CMDB | CMDB ServiceNow | Is Your CMDB in ServiceNow Lying to You? Here’s How to Fix It

[BillMartin]

If you're managing a CMDB in ServiceNow, it might not be as accurate as you think. Just this month, I audited three enterprise CMDBs. All three were riddled with issues, ghost servers still marked active, apps assigned to employees who left years ago, and dependencies pointing to nowhere.

The good news? These problems are fixable. Your ServiceNow CMDB can be reliable and accurate if you address three critical data integrity mistakes.

I walk through all three in detail in my latest YouTube video.

watch it here 

Mistake 1: Poor Discovery Rules

This one’s common. Many teams configure ServiceNow Discovery once and leave it running. Over time, credentials expire, IP ranges change, and MID servers get neglected. The result? A CMDB full of incomplete or outdated records.

The fix is simple but often overlooked: audit your MID servers regularly, rotate credentials, and set up targeted discovery schedules. Just doing this can eliminate 30% of bad data in some environments.

Mistake 2: Weak Data Validation

If you’re not validating what enters your CMDB, you’re letting in noise. Duplicate records, missing fields, inconsistent formats, they all erode trust in your data.

Make validation part of your process. Add strong rules to your CI forms, normalize incoming data, and schedule regular data quality checks. I’ve shared the actual templates I use with clients inside the member section of my channel for those who want a ready-made solution.

Mistake 3: Missing or Broken CI Relationships

A healthy CMDB depends on healthy relationships. When applications aren’t linked to the right servers or dependencies are outdated, your impact analysis won’t hold up.

Use relationship rules and the CI dependency map to visualize and maintain accurate links between components. For critical services, Service Mapping can help automate relationship discovery and reduce manual errors.

Want to See These Fixes in Action?

This summary just scratches the surface. In the video, I explain each of these mistakes in depth and show you how to fix them step by step. If you're maintaining a CMDB ServiceNow environment, it's worth watching.

Ready to Go Deeper?

If you're working toward certification, managing a real-world CMDB, or just want to keep learning, my channel membership includes:

• Early access to all ServiceNow CMDB tutorials

• Downloadable templates, checklists, and scripts

• Monthly live Q&A sessions for direct support

• A private peer community for ServiceNow professionals

It’s a great way to stay current and solve your specific CMDB challenges with guidance.

Next week, I’m covering ServiceNow Performance Analytics best practices, members will get early access and bonus configuration files.

If you’ve faced any of these CMDB issues or have your own lessons learned, share them in the comments. Let’s start a conversation.

[AJ-TechTrek]

This is nice explanation @BillMartin  and I am completely agreed with you, Which I am also following.

Thanks

AJ- TechTrek with AJ

[BillMartin · Accepted solution]

Appreciate it, glad we're aligned on this approach and that it's working well for you too!.

Best,

Bill