Will an alm_asset record always have a corresponding cmdb_ci record?

[SB87]

I was told by a colleague the following:

1. cmdb_ci records can be standalone and might not have a corresponding alm_asset record (i.e. if the configuration item is not an asset)
2. All asset records (every record in the alm_asset table) will have a corresponding cmdb_ci record 

Is the above statements correct?

[p_tishberg · Accepted solution]

The short answer is no.

Here are two exceptions to the "rule" your colleague has stated:

Software License Entitlements: They have an asset (Display Name is the entitlement for the asset and the class is Software Entitlement) but they have NO corresponding CI. (They are not "operational and subject to change”)

Virtual Clients (think VM images acting like virtual machines, whether hosts or clients). They are associated in a dependency relationship with the physical server hosting them (like an ESX host server). Still, they DO NOT have an asset record (the VMs) that corresponds to a CI record for those "Virtual Assets".

This on the base level is clear and understood, however, many organizations overthink this or attempt to muddle those waters when it comes to matching the AMDB and the CMDB.

I suggest not applying overarching blanket statements to these various classes and their relationships.  However, clearly define for your organization what is what and then codify it with process, and governance and occasionally revisit it; at least to figure out if the same logic is still applicable today based on the firms’ needs and the information being maintained for reporting and ongoing understanding for the use of the AMDB and CMDB.

One additional note to the comment from JaeggerLegane shown below:

BY Definition: A CONSUMABLE SHOULD NOT BE VIEWED AS AN ASSET (Per se), it is a consumable with its properties unlike a Software or a Hardware asset which could potentially have a matching CI, Consumables are not asset tracked (no asset tag) and are only tracked items as in a bulk inventory manner (ie: a computer mouse -  there will be 20 in a stockroom and the only measure of usage is a decrease in the count or an increase at a certain depletion point that you determine to keep in stock (on hand) for a replaceable item that is not considered an asset.

[JaeggerLegane]

Hello Thisberg,

Regarding the last point:
Which definition and according to who should it not be viewed as an asset? Can you provide an official ServiceNow reference?
Nowhere in the HAM course documentation or in the product documentation, is this stated.

In the NOW HAM materials, the following definitions are provided:

"An asset is anything that is capable of being owned or controlled to produce value and that is held to have positive economic value (e.g., hardware, software licenses, data, buildings, etc.)."

"A consumable asset is one that is purchased in quantity and distributed when requested. "

In the official product documentation, it is also categorized as a"consumable asset".

References:

https://nowlearning.servicenow.com/lxp/en/pages/learning-course?id=learning_course&course_id=70d5b3b...

https://docs.servicenow.com/bundle/vancouver-it-asset-management/page/product/procurement/concept/c_...