ServiceNow Discovery vs Tanium comparison

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ServiceNow Discovery

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Jan 18, 2026

Tanium and ServiceNow Discovery are competitors in IT operations management. ServiceNow Discovery appears to have the upper hand due to its comprehensive features and broader integration capabilities that justify its price.

Features: Tanium provides rapid data collection, real-time endpoint management, and offers robust security and asset tracking. ServiceNow Discovery is known for its extensive integration, automation capabilities, and excels in comprehensive network data mapping and service-aware configuration management.

Room for Improvement: Tanium could improve in offering cloud-based options, simplifying its integration processes, and reducing initial setup complexity. ServiceNow Discovery can enhance its troubleshooting tools, expand its automation capabilities, and better support complex customizations for advanced users.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: ServiceNow Discovery's cloud-based deployment simplifies setup but may require some learning. Its customer service is supportive and accessible. Tanium's on-premises deployment is more complex yet provides significant control once established, beneficial for security-focused environments.

Pricing and ROI: Tanium's higher initial setup cost brings substantial ROI through efficient IT asset management and threat protection. ServiceNow Discovery offers moderate setup costs with ROI through operational efficiency, reducing manual processes and enhancing integration capabilities.

To learn more, read our detailed ServiceNow Discovery vs. Tanium Report (Updated: January 2026).

ServiceNow Discovery vs. Tanium

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Helped 882,606 peers since 2012

Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Categories and Ranking

ServiceNow Discovery

Ranking in Server Monitoring

4th

Average Rating

8.0

Reviews Sentiment

6.6

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

IT Asset Management (6th), Cloud Resource Discovery Services (1st)

Tanium

Ranking in Server Monitoring

3rd

Average Rating

7.8

Reviews Sentiment

6.4

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Vulnerability Management (24th), Endpoint Protection Platform (EPP) (20th), Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) (21st), Unified Endpoint Management (UEM) (5th)

Mindshare comparison

As of February 2026, in the Server Monitoring category, the mindshare of ServiceNow Discovery is 3.2%, down from 4.9% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Tanium is 4.5%, down from 7.5% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Server Monitoring Market Share Distribution
Product	Market Share (%)
Tanium	4.5%
ServiceNow Discovery	3.2%
Other	92.3%

Server Monitoring

Featured Reviews

Abhinay Sharma

Service Now Developer at Bangmetric services pvt ltd

Cloud discovery has improved asset visibility and reporting but still needs smarter automation

The impact of ServiceNow Discovery on my organization's strategic planning depends on various factors. Some customers have their own discovery tools which they do not want to switch from, even if we explain why ServiceNow might be better, because they have been using them for a long time. Some customers are dynamic, so we need to have some kind of proposition that comes with ServiceNow. Sometimes, we need to talk with ServiceNow people themselves to give them a bundle offer in which we can have Discovery and ITSM at a much more affordable price than the competitors, so that is our main goal. Currently, I would say there might be a possibility if we can use some AI discovery features that could be helpful for our organization. If we can get discovery jobs running based on AI schedules, that would be beneficial. I believe in the coming future that I want to see myself working more with ServiceNow in this capacity.

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Vignesh K

Infra Vulnarability Manager at Rezilyens

Immediate results in patching promptly address vulnerabilities

When working with Tanium, there are some older devices that haven't been patched for a long time, and certain patches are not included in Tanium. I have to search outside to download patches, create bundles, and then perform the task. It would be easier if Tanium provided the patches directly. Some other brands provide the patch with a direct download link, which facilitates the process. Also, I feel that if there were more detailed documents and remediations readily available online for troubleshooting, especially more up-to-date information, it would be beneficial. Currently, some resources online are very out-of-date.

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Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"ServiceNow Discovery comes in a bundle with everything, including CMDB, which makes it much easier to use."

"It's a single system of record and it captures the relationships."

"ServiceNow Discovery works better than other products I've used."

"The initial setup is pretty easy."

"They have a very good network in the infrastructure of Discovery."

"We can scale the solution."

"I am impressed with the tool's incident problem change management."

