--- sourceDocument: Australia ServiceNow AI Platform Capabilities sourceDocumentLink: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/australia/servicenow-platform Release : - australia ft:locale : - en-US ft:publication_title : - Australia ServiceNow AI Platform Capabilities ft:clusterId : - platcap bundleId : - platcap workflow : - Platform --- # Configuration Management # Configuration Management {#ariaid-title1} Release version: Australia Updated March 12, 2026 ![](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ico-clock) 2 minutes to read Summarize ![AI sparkle icon](https://servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ai-sparkle-icon) Summarized using AI This content was generated using new OpenAI-powered functionality. Results are provided on an as is basis and are not guaranteed to be accurate or complete. ## Summary of Configuration Management The Configuration Management Database (CMDB) application in ServiceNow provides a centralized and comprehensive view of your IT environment by storing detailed information about your organization's infrastructure and its configuration. This enables you to monitor your network effectively, improve stability, and optimize performance. Show full answer Show less The CMDB supports various ServiceNow applications and aligns with the Common Service Data Model (CSDM) to ensure consistent data modeling across the ServiceNow AI Platform. ## Key Features * **Configuration Management Database (CMDB):** Models your infrastructure by representing configuration items (CIs) such as computers, servers, routers, databases, and services. It helps analyze trends, reduce incidents, and monitor CI relationships for better management. * **Common Service Data Model (CSDM):** Provides standardized terminology and definitions to ensure consistent and clear data mapping across CMDB tables, supporting all ServiceNow products. * **Application Services:** Enables creation and management of application services, which are collections of interconnected applications and hosts delivering business services (e.g., internal email systems). These are stored and managed within the CMDB. * **Data Integration:** Facilitates importing and integrating third-party data into the CMDB using Service Graph connectors. This includes process parameters and conversions to maintain data integrity through Identification and Reconciliation processes. ## Customer Benefits * Gain full visibility into your IT infrastructure and its configuration. * Improve operational stability and performance by monitoring CI relationships and trends. * Leverage standardized data models (CSDM) for consistent data usage across ServiceNow applications. * Maintain CMDB integrity when integrating external data sources, ensuring reliable and accurate information. * Represent complex application services to better understand and manage business-critical services. ## Additional Resources For further assistance, customers can access ServiceNow's white papers on CMDB design and capabilities, community posts explaining the CMDB concept, known error articles via the Known Error Portal, and direct Customer Service and Support channels. The Configuration Management Database (CMDB) application is a centralized source that gives you full visibility into your IT environment. By storing information about your organization's infrastructure and how it is configured, this system allows you to monitor your network and help improve stability and best performance. Other ServiceNow® applications enhance the effectiveness of the CMDB application or closely overlap to enable needed business goals. ## Overview of CMDB {#manage-cmdb__section_akn_tzm_pwb} |-|-|-| | [Configuration Management CMDB (CMDB) Build, adjust, and monitor representations of your business infrastructure to support ServiceNow® products and services.](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/6C4Nz0QKMHsA4ESAmJnmcw "Use the ServiceNow Configuration Management Database (CMDB) application to build logical representations of assets, services, and the relationships between them that comprise the infrastructure of your organization. Details about these components are stored in the CMDB as configuration items (CIs) which you can use to monitor the infrastructure, helping ensure integrity, stability, and continuous service operation.") | [Common Service Data Model (CSDM) Get consistent modeling in the CMDB, with standardized data terminology that can be used across the entire ServiceNow AI Platform.](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/2pQ2c6JvoEWro6~7xSV9pQ "The CSDM is the data model that admins should follow when they set up ServiceNow products and applications. The standards for defining configuration items (CIs) and relationships between CIs in the CMDB help to promote that your data resides in the appropriate CMDB tables. The result is maximum value from ServiceNow AI Platform applications.") | [Application Services Create application services CIs from devices and applications that business units and different products can use.](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/icjOdwhjFoybNcN98xydAQ "Understand service instances (application services), learn about different application service types and how multiple ServiceNow business units and products use them.") | | [Data integration Use Service Graph and associated tools to populate the CMDB with data from third-parties. Convert imported data to comply with CMDB definitions and structures to ensure CMDB integrity.](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/bhZXfCckettNLoFZ4~H3uw "Import and integrate third-party data into Configuration Management Database (CMDB) classes.") | | | [ ] {#manage-cmdb__table_o1d_bfj_pwb} ## Configuration Management Database (CMDB) {#manage-cmdb__section_u1d_bfj_pwb} Create models of your infrastructure using Configuration Management. Store your infrastructure data, represented by configuration items (CI)---all the computers, servers, routers, database instances, and services in your network. Analyze trends, reduce problems, and handle incidents by monitoring relationships between CI. ## Common Service Data Model (CSDM) {#manage-cmdb__section_v1d_bfj_pwb} Ensure your data is consistent across every database and ready for every ServiceNow product. The CSDM provides standard terms and definitions for your CI, and any IT services you use. Map your data to CMDB tables clearly using this modeling to provide it to the apps that use it, across the entire ServiceNow AI Platform. ## Application services {#manage-cmdb__section_x1d_bfj_pwb} Use application services to represent and manage operations of various ServiceNow business units and products. An application service is a set of interconnected applications and hosts which are configured to offer a service to the organization such as an organization's internal email system. The various CIs and the relationships between them comprise an application service and are stored in the CMDB. ## Data integration {#manage-cmdb__section_y1d_bfj_pwb} Populate the CMDB by importing and integrating third-party data into the CMDB, in bulk. Use Service Graph connectors to specify process parameters and any needed conversions to be applied to the imported data. Such integrations utilize robust CMDB processes, such as Identification and Reconciliation, to ensure the integrity of the CMDB after third-party data integrations. ## Troubleshoot and get help {#manage-cmdb__section_gkn_tzm_pwb} * [White Paper: ServiceNow CMDB - Unlocking the Power of Configuration Management](https://www.servicenow.com/community/servicenow-ai-platform-forum/white-paper-servicenow-cmdb-unlocking-the-power-of-configuration/m-p/3037771) * [Whitepaper: CMDB Design Guidance](http://www.servicenow.com/content/dam/servicenow/documents/whitepapers/wp-cmdb-design-guidance.pdf) * [CMDB 101 - What is a configuration management database and why do you need one?](https://community.servicenow.com/community?id=community_blog&sys_id=e913125fdbd9d7404837f3231f9619de) (ServiceNow® Community post) * [Search the Known Error Portal for known error articles](https://support.servicenow.com/kb?id=kb_article_view&sysparm_article=KB0597477) * [Contact Customer Service and Support](https://support.servicenow.com/now?draw=case) {#manage-cmdb__ul_hkn_tzm_pwb}