Need to Build a CMDB for my project

[abhilash M H]

Hi All,

I received a Greenfiled project where I need to start building a CMDB from scratch and Now we are in assessment phase. I would like to understand what is the first step to start for ServiceNow discovery and CMDB.

I want to understand -

1. How to start asking questions with business what is their requirement for this do we have any template.

2. Whom and all I should include in this requirement gathering meetings. 

[Rafael Batistot · Accepted solution]

Hi @abhilash M H  

Kickoff Approach for ServiceNow CMDB + Discovery

1. First Steps

• Clarify business objectives (compliance, change/incident impact, cost visibility).
• Define scope (prod/non-prod, cloud, infra, apps).
• Assess current maturity (what data exists today).

2. Key Questions for Business

• Drivers: Why CMDB, what success looks like.
• Scope: Which systems/environments to include first.
• Ownership: Who owns infra, apps, credentials.
• Data quality: Existing data sources, naming standards.
• Security: Firewall restrictions, credential vaults.

3. People to Involve

• Business: Service owners, app owners, process owners.
• Technical: Infra, cloud, network, DB/middleware teams.
• Security: IAM, firewall/security teams.
• Platform: ServiceNow/CMDB architects, admins.

4. Sequence

1. Kickoff workshop (vision, outcomes).
2. Scope workshop (infra, apps, cloud).
3. Security/credentials workshop.
4. Governance workshop (data quality, ownership).
5. Prioritize MVP (servers + critical apps, expand later).

Start small (Tier 1 CIs + critical apps), show value, then scale.

[Ajay_Chavan · Accepted solution]

Please refer to the attached document and see if it can be helpful.

[Rafael Batistot · Accepted solution]

Hi @abhilash M H  

Kickoff Approach for ServiceNow CMDB + Discovery

1. First Steps

• Clarify business objectives (compliance, change/incident impact, cost visibility).
• Define scope (prod/non-prod, cloud, infra, apps).
• Assess current maturity (what data exists today).

2. Key Questions for Business

• Drivers: Why CMDB, what success looks like.
• Scope: Which systems/environments to include first.
• Ownership: Who owns infra, apps, credentials.
• Data quality: Existing data sources, naming standards.
• Security: Firewall restrictions, credential vaults.

3. People to Involve

• Business: Service owners, app owners, process owners.
• Technical: Infra, cloud, network, DB/middleware teams.
• Security: IAM, firewall/security teams.
• Platform: ServiceNow/CMDB architects, admins.

4. Sequence

1. Kickoff workshop (vision, outcomes).
2. Scope workshop (infra, apps, cloud).
3. Security/credentials workshop.
4. Governance workshop (data quality, ownership).
5. Prioritize MVP (servers + critical apps, expand later).

Start small (Tier 1 CIs + critical apps), show value, then scale.

[Ajay_Chavan · Accepted solution]

Please refer to the attached document and see if it can be helpful.

[Bhuvan · Accepted solution]

@abhilash M H  

Try to use Now Create and you will get guidance for implementation of almost all ServiceNow modules. It would provide information on requirement gathering questionnaires, workshop materials, implementation best practices and much more.

https://learning.servicenow.com/nowcreate/en/pages/nc-search?id=search&spa=1&q=CMDB&disableAllSugges...

If this helped to answer your query, please mark it helpful & accept the solution.

Thanks,

Bhuvan