The Ultimate CMDB Guide for ServiceNow

[AverellP]

Our ServiceNow Partner Fruition Partner has published a real great 80+ pages document a few days ago.

This ebook is intended to readers who are in the process or will be in the process of replacing the current legacy ITSM solution by ServiceNow or are simply implementing ServiceNow and need to build a CMDB. ServiceNow is a vast and very flexible product which is often not the case of legacy solutions. Implementing ServiceNow is therefore a great opportunity to build a tailored cut CMDB that perfectly fits your needs. In addition to this, ServiceNow has unprecedented level of integration with all processes, ITIL, IT or non-IT. Vast also means that to make sure you start on the right track, you need guidance and that is what this ebook is intended to be.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter 1 - Introduction 3

• Configuration Management as per ITIL copy 5
• Asset Management 6
• CMS vs. CMDB 8

Chapter 2 - Implementation 9

• How to proceed 10
• Configuration Model 14
• Pitfalls 39 Integration with CMDBs/MDRs 41
• ServiceNow Discovery 44
• ServiceNow Service Mapping 46

Chapter 3 - Processes 49

• Roles and Responsibilities 52
• Assets and CI lifecycle 56
• Use Cases 58

Chapter 4 - ServiceNow CMDB and asset functionalities 64

• CMDB Health 65
• Dependency View 71
• Change Management 74

Glossary 80

This is really a great and useful document! You can find it here: Fruition Partners | The Ultimate CMDB Guide for ServiceNow

Have fun and success!

Averell

[DLHill · Accepted solution]

Hi

This one is too big to be an attachment but is the better version IMHO:

The Ultimate CMDB Guide for ServiceNow - Fruition PDF

The other file is small enough to be attached.

regards

Debbie

[DLHill · Accepted solution]

Hi

This one is too big to be an attachment but is the better version IMHO:

The Ultimate CMDB Guide for ServiceNow - Fruition PDF

The other file is small enough to be attached.

regards

Debbie

[Nafa_Immoune]

Hello DLHill,

please share the Doc with me 🙂

[DLHill]

Hi which document didn't work for you?

Debbie

[Jodi Hartman1]

Wouldn't it be amazing if someone or some company < hint, hint ;D > would update Fruition's Partner's incredible original doc to reflect the current day and CSDM v4.0??  Why yes, it would be amazing!!

[Michael Hansen · Accepted solution]

I'm so excited to see that this classic by my former colleague at Fruition Partners, Loïc Horisberger, is still in demand.  

We've published a few more books on the CMDB since this one came out: 

1. The Service Graph CMDB for Dummies (2026) ServiceNow Edition by Wiley and Sons, 68 pages, by Michael Hansen.  This one's targeted at anyone with influence on their organization's IT strategy, especially those who directly touch their technology data.  We want you to think of the CMDB as a Service Graph and emphasize key relationships and dependencies instead of chasing billions of configuration settings.
2. The CMDB 101 Primer (2022) 24 pages by Hansen, Brounstein, Wolfe et al.  --  This well-designed and concise guide is targeted at practitioners. It was written before our shift to the Service Graph but has some fantastic visuals.
3. CSDM 5 Information Management Implementation Guide 1.0 (2026), 57 pages, by Kristine Naaes is aimed at architects.  Kristine was a former platform owner at DNB--the Norweigan National Bank--and her book is  really rich in the details that make auditors and compliance officers lives easier.  This one's been pulled 5,000 times since it was posted in June.

I would also recommend the CMDB Imperative (2009) by Carlos Casanova and CMDB Integration 3rd Edition (2021) by Geradus Blokdyk. 

We're working on a channel to post more long-form content when you (or your LLM) need something more substantial and detailed than a sales brochure or first call deck.  I'll post it here when it's ready.

Also check out:  Infinite: How Visionary Leaders Transform Today's Business into AI-Forward Companies (2026) by Brian Solis and Dave Wright (310 pages).  In this book, ServiceNow  innovation officers take on how AI-first companies will look fundamentally different that the companies of the last 50 years.