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 is aligned, Data-Audits are needed and this is where Data Content Manager helps.
CSDM 3.0 Webinar Series
In the second half of 2020, we presented a series of Webinars around CSDM 3.0 together with ServiceNow. We had the pleasure to co-host the series with Mark Bodman, Senior Product Manager for CSDM at ServiceNow. Mark explained CSDM 3.0 from ServiceNow’s point of view and Mikko Juola, Product Manager for DCM at Qualdatrix, gave concrete examples of how Data Content Manager can be used to accelerate CSDM Implementation and ensure quick results.
Read more about some of the learnings here. So far over 1000 people have registered. The entire series is available online – please feel free to view at your convenience!
CSDM 3.0 - Crawling with DCM
Presented on September 22, 2020. Click to View On-Demand!
CSDM 3.0 - Walk & Run with DCM
Presented on October 13, 2020. Click to View On-Demand!
CSDM 3.0 - Flying with DCM
Presented on November 3rd, 2020. Click to View On-Demand.
Implement CSDM with DCM for Quick Results
Data Content Manager is the best 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
The Free Trial is fully functional and the only limitation is that it cannot be deployed into a production instance.
2. Get the Free CSDM Content Pack.
The Content Pack includes ready-made Blueprint Templates and Dashboards for CSDM.
…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. 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 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.
CSDM Related Content & Videos
When is the Right Time for DCM?
When we interact with our clients and prospects, we are often asked about the right time to begin using Data Content Manager. We believe the correct answer is, without a doubt: Now.
The 2 Million Euro Incident
Example from real life: A seemingly regular and insignificant server failure escalated into a Major Incident. The difference between believing and knowing your data is good was worth 2 Million Euros.
ServiceNow CSDM: Evolution & CSDM Examples
Read about evolution of the CSDM framework and see practical CSDM examples of Service Portfolio Data Models, based on our experiences.
CSDM 3.0 Webinar Series – Thoughts & Learnings
Some afterthoughts from a series of 3 popular webinars on CSDM 3.0 and Data Content Manager – where to next in your CSDM journey?
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.
Available On-Demand!
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.
Now Available On-Demand
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.
Now Available On-Demand!
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.
Three Perspectives to Common Services Data Model
In this article I will go through the “ITSM / ServiceNow example” from that whitepaper and introduce an alternative version. And discuss about the common data model drawn from three different perspectives.
ServiceNow Released “Common Services Data Model”
ServiceNow has finally released their view on the “common services data model”.
Defining Data Ownership
In one of the previous posts we briefly described ?5 steps for better data quality? and in this article I?m going to dig in to the second step ?Secure ownership? in more detail.