Tag-Based Service Mapping through
CSDM Service Instance
What is Tag-Based Service Mapping?
Tag-Based Service Mapping in ServiceNow is an approach to service mapping that leverages
tags to define and categorize relationships between Configuration Items (CIs) and IT services
in the Configuration Management Database (CMDB). Rather than relying purely on topology-
based discovery methods (such as automatic dependency mapping), this method uses tags to
associate services with the underlying infrastructure components, providing San easier and
more flexible way to create and maintain service maps.
When to use Tag-Based Mapping
• Dynamic or cloud-based environments where infrastructure and services frequently
change
• Large, complex IT environments with numerous CIs and services
• Rapid infrastructure changes (e.g., in DevOps environments or agile teams)
• Automatic discovery of services and infrastructure components
• Flexibility for future adjustments without requiring significant manual changes.
• Smaller teams needing simplified and automated service mapping processes
• Integration needs with third-party platforms using consistent tag-based categorization
Flow to build Tag-Based Maps
How to populate Application Services using tags
A tag is a label that consists of a key-value pair. Your organization may use tags to categorize
its assets, to enhance query and reporting capabilities. Discovery and Cloud Provisioning and
Governance can discover tags used by all major cloud providers and container ecosystems.
Once the tags are discovered, Service Mapping can create service instances based on these
tags. For example, you can use tags to map all application services your organization uses in
the production environment in the Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region.
Step 1: Search for “Service Instance” under Manage Technology Management Services.
Step 2: Click on “New” if you don’t have an existing Application Service else just open the
existing Application Service on which Tag based method has to be added. Please have a look
on the lading page of the csdm_app_service form. It has all the details related to Application
Service. You can even link the relation between Business applications, Technical Service
Offering, Business Service and Application Services.
Step 3: From the Service Population Method list in the Choose a Method window, select Tags.
To define new tag criteria, perform the following steps:
a. Select Use a list of tags.
b. Enter the tag key and its respective tag value.
c. Click the plus icon and add another tag key and tag value.
d. Click Preview Result to see the list of CIs that match the defined criteria.
Note: If necessary, refine the tag definitions. You can add no more than three tag key-value
pairs for one application service.
Step 4: Click on “View map” to see the Map.
Important Point
1. The cmdb_key_value table must be populated with proper data to start the Tag
based maps. The key_value is maintained by on Cloud (GCP, Azure, Amazon) etc. The
same will be populated on key_value table in servicenow.
2. The Tag-Based maps gives the flat view but we can create traversal rule.
3. We can even see the business Applications related to the Application Service that we
initially connected in CSDM view.
Thank You