"ServiceNow's Discovery feature is quite significant because it allows for service mapping and integrates with VIN management. It involves adding a business context to servers, routers, switches, and data centers. This means understanding not only what's installed on these systems and how they function together but also recognizing their significance in terms of business applications from the business's perspective and how they impact business processes and capabilities. So when we delve into these aspects and connect them to the essential components, it can help you engage in more meaningful discussions to enhance capacity management practices. In essence, it contributes to the overall IT portfolio, almost functioning as a business platform. This platform is accessible to users who leverage the data to initiate incidents, implement changes, and resolve problems. Consequently, consolidating all configuration items or assets into a unified platform makes sense, especially considering you already have Discovery in place. If the cost is reasonable, the other two components might not provide much value, except for their user-friendliness, which is often less important to leaders compared to the desired outcomes."

More ServiceNow Discovery pros

"For incident response tasks, all these tasks can get done in minutes with minimal disruption to the end-user."

"When I push a quick update, it's done right away, and I can rescan immediately to confirm completion within minutes."

"The interrogation piece was the most valuable feature because it was very detailed."

"Tanium's most valuable feature is its instant discovery aspect."

"I find the inventory and compliance features of Tanium to be the most impressive."

"Tanium has made the process of detecting threats more proactive with its detection. So, the process is easier and more efficient."

"Tanium is a very good product and I would rate it eight or nine out of ten."

"I would say Tanium is the best tool for vulnerability management."

More Tanium pros

Cons

"ServiceNow Discovery should be updated to provide its users with more out-of-the-box information and attributes to support the routers and switches from Cisco."

"Technical support has not been helpful when we have come across problems."

"I find it valuable to enhance IP address management. I've been in this field since around 2011, and my experience since then has revolved around automation, deployment, distribution, and comprehensive inventory management, all crucial for deploying various components, including patches. When we talk about patch management or vulnerability management, it's more complex than just applying patches; sometimes, you need to undergo significant upgrades or phase out old components for new ones, and this can turn into a substantial project, explaining why vulnerabilities persist. Now, the role of ServiceNow Discovery and security operations, or at one point, looking at vulnerability management in ServiceNow Discovery, is crucial. It allows you to identify vulnerabilities on assets and, with the addition of discovery, service mapping, and event management, you gain a business context for these vulnerabilities. It's not merely about knowing they exist on a server; it's about understanding which services are responsible for critical business processes or transactions, like payroll. This knowledge changes the approach and execution of vulnerability remediation."

"Application discovery could be improved. And, right now, ServiceNow needs to be coupled with another solution in order to verify information."

"The current limitation requires having mid servers or discovery servers in each data center for proper discovery, hindering the ability to discover assets across continents such as Asia Pacific and Europe."

"The solution needs to improve the cost of the solution. There are a few different solutions and they do act the same and have the same types of capabilities, however, the cost is quite high."

"Instead of AI, even GenAI should be introduced in ServiceNow Discovery."

"Its integration with legacy apps is one area for improvement. ServiceNow Discovery offers out-of-the-box reports, and though that's okay, allowing easier report customization would improve the solution."

More ServiceNow Discovery cons

"The solution can give a lot of false positives."

"Tanium’s scalability could be improved."

"When working with Tanium, there are some older devices that haven't been patched for a long time, and certain patches are not included in Tanium. I have to search outside to download patches, create bundles, and then perform the task."

"Tanium's limitations should be improved because although it is a great tool, it is limited to only a few classes during a session."

"The performance could improve in future releases. We have had performance issues in specialized web environments, but overall I think the problems are less than 2% of the computer systems being used."

"When working with Tanium, there are some older devices that haven't been patched for a long time, and certain patches are not included in Tanium."

"Any movement into a SaaS solution has challenges since the processes and data flows are not well defined. Hence, you need to build it at the same time."

"Most of the time, agent-relative issues have to be more equipped with self-healing features. At times, the agent is there, but for some reason, it doesn't report a status. It gives certain problems that are obviously agent-based."

More Tanium cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The solution is very expensive."

"The product pricing is fair and reasonable for the value it provides."

"It's on a yearly basis. We renew our contract for three years at a time."

"The solution is not inexpensive so pricing is rated a three out of ten."

"You need a subscription to ServiceNow Discovery, so you can use its features. You can also use specific plugins with the tool, and some of the plugins are free. I don't have information on how much my company pays for the subscription to ServiceNow Discovery."

"It is an expensive product with a price that depends on the models that you wish to purchase."

