Improving cyber resilience with the ServiceNow CMDB

[Robert Maxwell]

Introduction

Cyber resilience has become a critical factor for organisations both large and small. With the prevalence of realised cyber threats such as data breaches, ransomware attacks, and phishing, organisations need to ensure that they can withstand and recover from these events.

The ServiceNow CMDB (Configuration Management Database) can be an effective tool, that when implemented and maintained, can help organisations to achieve cyber resilience by providing a comprehensive view of their IT infrastructure.

In this article, I will explore how the ServiceNow CMDB can be used to enhance cyber resiliency and cover some leading practices that can be adopted to ensure an organisation is cyber resilient.

Cyber Resilience

Cyber resilience refers to an organisation's ability to withstand and recover from cyber threats and, if unmitigated, actual security incidents. It comprises a combination of security measures aimed at preventing, detecting, responding to, and recovering from attacks.

To be cyber resilient requires an organisation to have robust cybersecurity measures in place, as well as processes and procedures for dealing with incident response and business continuity in the event of an incident occurring.

It also involves regular testing and review of cyber resilience measures to ensure their effectiveness and the ability to adapt to evolving threats.

Understanding the ServiceNow CMDB

ServiceNow’s CMDB is a repository that stores information about an organisation's IT assets and infrastructure. It provides a comprehensive view of the relationships between these assets, enabling organisations to better understand their IT environment and make informed decisions.

The information stored in a CMDB can include hardware and software assets, network devices, and business services. It also includes information about the relationships between these assets, and hopefully service maps.

One of the key benefits of leveraging a CMDB for cyber resilience is its ability to provide that complete view of an organisation's IT footprint. This enables identification of potential vulnerabilities and risks in an IT environment and opportunities to take proactive measures to address any that exist. For example, if an organisation discovers that a particular software application is vulnerable to a known security flaw or weakness, it can use the CMDB to quickly identify all instances of that application and take immediate action to patch or update them.

Another benefit of using the ServiceNow CMDB for cyber resilience is its role in incident response and management. When a security incident occurs, the CMDB can provide critical information about the affected assets, including their location, configuration, dependencies and crucially what they might support upstream. This information can help organisations to quickly isolate and contain the incident, minimising impact on their operations.

Enhancing cyber resilience with the ServiceNow CMDB

ServiceNow CMDB can enhance an organisation's cyber resilience in several ways, including:

• Identifying potential vulnerabilities and risks:
  A complete ServiceNow CMDB can provide a comprehensive view of an organisation's IT environment, allowing them to identify potential vulnerabilities and risks. Organisations can use this information to prioritise their security efforts and take proactive measures to address potential threats before they become major issues.
• Incident response and management:
  The CMDB should play a critical role in incident response and management. When a security incident occurs, organisations can use the CMDB to quickly identify the affected assets and their dependencies, allowing them to isolate and contain the incident before it spreads. This can minimise the impact on operations, reduce downtime and importantly any reputational or financial exposure.
• Recovery and continuity:
  A ServiceNow CMDB can also help in recovery and continuity after a security incident. By providing a complete view of their IT assets and infrastructure, organisations can quickly identify the affected assets and prioritise their recovery efforts. This can help organisations to get back to normal operations more quickly, again minimising the impact of an incident on their business.

To make the most of a ServiceNow CMDB for cyber resilience, consider adopting practices such as:

• Regularly update the CMDB:
  A CMDB is only as effective as the data that is stored in it.
  Ensure that the CMDB is constantly updated with accurate and complete data to ensure that a complete view of the IT environment exists.
• Integrate with other security tools and systems:
  Multi-source CMDBs can provide a holistic security picture. This can help identify potential threats more quickly and respond to them more effectively.
• Train staff on how to use the CMDB effectively:
  Include training on how to update the CMDB, how to use it for incident response, and how to use it for recovery and continuity.
• Regularly review and test cyber resilience measures:
  Include regular vulnerability scans, penetration testing, and tabletop exercises to simulate security incidents. Regular testing can identify potential weaknesses in cyber resilience measures. Proactive beats Reactive every day of the week.

Conclusion

In closing, the ServiceNow CMDB can be an effective asset for an organisation to enhance their cyber resilience. By adopting leading practices and investing in cyber resilience measures such as a complete, compliant, and correct CMDB is essential for organisations to protect themselves in today's evolving threat landscape.

Cross-posted on my personal website @ https://www.rjmaxwell.au/improving-cyber-resilience-with-the-servicenow-cmdb/