How does Discovery access the network?

Discovery accesses the network primarily by delegating work to MID Servers within the enterprise. MID Servers act as intermediaries between the ServiceNow instance and the network's devices. They reside within the organization's network perimeter to facilitate secure data communication while respecting firewalls and other security protocols.

This architecture allows Discovery to gather information about devices, their configurations, and their relationships without needing direct access from the ServiceNow instance, which is often hosted in the cloud. The use of MID Servers is essential for collecting data accurately and managing network traffic efficiently, as they can execute Discovery probes and sensors locally, then send the gathered information back to the ServiceNow instance for processing.

By relying on MID Servers, organizations can enhance the security of their network and better manage the complexities of their IT environments, providing a robust solution for asset discovery and network management.