AWS IAM User pattern-based discovery

  • Release version: Yokohama
  • Updated May 13, 2026
  • 2 minutes to read
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    Summary of AWS IAM User pattern-based discovery

    The AWS IAM User pattern-based discovery in ServiceNow enables automated identification and inventory of AWS IAM Users within your cloud environment. This discovery is part of the Discovery and Service Mapping Patterns application and requires specific prerequisites and configurations to function correctly. It populates data both in the Configuration Management Database (CMDB) and non-CMDB tables, providing comprehensive visibility into AWS IAM User resources.

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    Key Features

    • Pattern Activation: The IAM User discovery pattern is disabled by default. Starting with Visibility Content version 6.28.0, enabling or disabling patterns no longer counts as a customization, and patterns will reset to predefined versions after upgrades while retaining their last active state.
    • Prerequisites: Proper AWS discovery prerequisites must be met, including removing relevant resources from the Resource Inclusion List table [sacloudinventoryresourcewhitelist] to avoid duplicate discoveries.
    • Data Storage: Discovered IAM User data is stored in both non-CMDB and CMDB tables:
      • Non-CMDB table [cmdbawsiamuser]: Stores IAM user details like name, ARN (objectid), user ID, path in IAM hierarchy, and references to configuration items.
      • CMDB table [cmdbcicmpresource]: Stores cloud resource information with fields for name, ARN, resource type (always AWS::IAM::User), install status, and operational status.
    • CI Relationships and References: The discovery pattern creates relationships such as "Hosted on::Hosts" linking to Cloud Resource and Cloud Service Account tables, enhancing traceability within the CMDB.
    • AWS Tag Collection: Tags associated with IAM Users are collected and stored in the Key Value [cmdbkeyvalue] table, linked back to the respective cloud resource, facilitating tag-based management and reporting.

    Practical Considerations for ServiceNow Customers

    • Ensure AWS discovery prerequisites are completed and resources are not duplicated by checking the Resource Inclusion List.
    • Activate the AWS IAM User discovery pattern as needed to start collecting data.
    • Use the populated CMDB and non-CMDB tables to gain detailed insights into IAM Users, their organizational paths, and associated metadata.
    • Leverage the CI relationships and tag data for enhanced cloud resource management, compliance, and reporting within ServiceNow.

    Discovery and Service Mapping Patterns finds AWS IAM Users 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 Amazon AWS Cloud components 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 Amazon Web Services (AWS) Resource Inventory.
    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 - IAM User - 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 IAM User [cmdb_aws_iam_user]
    Field Description
    Name [name] Name of the IAM user.
    Object ID [object_id] The Amazon Resource Name (ARN) of the IAM user.
    User ID [user_id] The stable and unique string identifying the user.
    Path [path] The path used to organize the user within the IAM hierarchy. If no custom path is set, the value is /.
    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 - IAM User - Extended Inventory (LP) pattern.

    Table 2. Cloud Resource [cmdb_ci_cmp_resource]
    Field Description
    Name [name] Name of the IAM user.
    Object ID [object_id] The ARN of the IAM user.
    Resource type [resource_type] Type of resource. The value is set to AWS::IAM::User.
    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 - IAM User - Extended Inventory (LP) pattern creates the following relationships and references to support AWS IAM User 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 Cloud Service Account [cmdb_ci_cloud_service_account]
    Table 4. CI references
    CI Field Referenced CI
    AWS IAM User [cmdb_aws_iam_user] 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 - IAM User - 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.