The pace of change and innovation continues to pick up at ServiceNow. Major features that we once would have saved for family releases, now get dropped quarterly or even monthly on the ServiceNow Store. It’s our job to keep you informed!
We are pleased to announce the following innovations in the Q4 and November store release for ITOM Visibility.
ServiceNow is increasing the power of our user experience for IT operations by providing quick access to the Unified Map view (via a redirect to the CMDB workspace) from the Service Mapping Workspace available via the latest version Service Mapping Plus on the ServiceNow Store. This enhancement will allow operators to seamlessly integrate crucial business and technical contexts into a single, intuitive interface. The Unified Map view is designed to empower organizations with a holistic understanding of their IT landscape, blending the detailed insights of service maps with the technical intricacies of dependency views.
At the heart of this innovation is the goal of making complex IT structures more comprehensible and manageable. With the Unified Map, users gain unparalleled visibility into how different IT services interact and depend on each other. This clarity is vital for decision-makers and IT professionals, enabling them to identify critical connections and dependencies that impact business services. The ability to view both business processes and underlying IT infrastructure in one unified perspective aids in quicker, more informed decision-making, enhancing operational efficiency and agility.
Moreover, the Unified Map view simplifies the navigation of IT environments, making it easier to track and manage IT changes. Consolidating service maps and dependency views reduces the time and effort spent toggling between different views to understand the IT landscape. This consolidation not only saves valuable time but also reduces the risk of overlooking crucial details, leading to more accurate and effective IT management.
For businesses, the tangible benefits of this feature are manifold. Enhanced visibility into IT services and dependencies translates into better risk management, as organizations can proactively identify and address potential issues before they escalate. Improved understanding of the IT infrastructure also facilitates more efficient resource allocation, ensuring that IT investments are aligned with business priorities. Furthermore, the streamlined navigation and intuitive interface of the Unified Map view improve user experience, boosting productivity and enabling IT teams to focus on strategic initiatives rather than getting bogged down in complex navigational tasks.
In summary, being able to quickly access the CMDB Workspace and ServiceNow's Unified Map from the Service Mapping Workspace is more than just a feature update; it's a strategic direction that aligns IT operations with business needs. It empowers organizations to gain a comprehensive understanding of their IT environment, leading to smarter decisions, enhanced efficiency, and ultimately, a stronger alignment between IT and business objectives.
Requirements:
- Service Mapping Plus v1.10
- ServiceNow Family Vancouver release (Patch 3) or later
- CMDB Workspace v5
If the unified map view is a value add for organizations based on traditional data center technology, it is critical for organizations moving fast and hoping not to break things, including those embracing cloud native environment. In addition to the announcement last release of a Service Graph Connector for Open Telemetry , we are proud to announce the reintroduction of ServiceNow's CNO (Cloud Native Operations). CNO 2.0 marks a significant enhancement in the Kubernetes discovery experience. This revamped feature is especially tailored for organizations seeking a more flexible and efficient approach to tor discover their Kubernetes-based application infrastructure. The new CNO is designed to provide a comprehensive and customizable discovery process, enabling companies to choose between full discovery or a differential, continuous discovery based on their specific needs.
The innovative lightweight architecture of the new CNO minimizes resource consumption, making it an efficient solution for IT operations. Its user-friendly interface, equipped with dedicated troubleshooting actions and links, significantly enhances the overall user experience and productivity. This is particularly beneficial for businesses operating in cloud-native environments, where regulations often necessitate clear visibility and control over such environments. The CNO's ability to offer detailed insights into Kubernetes environments, paired with its modern UI, makes it an ideal tool for companies seeking both flexibility and ease of use in their IT operations.
Technical aspects of the CNO's deployment include the requirement of the Discovery Admin role for IT users and compatibility with the 'n - 2' family release. The CNO operates using an 'informer' mechanism, a component within Kubernetes applications that monitors changes within a cluster, ensuring real-time updates and responses. The informer library, running within a Kubernetes cluster, connects to an API server to subscribe for updates, efficiently monitoring and relaying information back to the ServiceNow instance. Companies can install the CNO through a streamlined process, involving namespace creation, credential management, and out-of-the-box informer image installation from ServiceNow's enterprise Docker app repository. This easy installation, combined with the CNO's continuous discovery feature, ensures that Kubernetes resources are always up-to-date and visible on the dashboard, providing companies with the necessary tools to effectively manage and monitor their Kubernetes-based infrastructure with reduced effort and increased efficiency.
Requirements:
- Cloud Native Operations v3.3
- Agent Client Collector for Visibility v3.4
- Discovery and Service Mapping Patterns v1.10
The November store release also marks the release or update of several minor features and enhancements. These include:
- Enhancements to Kubernetes Explorer Dashboards: This upgrade, part of the cloud operations workspace enhancement, significantly improves user experience. It offers a more standardized view when navigating through Kubernetes resources. Users can now access detailed information on specific Kubernetes resources, including dependency views and various tabs like key values and associated tags, with fewer clicks. This feature enhances the efficiency of navigating and managing Kubernetes clusters. Get this feature with Cloud Operations Workspace v1.5
- SBOM Download Feature: A notable enhancement is the introduction of a direct download button for Software Bill of Materials (SBOM) from the docker image view. This feature streamlines the process for users who need to leverage SBOMs, making it easier and more efficient to obtain critical information about software installations within containers.
- Service Mapping Workspace Improvement: The upgrade in the service mapping workspace now differentiates between unmapped servers that are underutilized (having weak traffic) and those that are unmapped but have an associated candidate ID. This distinction allows users to quickly identify servers that can be shut down to reduce operating costs and improve efficiency. This enhancement not only streamlines operational processes but also contributes to cost-saving measures. Get the enhancement with Service Mapping Plus v1.10
These enhancements reflect a focus on improving user experience, operational efficiency, and cost-effectiveness in managing cloud-native environments and Kubernetes resources.
Stay tuned for some exciting news and features coming in the Washington release in the first quarter of 2024.
