The New CIS-Data Foundations Exam

[Jeff Benedict]

There's a foundational shift happening in the ServiceNow ecosystem. For years, we’ve focused on building amazing applications and workflows, but now, there's a renewed and critical focus on the quality of the data that underpins it all. ServiceNow is doubling down on this by releasing the Certified Implementation Specialist (CIS) - Data Foundations exam, and in a move that signals its importance, they've made it a prerequisite to many CIS certs and are offering the exam for free for a year.

Having recently gone through the process of studying for and taking the exam, I wanted to share my impression, my study approach, and the key topics you should know.

My Impression: More Than Just an Exam

My initial thought was, "Another certification?" But as I delved into the material, I realized this exam is different. It’s not about memorizing obscure tables; it’s about understanding the why behind data governance. It tackles the very issues that can make or break a ServiceNow implementation: data duplication, inconsistent lifecycle management, and the struggle to get meaningful insights from the CMDB.

This exam validates a fundamental skill set that every ServiceNow professional needs. It encourages a governance-first mindset, something I've championed before when discussing platform customizations. A healthy CMDB is the heart of a healthy platform, and this exam provides the blueprint for achieving that.

My Study Approach

Like any certification, the key is to have a structured plan. Here’s the approach that I found most effective:

1. Start with the Source: Begin with the official ServiceNow CIS-Data Foundations exam blueprint. This is your source of truth for what’s covered.
2. Embrace the Free Resources: As highlighted in the ServiceNow Community, the training and the exam itself are free. Don't skip the official coursework.
3. Create Your Own Study Notes: The most crucial part of my preparation was creating a list of key topics (I’ve shared mine below). The act of writing down and organizing the concepts helps solidify your understanding far more than just reading them.
4. Think "Big Picture": For every topic, ask yourself why it matters. Why is the IRE so critical? How do CSDM lifecycle stages impact other processes? Understanding the context will help you answer the situational questions on the exam. 

Key Topics to Master

Based on my study notes, here is a consolidated list of the essential concepts you need to know. I’ve grouped them into logical domains to help structure your learning.

1. The CSDM Framework
   The Common Service Data Model (CSDM) is the backbone. You must know it inside and out.

• CSDM v4 Lifecycle Fields: Understand the new Lifecycle Stage and Lifecycle Status fields and where they are located. Be clear on the definition of each and how they differ.
• Benefits & Approach: Be prepared to articulate the benefits of implementing CSDM and the high-level approach for aligning your data with the model. This includes working with stakeholders to map CIs correctly.

1. CMDB Health & Governance
   This is the core of the exam. Focus on the tools and processes for maintaining a healthy CMDB.

• CMDB Dashboards: Know how to configure them and what is required to get real value from the metrics. Understand the KPIs and CSFs that demonstrate CMDB health.
• Duplicate CIs: You must understand why duplicate records are created and know the different methods for remediation, including bulk remediation and the de-duplication wizard.
• Data Manager: Be familiar with how to set up and use Data Manager policies. Understand how to set filter conditions to manage the CMDB at scale.
• Remediation Playbook: Know the purpose of the remediation playbook in improving data quality.

1. CMDB Configuration & Data Management
   This domain covers the technical "how-to" of managing your CMDB structure and data.

• CI Class Manager: Know when and how to use it to manage the class hierarchy, tables, and attributes.
• Identification and Reconciliation Engine (IRE): This is critical. Understand the role of the IRE, how to look at the rules, and why it's the gatekeeper for data entering the CMDB.
• Multisource CMDB: Understand the concepts of managing data from multiple sources and how ServiceNow handles reconciliation.
• Relationship Management: Be familiar with managing the lifecycle of relationships between CIs.
• Group Sync: Understand how support, change, and "managed by" groups can be populated and used with CIs and services.

1. Lifecycle and Compliance

• Lifecycle Mapping: Know when to use this feature to map your CI lifecycles.
• Security and Compliance: Understand how to track security and regulatory compliance identifiers against CSDM objects.

Final Thoughts

The CIS-Data Foundations certification is now a required prerequisite for other CIS certs, highlighting its importance on the success of various applications.  By mastering these foundational concepts, you are not just preparing for an exam; you are setting yourself and your organization up for long-term success.

Have you taken the new CIS-Data Foundations exam? I'd love to hear about your experience and any study tips you might have in the comments below!