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- lack of visibility, transparency, using outdated technologies or security patterns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)
