Google Cloud Platform (GCP) Cloud discovery using Patterns

  • Release version: Australia
  • Updated March 12, 2026
  • 2 minutes to read
    • Summarize
    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 Google Cloud Platform (GCP) Cloud discovery using Patterns

    ServiceNow’s Discovery and Service Mapping Patterns enable automated discovery of various Google Cloud Platform (GCP) components during horizontal discovery. This capability helps ServiceNow customers populate their Configuration Management Database (CMDB) with detailed information about their GCP resources, supporting improved cloud visibility and service mapping.

    Show full answer Show less

    To discover certain GCP resources, customers may need to update to the latest version of the Discovery and Service Mapping Patterns application from the ServiceNow Store.

    Prerequisites and Configuration

    • Application Versions: Ensure Discovery and Service Mapping Patterns (v1.8.0+), CMDB CI Class Models (v1.49.0+), and Visibility Content (v6.13.0+) are up to date.
    • MID Server: Use a dedicated MID Server with minimum specs of 16 cores, 8 GB RAM, and 4 GB JVM allocation; it must have internet access and be properly configured for cloud discovery.
    • Google Cloud Permissions: Assign the Viewer role to the GCP user account used for discovery.
    • Google API Credentials and Service Accounts: Configure Google API credentials and create GCP service accounts as required to enable discovery.
    • Cloud Logging: Enable Google Cloud Logging service to allow real-time updates of cloud components in the CMDB.
    • CI Relationships: Activate cloud-related CI relationships for integration of discovered components into service instances, especially for tag-based discovery.
    • Discovery Schedules: Set up Discovery schedules in the Discovery Admin Workspace for ongoing discovery operations.
    • Optional Performance Enhancement: Populate Service Account and Logical Datacenter fields directly in cloud CIs to improve query performance (available starting version 1.30.2).
    • REST API Permissions: Review and grant necessary API permissions using the Cloud Discovery patterns spreadsheet, which is updated quarterly.

    Key Features

    • Pattern-based discovery of a wide range of GCP resources including BigQuery datasets and tables, Bigtable instances, Cloud Firestore databases, Cloud SQL instances, disk types, external IP addresses, Firebase Realtime Database instances, load balancers, networking resources, Spanner instances, SSH keys, storage disks and snapshots, and virtual machines.
    • Near real-time component data updates through event pattern discovery.
    • Support for improved service mapping by integrating discovered cloud components into service instances.

    Practical Benefits for ServiceNow Customers

    • Automates comprehensive discovery of GCP cloud resources into the CMDB, enhancing IT visibility and operational insight.
    • Facilitates accurate service mapping and impact analysis by integrating cloud CI relationships.
    • Enables near real-time updates via cloud logging events, ensuring CMDB data remains current.
    • Supports efficient discovery operations through dedicated and properly configured MID Servers.
    • Improves discovery performance and data quality with optional direct field population features.

    Next Steps

    • Verify and update required applications and MID Server configurations.
    • Set appropriate GCP user roles and configure Google API credentials and service accounts.
    • Enable cloud logging and activate necessary CI relationships for service mapping.
    • Schedule discovery jobs using Discovery Admin Workspace.
    • Review and apply required REST API permissions from the provided Cloud Discovery patterns spreadsheet.
    • Periodically check the ServiceNow Store for updated versions of Discovery and Service Mapping Patterns to support new GCP resources.

    Discovery and Service Mapping Patterns uses patterns to discover components of the Google Cloud Platform (GCP) deployment during horizontal discovery. Discovering some of these resources may require updating to the latest version of the Discovery and Service Mapping Patterns application from the ServiceNow Store.

    Request apps on the Store

    Visit the ServiceNow Store to view all the available apps, and for information about submitting requests to the store. For cumulative release notes information for all released apps, see the ServiceNow Store version history release notes.

    Prerequisites

    Verify that the applications are up to date.
    • Discovery and Service Mapping Patterns starting version 1.8.0 (September 2023)
    • CMDB CI Class Models starting version 1.49.0 (September 2023)
    • Visibility Content starting version 6.13.0 (September 2023)
    Verify the MID Server requirements
    • Use a dedicated MID Server for cloud discovery. The MID Server must have 16 Cores, 8 GB with 4 GB Java Virtual Machine (JVM) memory allocation. For information on verifying MID Server specifications, see KB article KB2156327.
    • Deploy and connect the dedicated MID Server with internet access.
    • For more information on the MID Server configurations, see Install and configure MID Servers to access cloud environments.
    Verify Google Cloud BigQuery and Google Cloud Bigtable requirements
    To discover Google Cloud BigQuery and Google Cloud Bigtable, navigate to All > Discovery > MID Server > Properties and ensure that the sn_itom_pattern.google_dbservice_table_collection property is set to True.
    Verify user role settings

    Set the user permission for the Google Cloud Platform member to Viewer:

    1. In the Google Cloud Platform console, navigate to IAM.
    2. Select the relevant member from the list and click the Edit icon.
    3. In the Edit permissions window, select Viewer from the Role list.
    4. Click Save.
    Configure Google API Credentials
    For more information, see Configure the Google API credentials for Cloud Discovery.
    Create a Google Cloud Platform service account
    For more information, see Create GCP service accounts.
    Enable collecting cloud logging events
    The Google Cloud Platform patterns can collect cloud logging events generated by the native Google Cloud APIs. Configure the Google Cloud Logging service to auto-update the CMDB.
    Activate the cloud-related CI relationships
    To include discovered components into service instances, enable CI relationships used in tag-based discovery by Service Mapping. These CI relationships are available from the 1.0.68 release on the ServiceNow Store. For operational steps, see Tag-based discovery configuration.
    Verify that a Discovery schedule is configured
    For more information, see Create a GCP Discovery schedule in Discovery Admin Workspace.
    (Optional) Populate Service Account and Logical Datacenter fields in cloud CIs
    Starting with Discovery and Service Mapping Patterns version 1.30.2, you can improve query performance by populating Service Account and Logical Datacenter fields directly in cloud CIs. For more information, see Improved query performance with direct field population in CI tables.

    Verify the REST API Permissions

    Download the Cloud Discovery patterns spreadsheet so you can grant user permissions required for running the Discovery patterns. In addition to permissions, the spreadsheet also includes useful information such as pattern names, types, CI Classes, and links to vendor documentation. New patterns are available quarterly, so check periodically to be sure you have the latest version of the spreadsheet.