"It costs a lot. It is probably close to over a hundred thousand. It's an expensive platform, but you can't compare ServiceNow's Discovery functionality to other discovery tools. It's not an apples-to-apples comparison of ServiceNow to a configuration management tool to an asset management tool because it does those things, but it's not those things."

"As per a general discussion I had with the stakeholders, I figured out that it is a costly tool. There is a need to make additional payments apart from the licensing fees for better support services from ServiceNow."

More ServiceNow Discovery pricing and cost advice

"The solution is expensive but it's a good investment."

"It's an expensive solution. It would be nice if the cost were lower."

"There is an annual license required to use this solution."

"Tanium is a more expensive solution in Latin America than some of the competitors, such as BigFix."

"It is higher than some competitors in the market."

"The solution offers value for money."

"The product's pricing differs from region to region depending on negotiations and the number of endpoints."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

12%

Computer Software Company

Manufacturing Company

Healthcare Company

Financial Services Firm

15%

Government

11%

Manufacturing Company

Computer Software Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	17
Midsize Enterprise	5
Large Enterprise	23

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	6
Midsize Enterprise	3
Large Enterprise	11

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about ServiceNow Discovery?

The solution can prioritize the discovery of IP ranges. The product automatically places all Discovery CIs into the correct class within the CMDB.

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for ServiceNow Discovery?

The pricing information for ServiceNow Discovery was requested but not provided.

What needs improvement with ServiceNow Discovery?

A CMDB debugging tool to give indication about the errors that appear would be appreciated.

What needs improvement with Tanium?

While there is always room for improvement, I am pleased with Tanium.

What is your primary use case for Tanium?

The primary use case for Tanium ( /products/tanium-reviews ) is compliance, patching, and inventory as part of the core functions.

What advice do you have for others considering Tanium?

For smaller companies, Tanium is quite a big investment, and one needs to have a considerable setup to make it economically viable. I would recommend it to others with a similar use case. The solut...

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HPE Integrated Lights Out (iLO) vs ServiceNow Discovery

Compared 5% of the time

Flexera One vs ServiceNow Discovery

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Compared 8% of the time

Microsoft Defender for Endpoint vs Tanium

Compared 6% of the time

BigFix vs Tanium

Compared 4% of the time

NinjaOne vs Tanium

Compared 4% of the time

Trellix Endpoint Security Platform vs Tanium

Compared 3% of the time

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Product Reports

ServiceNow Discovery

Download ServiceNow Discovery product report

Download Tanium product report

Also Known As

No data available

Tanium Inc Cloud, Tanium XEM

Overview

ServiceNow Discovery finds applications and devices on your network, and then updates the CMDB with the information it finds. Discovery is available as a separate subscription from the rest of the Now Platform.

ServiceNow

Tanium offers robust endpoint protection, patching, and inventory management, consolidating the functions of tools like BigFix with capabilities in incident response, network security, and cloud or on-premise deployments.

Known for real-time capabilities, Tanium provides detailed analytics, security features, and device management. Users benefit from quick implementation, real-time updates, and patching campaigns. Despite its strengths, integration and custom plugin expansion remain areas to improve, along with data visualization and network optimization. Reporting enhancements and user training could advance its usability, and some UI elements may require updates for clarity and security.

What are the essential features of Tanium?

Detailed Analytics: Provides actionable insights for better decision-making.
Security Capabilities: Offers strong defense measures against threats.
Real-Time Queries: Facilitates immediate information access.
Patch Management: Streamlines software updates across devices.
Device Management: Efficiently handles comprehensive inventory and monitoring tasks.

What benefits should users expect?

Ease of Use: Simplifies complex IT tasks.
Scalability: Adapts to growing IT infrastructure needs.
Integration Flexibility: Merges with existing systems effortlessly.
Real-Time Updates: Ensures current data availability for informed actions.

Tanium's deployment spans industries focusing on endpoint protection and compliance, ensuring reliable device and server management in settings where safety and quick adaptation are critical. Organizations use it for application deployment, compliance checks, and integrating it as an EDR solution, enhancing overall security and operational efficiencies.

Sample Customers

York, National Grid, DXC Technology, experian, BEACHBODY

JPMorgan Chase, eBay, Amazon, US Bank, MetLife, pwc, Cerner, Delphi, MGM Grand, New York Life

ServiceNow Discovery vs. Tanium