--- sourceDocument: Brazil ServiceNow AI Platform Capabilities sourceDocumentLink: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/servicenow-platform Release : - brazil ft:locale : - en-US ft:publication_title : - Brazil ServiceNow AI Platform Capabilities ft:clusterId : - platcap bundleId : - platcap workflow : - Platform --- # Explore # Exploring the CSDM model {#ariaid-title1} Release version: Brazil Updated September 10, 2026 ![](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ico-clock) 3 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 Exploring the CSDM model The Common Service Data Model (CSDM) is a standardized data model that ServiceNow administrators should follow when setting up ServiceNow products and applications. It provides guidelines for defining configuration items (CIs) and their relationships within the Configuration Management Database (CMDB). By adhering to CSDM, organizations ensure their data resides in the correct CMDB tables, which maximizes the value derived from ServiceNow AI Platform applications and supports accurate business operations. Show full answer Show less ## Key Features * **Structured Data Domains:** CSDM organizes CMDB data into domains that align with the service lifecycle: * **Foundation:** Core CMDB tables foundational to all products. * **Ideation \& Strategy:** Captures initial business concepts and ideas. * **Design \& Planning:** Supports design and planning of products or services. * **Build \& Integration:** Covers development and integration phases with feedback loops. * **Service Delivery:** Manages infrastructure, applications, and operational assets. * **Service Consumption:** Catalogs services and offerings for internal or external customers. * **Manage Portfolio:** Provides oversight across multiple CSDM domains, typically managed by service owners and portfolio managers. * **Multiple Data Uses:** CMDB data supports asset management, process enablement (incident, change, release management), compliance, optimization, and security operations. * **Role-Based Responsibilities:** Various roles maintain and utilize CMDB and CSDM data, including Enterprise Architects, Application Owners, Portfolio and Service Owners, Service Desk personnel, Technical SMEs, and CMDB Managers. These roles ensure data accuracy, alignment with business strategy, and operational support. ## Benefits for ServiceNow Customers * Accurately capturing and organizing service-related data to reflect your business model and operational needs. * Improved impact and risk analysis due to clear, consistent data relationships. * Enhanced business continuity through reliable CMDB data supporting multiple IT and business processes. * Facilitated communication and collaboration among roles responsible for service management and technology operations. * Maximized capabilities and insights gained from ServiceNow AI and automation tools by using a well-structured data model. ## Next Steps for Customers ServiceNow customers should adopt the CSDM guidelines during CMDB setup and configuration to ensure consistent data structure and quality. Engaging with the ServiceNow CSDM Community and accessing available educational resources such as CSDM videos can help build expertise and optimize the use of CSDM within their organizations. 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. ## Definitions of CSDM terms {#csdm-content-frame-exploring__section_iqj_5yt_2xb} See [CSDM terms](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/cPfQsV487Hfs8ruwQUwNBg "Most ServiceNow products and ServiceNow AI Platform applications align closely with the Common Service Data Model. This table defines terms as they are used across the ServiceNow AI Platform."). ## Goal of following the CSDM guidelines {#csdm-content-frame-exploring__section_jd2_3rc_4fc} Following the CSDM data model helps you to accurately and completely capture the data objects that help you to run your business. CSDM provides guidance on where to put data in the platform. Because there are multiple ways to identify and use data, the CSDM guidelines help you to determine the best data structures for supporting your organization's services. ## Kinds of data {#csdm-content-frame-exploring__section_kwz_k3c_zhc} The CMDB holds data for several purposes. * Foundation (core CMDB population and relationship integrity) * Asset management (hardware or software asset tracking, license alignment) * Process enablement (change, incident and release management) * Conformance and audit (policy adherence, audit readiness) * Optimization (capacity planning and life cycle and cost management) * Security operations (exposure mapping, policy enforcement, risk response) {#csdm-content-frame-exploring__ul_b5j_p3c_zhc} ## How tables in CSDM data domains support the service life cycle {#csdm-content-frame-exploring__section_y5m_hgz_lgc} 1. When you first start working on an instance, your admins install and populate the CMDB data structures. The data is required to enable your platform features and capabilities. This kind of data is kept in tables that are considered foundational to all products on your instance. We therefore refer to this set of tables as the Foundation domain --- it supports all of the other data domains. 