AWS Step Functions State Machine pattern-based discovery

  • Release version: Zurich
  • Updated May 13, 2026
  • 2 minutes to read
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    Summary of AWS Step Functions State Machine pattern-based discovery

    The AWS Step Functions State Machine pattern-based discovery enables ServiceNow customers to automatically locate and map AWS Step Functions State Machines within their cloud environments. This functionality leverages the Discovery and Service Mapping Patterns application, which integrates with the ServiceNow CMDB to provide detailed insight into these AWS resources.

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    Key Features

    • Pattern Activation: The discovery pattern for AWS Step Functions State Machines is disabled by default and must be enabled to start discovery. Updates to the pattern no longer count as customizations, ensuring ongoing support and improvements.
    • Prerequisites and Configuration: Customers need to verify AWS discovery prerequisites, remove relevant resources from the Resource Inclusion List to prevent duplication, and configure discovery schedules appropriately, especially for AWS GovCloud environments.
    • Data Population: The pattern populates data in both CMDB and non-CMDB tables. Non-CMDB data can be reviewed under the AWS namespace in ServiceNow, while CMDB tables include detailed configuration items representing state machines and associated cloud functions.
    • CI Relationships and References: Discovered state machines are linked to cloud functions and AWS datacenters through relationships and references to support accurate service mapping.
    • Tag Discovery: Tags associated with AWS Step Functions State Machines are collected and stored in the Key Value table, allowing customers to leverage tagging information for governance and operational purposes.

    Key Outcomes

    • Automated discovery of AWS Step Functions State Machines with detailed metadata including name, ARN, type (STANDARD or EXPRESS), and operational status.
    • Enhanced visibility into AWS Step Functions through integration with the ServiceNow CMDB, enabling improved service mapping and configuration management.
    • Support for AWS GovCloud environments through specific configuration of discovery schedules and service accounts.
    • Accurate relationship mapping between state machines, cloud functions, and AWS datacenters to facilitate comprehensive dependency mapping.
    • Utilization of AWS tags within ServiceNow for better resource categorization and management.

    Discovery and Service Mapping Patterns finds AWS Step Functions State Machines 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 - Step Functions State Machine - 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 Step Functions State Machine [cmdb_aws_step_functions_state_machine]
    Field Description
    Name [name] Name of the state machine.
    Object ID [object_id] The Amazon Resource Name (ARN) of the state machine.
    Type [type] Type of the state machine. The value is STANDARD or EXPRESS.
    Configuration Item [configuration_item] References the Cloud Function [cmdb_ci_cloud_function] table.

    Data stored in CMDB tables

    Discovery and Service Mapping Patterns application populates data in the CMDB when running the Amazon AWS - Step Functions State Machine - Extended Inventory (LP) pattern.

    Table 2. Cloud Function [cmdb_ci_cloud_function]
    Field Description
    Name [name] Name of the state machine.
    Object ID [object_id] The ARN of the state machine.
    Edition [edition] Type of the state machine. The value is STANDARD or EXPRESS.
    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 - Step Functions State Machine - Extended Inventory (LP) pattern creates the following relationships and references to support AWS Step Functions State Machine 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 Function [cmdb_ci_cloud_function] Hosted on::Hosts AWS Datacenter [cmdb_ci_aws_datacenter]
    Table 4. CI references
    CI Field Referenced CI
    AWS Step Functions State Machine [cmdb_aws_step_functions_state_machine] Configuration Item [configuration_item] Cloud Function [cmdb_ci_cloud_function]
    Key Value [cmdb_key_value] Configuration item [configuration_item] Cloud Function [cmdb_ci_cloud_function]

    AWS Tag discovery

    The Amazon AWS - Step Functions State Machine - 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 Function [cmdb_ci_cloud_function] table.