Application Interface Governance (AIG) app

[Bruno De Graeve]

Why would we need Application Interface Governance ? Everyone understands that a network of trains is impossible to manage without good governance …
… but everyone thinks managing application interfaces in and with ServiceNow is easy.

Problem Statement

Currently, the ServiceNow Platform and Apps (e.g. APM, CMDB, ITBM) do not provide:

• a specific set of “Interface/Integration” data objects,
• a process,
• a lifecycle management,
• integration models/patterns

similar as to manage Business Applications,

There’s no ootb solution to govern Application Interfaces at an Enterprise Architecture level. You can only create a CI Relationship between 2 Business Applications but that doesn't allow you to describe why you integrate.

Risk - what happens if we do nothing ?

• Not using the Platform of Platforms, CMDB, ITOM and ITSM processes
• Scattered integration data
• Security and Data Compliance risks increase due to
• lack of visibility, transparency, using outdated technologies or security patterns
• Customer Perception impact: they expect us to think Enterprise-minded
• No Auditing, Reporting capabilities at hand
• No holistic view of the world around ServiceNow
• Give competitors like LeanIX more reasons to exist

Proposed solution (as part of APM)

Provide an Application Interface Governance (AIG) [scoped application] solution that:

• Fills the gaps of ServiceNow APM, CMDB and CSDM
• Integrates tightly with existing ServiceNow functions
• ITSM (I/P/C/Req)
• ITOM (Event, Service Mapping)
• ITBM (Demands/Features/Stories/Defects)
• Provides single point to govern any aspect of an Application Interface
• Business Requirements
• Functional Design
• Security and Compliance
• Stakeholders, (key) Contacts
• Link to Flows, Scheduled Jobs, Data Imports/Exports
• Monitor your Interfaces using ITOM
• Document which Data (Information) Objects are used by your Interface, how the Transformation should take place and if you want or require: document the Field Mappings on the NOW platform.

Have a look at attached deck to have an idea how the solution could look like and how it already has been build as a custom scoped app.

Your feedback is more than welcome ! Do you miss such an app on our platform as well ?

Vote for this idea (the Idea also contains a detailed deck with many screenshots)