2. You start with an idea --- an idea that implements your business model. The idea or concept is saved in data that you work on in the tables of the Ideation \& Strategy domain. 3. If your research determines that the idea has merit, you can decide to commit to it and move forward into designing and planning the idea. You might design the products to implement the idea internally or buy something to integrate into your organization's offerings. The supporting data lives in tables in the Design \& Planning domain. 4. After the design is complete and acceptable, you can hand it off to the teams that will build or integrate the idea. Designers and developers build the software that implements the idea. The supporting data lives in tables in the Build \& Integration domain. Information learned in this stage of the product life cycle is fed back into data in the domains that were involved earlier in the digital product's life cycle. 5. Now it's time to provide infrastructure and management capabilities. The CIs and assets --- service instances, applications, functions, AI, hardware, and software in the Service Delivery data domain. Information learned in this stage is also fed back. 6. You can now release the idea. It's delivered from the infrastructure and management of the Service Delivery data domain to the catalog of service and business offerings in the Service Consumption data domain so that your customers can consume it. Customers can be internal or external. Again, information learned in this stage is fed back. The Manage Portfolio domain is a layer on top of the CSDM conceptual model that interacts with the other CSDM domains. The typical user, a service owner, might be responsible for services in more than one domain. {#csdm-content-frame-exploring__ol_mtq_15c_4fc} ## Roles that create, maintain, and use the data {#csdm-content-frame-exploring__section_zhs_2cy_lgc} Note: The Application Owner, Portfolio Manager (multiple), and Service Owner (multiple) might be the same persons. Enterprise Architect and Application Owner : * Identify, enter, and maintain data in Business Application records * Align enterprise applications to capabilities and business strategy * Manage technology portfolio life cycle {#csdm-content-frame-exploring__ul_l1z_ncy_lgc} Portfolio Manager and Service Owner : * Own the Service or digital product * Create Services and service offerings * Set the SLAs * Is informed of outages * Request catalog items to be created for the offerings {#csdm-content-frame-exploring__ul_td4_1dy_lgc} Service Desk, Incident Manager, and Change Manager : * Use the CIs and related service-related data to support and maintain services and CIs * Support Service Operations * Review and approve changes * Maintain support processes {#csdm-content-frame-exploring__ul_ovf_2dy_lgc} App Service admin and Technical SMEs : * Support, manage, and operate the underpinning technology that services rely on * Subject matter technical experts that create change requests with data from CMDB {#csdm-content-frame-exploring__ul_b2k_fdy_lgc} CMDB Manager and Cl Analysts : * Maintain the accuracy and integrity of the CMDB * Work with various SMEs to certify that the data is accurate and aligned to the data model * Create CIs and own the SACM processes {#csdm-content-frame-exploring__ul_asm_fdy_lgc} ## CSDM Community {#csdm-content-frame-exploring__section_dqz_fp4_swb} [Join the ServiceNow CSDM Community to grow your CSDM expertise.](https://www.servicenow.com/community/csdm/ct-p/common-service-data-model-csdm) ## CSDM videos in the ServiceNow Community {#csdm-content-frame-exploring__section_d13_nlx_mwb} [Playlist of all CSDM videos](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkGSnjw5y2U7QNr9jL6TAgwQvYBI_LEtK) * **[Products that use and benefit from CSDM guidelines](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/YJOYZ6~NoHP_gInKQ9Y12Q)** Following the CSDM guidelines generates significant benefits in impact analysis, risk analysis, and business continuity. * **[CSDM data domains](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/XzHasIM67KLKoJtdsaTX6Q)** 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.