What does an application pattern do in relation to the discovery process?

An application pattern plays a crucial role in the discovery process by enabling the recognition and mapping of both applications and their dependencies within an IT environment. Specifically, it supports both horizontal and vertical discovery approaches.

Horizontal discovery allows for the identification of all instances of a particular application across various servers or systems, facilitating a broader understanding of where an application is deployed. In contrast, vertical discovery focuses on uncovering the relationships and dependencies among those instances, detailing how different components of an application interact with each other and with underlying infrastructure.

This dual capability enhances the overall visibility into the IT landscape, enabling IT teams to better manage applications and their supporting resources, track performance, and ensure compliance. Given this comprehensive functionality, the assertion that the application pattern can be utilized for both horizontal and vertical discovery accurately reflects its versatility and importance in the discovery framework.