How do I model and manage my services with the Common

Services Data Model?

Questions addressed: What is the Common Services Data Model (CSDM)?

The Common Service Data Model (CSDM) is the ServiceNow® framework and prescriptive guidance for building out your
Page 1: CMDB. CSDM identifies where to place service and application-related data within the CMDB.

• What is the
Common Services CSDM is: CSDM is NOT:
Data Model • A shared set of service-related definitions across products • A process or implementation guide for ITSM, SPM, APM,
(CSDM)? • A best practice for CMDB data modeling and data EM, or other products
• Why should I follow management • A code to install
CSDM? • Guidance for using out-of-the-box CMDB core tables • A SKU or product that you can purchase
• Do I need to • Guidance on service modeling and mapping • An automatic fix for data models in past implementations
purchase a new
module or product
to use CSDM? Why should I follow CSDM? Do I need to purchase a new module or product
to use CSDM?
Page 2: Current and future products from ServiceNow that use the CMDB
may require data prescribed by CSDM. Adopting CSDM will ensure: No. ServiceNow will provide all CSDM-related
• How do I get started objectives and CMDB core tables as part of the
• The ability to take advantage of new ServiceNow products
with CSDM? out-of-the-box CMDB, regardless of licensing.
• Easier upgrades
Page 3:
• That ServiceNow products work better together with common
• How do I migrate service definitions across the product portfolio
CSDM-related data
to the
Adherence to CSDM will also provide:
recommended
tables? • Transparent service costing and more accurate reporting
• Less overhead when maintaining services

1 © 2021 ServiceNow, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

How do I model and manage my services with the CSDM? (Cont.)
How do I get started with CSDM?
ServiceNow does not recommend trying to implement all elements of the CSDM at once. Instead, implement CSDM in a staged manner:
Foundation Crawl Walk Run Fly
Make sure you have the Focus on application tables Address the management Incorporate business Build out the remaining
foundational information to build out the minimum and support of deployed services to understand the elements of CSDM to tie the
needed to get accurate information required for applications and impact technology can technology and business
reports. incident, problem, and infrastructure. have on the business. services to your business
change management. capabilities.

Related tables
• Org. • CMDB • Business application • Technical services • Business service portfolio • Business capability
structure group • Application service • Technical service offering • Business service • Information object
• Location • Product • Application • Dynamic CI group • Business service offering • Request catalog
• Groups models
• Users • Contracts

• Base tables are populated
and accurate.
• Referential data is ready to
align with future reporting
requirements.
• Early alignment with
reporting requirements are
needed to expedite the
data model value
realization.
Outcomes
• Back-end data is cleaned • You have a complete • The key CSDM sections are • You have consistent service
up and moved to the operational view of complete. cost reporting for business
correct tables. technical services. • Cost reporting is available capabilities.
• The minimum CMDB • You gain back-end service for business applications. • You have APM
requirements for ITSM are reporting. • Cross-product dependency rationalization of business
met. • You can manage the requirements are satisfied. applications and business
• You have the foundation infrastructure using service services.
for Application Portfolio offerings rather than • You can identify and
Management (APM). metadata. manage sensitive or critical
• You can use Technology • You can request service information with information
Portfolio Management offerings within the catalog. objects.
(TPM).
2 © 2021 ServiceNow, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
How do I model and manage my services with the CSDM? (Cont.)
How do I migrate CSDM-related data to the recommended tables?
Follow these steps to migrate data from custom and nonconforming tables:

Back up your data. Perform attribute Identify and mitigate Refactor attributes. Migrate data.
1 2 mapping.
3 dependencies.
4 5
• Export all the • Use attribute • Migrate existing
data in the table • Identify what • Run the Table mapping to keep CIs.
to Excel. tables your data Dependency the necessary • Mitigate the table
will migrate to. Script. custom attributes dependencies.
• Determine if the • Use the output to on the necessary
tables. • Reload data from
destination table identify and the export as
has your required mitigate • Perform the needed.
attributes referenced documented
available out o – dependencies refactor efforts.
the box.

Related resources
• Community – CSDM 3.0 White Paper

• NowLearning – Common Service Data Model (CSDM) 3.0 Fundamentals

• Success Checklist – Discover and map your service assets

• Success Playbook – Populate and maintain your CMDB with Discovery If you have any questions on this
topic or you would like to be a
• Success Quick Answer – How can I assess the health of my CMDB? contributor to future ServiceNow best
practice content, please contact us.
• Common Service Data Model Community Forum

3 © 2021 ServiceNow, Inc. All Rights Reserved.