The answer is to configure the 'Preserve manual changes' setting in the CMDB CI Class Manager. This setting directly addresses the need to prevent discovery from overwriting manual changes by comparing the source of the last update on each CI attribute; if the source is 'Manual', the system locks that attribute so subsequent discovery runs cannot overwrite it, even if the discovery tool reports a different value. On the ServiceNow CSA exam, this concept tests your understanding of how to balance automated discovery with human intervention in the CMDB, often appearing as a scenario where an administrator wants to protect specific fields without disabling discovery entirely. A common trap is confusing this with the 'Disable discovery' option, which stops all updates rather than selectively preserving manual edits. Memory tip: think of it as a "manual lock" — if a human touched it, the machine leaves it alone.
SNOW-CSA Database Administration and CMDB Practice Question
This SNOW-CSA practice question tests your understanding of database administration and cmdb. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A company uses ServiceNow CMDB and wants to ensure that CI attribute updates from a discovery tool are not overwritten by manual changes made by administrators. Which configuration best achieves this?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "best"
Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Configure the 'Preserve manual changes' setting in the CMDB CI Class Manager.
Option C is correct because the 'Preserve manual changes' setting in the CMDB CI Class Manager ensures that when a CI attribute is manually updated by an administrator, subsequent discovery runs will not overwrite that specific attribute. This setting works at the class level and compares the source of the last update; if the source is 'Manual', the attribute is preserved even if the discovery tool reports a different value. This directly addresses the requirement to prevent discovery from overwriting manual changes without disabling discovery entirely.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
Set the CI source to 'Manual' to prevent discovery updates.
Why it's wrong here
Setting source to manual would block all automated updates, which is not desired.
✗
Create a business rule to prevent updates from discovery.
Why it's wrong here
A business rule could be overridden and is not the standard method.
✓
Configure the 'Preserve manual changes' setting in the CMDB CI Class Manager.
Why this is correct
This setting ensures that manual changes are not overwritten by automated updates.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Disable the reconciliation process for the affected CIs.
Why it's wrong here
Disabling reconciliation would stop all data flow, not just preserve manual changes.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse the 'Preserve manual changes' setting with the 'Ignore changes' flag or assume that disabling reconciliation is the only way to stop overwrites, when in fact the setting is a granular, attribute-level protection mechanism built into the CMDB CI Class Manager.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The 'Preserve manual changes' setting leverages the CMDB's 'sys_ci_source' field and the 'last updated by' metadata. When a CI attribute is manually changed (source = 'Manual'), the system flags that attribute as protected. During the next discovery run, the CMDB reconciliation engine checks this flag and skips updating that attribute, even if the discovery payload contains a different value. This is distinct from the 'Ignore changes' flag on the CI record, which would block all updates. In a real-world scenario, if an admin corrects a serial number on a server CI, this setting ensures that a subsequent discovery scan from a network probe does not revert the serial number to an older or incorrect value.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A practitioner preparing for the SNOW-CSA exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Database Administration and CMDB — This question tests Database Administration and CMDB — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Configure the 'Preserve manual changes' setting in the CMDB CI Class Manager. — Option C is correct because the 'Preserve manual changes' setting in the CMDB CI Class Manager ensures that when a CI attribute is manually updated by an administrator, subsequent discovery runs will not overwrite that specific attribute. This setting works at the class level and compares the source of the last update; if the source is 'Manual', the attribute is preserved even if the discovery tool reports a different value. This directly addresses the requirement to prevent discovery from overwriting manual changes without disabling discovery entirely.
What should I do if I get this SNOW-CSA question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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