Amazon RDS DB Snapshot pattern-based discovery

  • Release version: Zurich
  • Updated August 11, 2026
  • 2 minutes to read
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    Summary of Amazon RDS DB Snapshot pattern-based discovery

    This pattern-based discovery for Amazon RDS DB Snapshots enables ServiceNow customers to identify and map Amazon RDS database snapshot resources within their AWS cloud environment. It leverages the Discovery and Service Mapping Patterns application to populate detailed data into both CMDB and non-CMDB tables, helping maintain an accurate and comprehensive configuration management database related to RDS snapshots.

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    Key Features

    • Pattern Activation: The RDS DB Snapshot discovery pattern is disabled by default and must be enabled manually. With Visibility Content version 6.28.0 and later, enabling or disabling patterns is streamlined and preserves updates through upgrades.
    • Prerequisites: Customers must meet AWS discovery prerequisites, including removing relevant resources from the Resource Inclusion List to avoid duplicate discovery.
    • GovCloud Support: Discovery for AWS GovCloud (US) accounts requires special configuration using a datacenter URL during AWS service account setup.
    • Data Population in Tables:
      • Non-CMDB Data: The pattern populates the cmdbawsrelationaldatabaseservicesdbsnapshot table with snapshot details such as ARN, snapshot name, availability zone, status, DB instance identifier, engine type and version.
      • CMDB Data: The cmdbcicmpresource table stores core resource information including object ID (ARN), name, resource type (AWS::RDS::DBSnapshot), install and operational status.
      • Tagging: AWS tags discovered are stored in the cmdbkeyvalue table as key-value pairs, enabling enhanced resource classification and management.
    • CI Relationships: The pattern establishes relationships such as "Hosted on" between RDS snapshots and AWS datacenters, and references to the Cloud Resource table, supporting comprehensive mapping and impact analysis.

    Practical Benefits for ServiceNow Customers

    • Enables automated and accurate discovery of RDS DB snapshots, ensuring your CMDB reflects the current state of AWS resources.
    • Supports governance and compliance by tracking snapshot configurations, statuses, and associated metadata.
    • Improves service mapping and operational visibility by linking snapshots to their hosting environments and related cloud resources.
    • Facilitates resource management with AWS tag discovery, allowing for efficient categorization and reporting.
    • Reduces manual effort and errors by integrating pattern-based discovery into existing ServiceNow Discovery schedules and frameworks.

    Discovery and Service Mapping Patterns finds AWS services 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.
    Configure the Discovery schedule to support GovCloud
    Discovering AWS GovCloud (US) accounts requires using a datacenter URL when setting up an AWS service account. For more information, see Create AWS service accounts.

    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 - Relational Database Services DB Snapshot - 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 Relational Database Services - DB Snapshot [cmdb_aws_relational_database_services_db_snapshot]
    Field Description
    Object Id [object_id] The Amazon Resource Name (ARN) that uniquely identifies the database snapshot.
    Name [name] A unique identifier for the RDS database snapshot.
    Availability Zone [availability_zone] The availability zone where the database snapshot was created.
    Status [status] The current state or progress of the database snapshot.
    Configuration Item [configuration_item] References the Cloud Resource [cmdb_ci_cmp_resource] table.
    DB Instance Identifier [db_instance_identifier] The identifier of the RDS DB instance associated with the snapshot.
    Engine [engine] The database engine used for the snapshot. For example: MySQL or PostgreSQL.
    Engine Version [engine_version] The version of the database engine for the snapshot.

    Data stored in CMDB tables

    Discovery and Service Mapping Patterns application populates data in the CMDB when running the Amazon AWS - Relational Database Services DB Snapshot - Extended Inventory (LP) pattern.

    Table 2. Cloud Resource [cmdb_ci_cmp_resource]
    Field Description
    Object ID [object_id] The ARN that uniquely identifies the database snapshot.
    Name [name] A unique identifier for the RDS database snapshot.
    Resource type [resource_type] Type of resource. The value is set to AWS::RDS::DBSnapshot.
    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 - Relational Database Services DB Snapshot - Extended Inventory (LP) pattern creates these relationships to support Amazon RDS DB Snapshot discovery.

    CI Relationship CI
    Cloud Resource [cmdb_ci_cmp_resource] Hosted on::Hosts AWS Datacenter [cmdb_ci_aws_datacenter]
    AWS Relational Database Services - DB Snapshot [cmdb_aws_relational_database_services_db_snapshot] References Cloud Resource [cmdb_ci_cmp_resource]

    AWS tag discovery

    The pattern collects tags and populates them in the Key Value [cmdb_key_value] table.
    Table 3. Key Value [cmdb_key_value]
    Field Description
    Key [key] Tag name.
    Value [value] Tag value.