Implementing the
Common Service Data Model with
Data Content Manager
What is CSDM?
The Common Service Data Model (CSDM) is the ServiceNow® framework and prescriptive guidance for building out your Configuration Management Database (CMDB). CSDM identifies where to place service and application-related data within the CMDB.
CSDM is not an application or code you can install, nor is it a set of reports or a one-size-fits all guide. It is a framework and to implement it you need to adapt it into your environment and data models.
The is no need to purchase new modules or licenses to be able to use CSDM. ServiceNow will provide all CSDM-related objectives and CMDB core tables as part of the out-of-the-box CMDB, regardless of licensing.
Why Implement CSDM?
Current and future products from ServiceNow that use CMDB may require data prescribed by CSDM. In fact, ServiceNow quite clearly states that ServiceNow products are dependent on this data model.
Implementing CSDM will ensure easier upgrades and the ability to take advantage of new ServiceNow products. Furthermore, adherence to CSDM will also provide more accurate reporting and less overhead when maintaining services.
If implemented well, CSDM can be a major step in aligning IT and business strategy and lifting the maturity level of your Service Management operations. Overall, implementing CSDM will improve your Return on Investment to the ServiceNow platform.
How to Implement CSDM
ServiceNow recommends CSDM to be implemented in 4 stages: Crawl, Walk, Run and Fly. In each of these stages more elements are added to the data model.
In all the CSDM implementation stages it is important to enforce real life data alignment with the planned and agreed upon data models. If plans and actual data are not aligned, CSDM implementation is bound to fail, or at least become significantly more difficult.
To ensure data in aligned, Data-Audits are needed and this is where Data Content Manager helps.
Quick Results with Data Content Manager
Data Content Manager is the only tool available that can help you to ensure that you follow the CSDM or any other data model within your ServiceNow instance. With Data Content Manager, CSDM implementation can be accelerated considerably leading to quick and tangible results, and consequently cost savings and improved ROI .
1. Request a Free 1 month Trial
2. Get the Free CSDM Content Pack.
The Content Pack includes ready-made Blueprint Templates based on the CSDM for CMDB.
…Once both are installed…
3. Select & Adjust a CSDM Blueprint Template
Choose one of the templates available in the CSDM Content Pack and adjust it to fit your organization’s needs, if necessary. Once done, simply Publish your Blueprint to be able to Audit it.
4. Run an Audit and Create Remediation Tasks
Run an audit against the Blueprint you published in the previous step. The Audit will report deviations to the Blueprint and you can see exactly where the biggest issues are and what to do about them.
5. Turn CSDM Data Management into a Systematic Process
Use Data Content Manager to turn your CSDM Data Management acitivities into a systematic process. When your data is always in good shape, you can avoid the tedious clean up projects that are typically launched when the situation becomes intolerable.
On-Demand Webinar:
Accelerate your CSDM Implementation with DCM
In this webinar, we will explain:
- What is the Common Service Data Model (CSDM)
- Why is it important to every ServiceNow user
- How to implement the model in phases using the Data Content Manager application
The presenters are
- Mikko Juola, DCM Product Manager and
- Scott Lemm, CSDM Product Manager at ServiceNow
The webinar was presented live in November, 2019, and lasts about 40 minutes.
CSDM 3.0 – Crawling with DCM
Mark Bodman, Senior Product Manager at ServiceNow and DCM Product Manager Mikko Juola talk about CSDM 3.0 and getting it off the ground with DCM.
Tuesday, September 22 at 1:00 PM British Summer Time (8:00AM EST, 2:00PM CET)
CSDM 3.0 – Walk and Run with DCM
Mark Bodman, Senior Product Manager at ServiceNow and DCM Product Manager Mikko Juola talk about CSDM 3.0 and Walking & Running with DCM.
Tuesday, October 13 at 1:00 PM British Summer Time (8:00AM EST, 2:00PM CET)
CSDM 3.0 – Flying with DCM
Mark Bodman, Senior Product Manager at ServiceNow and DCM Product Manager Mikko Juola talk about CSDM 3.0, Flying with DCM and the Future.
Tuesday, November 3 at 1:00PM GMT (8:00AM EST, 2:00PM CET)
CSDM Compliance Made Easy
Are you planning to implement CSDM, but not sure where to start or if you are already finished?
CSDM with Incident Management
This article describes how CSDM can be used in Incident Management, how the Gift from CSDM lab works and how DCM can help to ensure that required data models are followed.
Connecting Discovery Data with CSDM
“You cannot have a successful CMDB implementation without discovery tools” could be a quote from several articles describing the success factors for a CMDB initiative. But how do these technical components relate to more abstract entities such as Business Applications and Services or Users and Groups responsible for maintaining them?
On-Demand Webinar: Accelerate your CSDM Implementation with DCM
This Webinar explains what the Common Service Data Model (CSDM) is, why it is important to every ServiceNow user and how to implement the model in phases using the Data Content Manager application.
Common Service Data Model – Stand up and Walk
In my previous blog, I discussed about learning to crawl according to the ServiceNow’s Common Service Data Model white paper version 2, published in October 2019. Now it’s time to stand up and walk. In the crawl phase, the model only focused on Business Applications...
Common Service Data Model – Learning to Crawl
This blog talks briefly about learning to crawl with ServiceNow’s Common Service Data Model v2.
ServiceNow CSDM Updated & Example of an Actual Service Portfolio Data Model
ServiceNow published some updates to their recent Common Service Data Model whitepaper. In this article I’m showing some more detailed data models for the same.
Get Started with Data Content Manager!
We are confident that after the Free Trial you will want to continue with DCM. However, if, for whatever reason, you are not convinced DCM will by far bring more value than it costs, you simply stop using it when the Free Trial ends. There are no strings attached!
