Data Discovery jobs

concept brazil Updated Sep 10, 2026 1 min read data-discovery-jobs.md

Data Discovery reviews your targeted information using user-defined data patterns and target tables.

Data Discovery works by first scheduling a job in the Data Discovery Job section. When a scheduled job runs, all active data patterns are searched for on the current target tables. For more information on creating and configuring a Data Discovery job, see Configure a Data Discovery job.

Note: Sample Scan jobs scan up to 10,000 records are scanned per table per pattern.

Warning: If a job is executed twice in a small amount of time, the number of scanned rows may return 0 for second run.

Data Discovery data patterns

The Data Patterns section shows all current data patterns, both active and inactive. A data pattern is a regular expression used to match sensitive data. For more information on how to access and configure data patterns, see Configure Data Discovery patterns. The Active Data Patterns section shows only active patterns. Inactive patterns don’t appear.

Target tables

The Target Tables section lists all tables that can be processed for a job. To access the target tables, select Target Tables.

The following tables aren’t supported:

sr
sysx
v
sh$
syslog
ua
usageanalytics
ecc
clone
jrobin
pa
sla_repair_log
scan
gcf
fm_log
log
np$
sn_data_discovery
dp_configuration
dp_federated_job
dp_field_technique
dp_job
dp_job_summary
dp_primary_reference
dp_technique
data_classification
m2m_dictionary_dataclass

Granular Configuration

The Granular Configuration tool enables more specific and fine tuned controls for discovering sensitive data in a table. However there are key differences in its operation compared to a traditional data discovery job. A granular configuration scans only specified columns of a table for discovery, reporting its findings by the record. Findings from the scan of Granular Configurations, called Granular Findings have their actions specified per record, and require the data_privacy_admin role to be anonymized.

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---
title: Data Discovery jobs
description: Data Discovery reviews your targeted information using user-defined data patterns and target tables.
locale: en-US
canonical_url: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/platform-security/data-discovery/data-discovery-jobs.html
release: brazil
product: Data Discovery
classification: data-discovery
topic_type: concept
last_updated: "2026-09-10"
reading_time_minutes: 1
breadcrumb: [Exploring Data Discovery $Classic$, Data Discovery, Platform Privacy]
---

# Data Discovery jobs

Data Discovery reviews your targeted information using user-defined data patterns and target tables.

Data Discovery works by first scheduling a job in the **Data Discovery Job** section. When a scheduled job runs, all active data patterns are searched for on the current target tables. For more information on creating and configuring a Data Discovery job, see [Configure a Data Discovery job](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/brazil/markdown/platform-security/data-discovery/configure-data-discovery-jobs.md).

**Note:** Sample Scan jobs scan up to 10,000 records are scanned per table per pattern.

**Warning:** If a job is executed twice in a small amount of time, the number of scanned rows may return 0 for second run.

## Data Discovery data patterns

The **Data Patterns** section shows all current data patterns, both active and inactive. A data pattern is a regular expression used to match sensitive data. For more information on how to access and configure data patterns, see [Configure Data Discovery patterns](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/brazil/markdown/platform-security/data-discovery/configure-data-discovery-patterns.md). The **Active Data Patterns** section shows only active patterns. Inactive patterns don’t appear.

## Target tables

The **Target Tables** section lists all tables that can be processed for a job. To access the target tables, select **Target Tables**.

The following tables aren’t supported:

- sr
- sysx
- v
- sh$
- syslog
- ua
- usageanalytics
- ecc
- clone
- jrobin
- pa
- sla\_repair\_log
- scan
- gcf
- fm\_log
- log
- np$
- sn\_data\_discovery
- dp\_configuration
- dp\_federated\_job
- dp\_field\_technique
- dp\_job
- dp\_job\_summary
- dp\_primary\_reference
- dp\_technique
- data\_classification
- m2m\_dictionary\_dataclass

## Granular Configuration

The [Granular Configuration](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/brazil/markdown/platform-security/data-discovery/granular-configuration.md) tool enables more specific and fine tuned controls for discovering sensitive data in a table. However there are key differences in its operation compared to a traditional data discovery job. A granular configuration scans only specified columns of a table for discovery, reporting its findings by the record. Findings from the scan of Granular Configurations, called Granular Findings have their actions specified per record, and require the data\_privacy\_admin role to be anonymized.