creates the following relationships and references to support Amazon VPC Flow Log 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 VPC Flow Log [cmdb_aws_vpc_flow_log] 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 - VPC Flow Log - 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.