LDAP/AD Imports and IRE — Understanding the Separation<!-- /*NS Branding Styles*/ --> .ns-kb-css-body-editor-container { p { font-size: 12pt; font-family: Lato; color: var(--now-color--text-primary, #000000); } span { font-size: 12pt; font-family: Lato; color: var(--now-color--text-primary, #000000); } h2 { font-size: 24pt; font-family: Lato; color: var(--now-color--text-primary, black); } h3 { font-size: 18pt; font-family: Lato; color: var(--now-color--text-primary, black); } h4 { font-size: 14pt; font-family: Lato; color: var(--now-color--text-primary, black); } a { font-size: 12pt; font-family: Lato; color: var(--now-color--link-primary, #00718F); } a:hover { font-size: 12pt; color: var(--now-color--link-primary, #024F69); } a:target { font-size: 12pt; color: var(--now-color--link-primary, #032D42); } a:visited { font-size: 12pt; color: var(--now-color--link-primary, #00718f); } ul { font-size: 12pt; font-family: Lato; } li { font-size: 12pt; font-family: Lato; } img { display: ; max-width: ; width: ; height: ; } } The ServiceNow Docs page for Service Graph Connectors references IRE (Identification and Reconciliation Engine) early in its content, which can create confusion. If your use case involves LDAP/Active Directory imports rather than Service Graph or Discovery, IRE is not part of that flow unless you explicitly build it in. Details: Standard LDAP and AD imports via Transform Maps write directly to the target table (typically sys_user) using transform map logic. IRE is not invoked in this code path. The two mechanisms operate independently. IRE is triggered by Service Graph Connector activity or Discovery-like processes — not by import sets or transform maps alone. If you see IRE referenced in the context of Service Graph Connectors documentation, that context does not apply to LDAP integration scenarios. Guidance: For configuring LDAP integration, refer to KB0961314 – How to configure LDAP integration for ServiceNow as the primary reference. If IRE behavior is needed for LDAP-sourced data (e.g., for deduplication or reconciliation), it must be manually implemented — it will not activate automatically as part of the standard LDAP import flow. Key Takeaway Import MethodGoes Through IRE?LDAP/AD via Transform MapNo (writes directly to target table)Service Graph ConnectorYesDiscoveryYesLDAP with manual IRE configOnly if explicitly implemented