# CSDM 5 Certification Study Guide > **Exam**: CIS-DF (Data Foundations - CMDB and CSDM) > **Cost**: FREE for first attempt (December 15, 2025 - June 30, 2026) > **Prerequisite training**: No longer required > **Focus**: What's new/different in CSDM 5 vs CSDM 4 --- ## 1. Domain Structure Changes ### CSDM 4 (5 Domains) - [x] Foundation [completed:: [[2026-02-06]]] - [x] Design [completed:: [[2026-02-06]]] - [x] Build [completed:: [[2026-02-06]]] - [x] Manage Technical Services [completed:: [[2026-02-06]]] - [x] Sell/Consume [completed:: [[2026-02-06]]] ### CSDM 5 (7 Domains) - [x] [[Foundation (CSDM domain)|Foundation]] [completed:: [[2026-02-06]]] - [x] **[[Ideation & Strategy (CSDM domain)|Ideation & Strategy]]** ← NEW DOMAIN [completed:: [[2026-02-06]]] - [x] [[Design & Planning (CSDM domain)|Design & Planning]] (renamed) [completed:: [[2026-02-06]]] - [x] [[Build & Integration (CSDM domain)|Build & Integration]] (renamed) [completed:: [[2026-02-06]]] - [x] [[Service Delivery (CSDM domain)|Service Delivery]] (renamed) [completed:: [[2026-02-06]]] - [x] [[Service Consumption (CSDM domain)|Service Consumption]] (renamed) [completed:: [[2026-02-06]]] - [x] **[[Manage Portfolio (CSDM domain)|Manage Portfolios]]** ← Now formally counted as 7th domain [completed:: [[2026-02-06]]] > **Key Point**: CSDM 5 introduces the **[[End-to-End Service Life Cycle (CSDM)|End-to-End Service Life Cycle]]** view as the primary representation. The traditional conceptual model diagram is now called the "historical view." --- ## 2. Table Label Changes (Yokohama Release) | CSDM 4 Label | CSDM 5 Label | Table Name | | ---------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------- | | Technical Service | **[[Technology Management Service (CSDM)\|Technology Management Service]]** | `cmdb_ci_service_technical` | | Technical Service Offering | **[[Technology Management Service Offering (CSDM)\|Technology Management Service Offering]]** | `service_offering` | | Application Service (parent) | **[[Service Instance (CSDM)|Service Instance (CSDM)]]** | `cmdb_ci_service_auto` | - [x] I understand Technical Service → Technology Management Service [completed:: [[2026-02-06]]] - [x] I understand Technical Service Offering → Technology Management Service Offering [completed:: [[2026-02-06]]] - [x] I understand cmdb_ci_service_auto is now labeled Service Instance [completed:: [[2026-02-06]]] --- ## 3. NEW: [[Ideation & Strategy (CSDM domain)|Ideation & Strategy Domain]] **Purpose**: Represents ideas, concepts, and strategic efforts for creating new services or improving existing ones. **Common Persona**: [[Product Owner (CSDM)|Product Owner]] ### Tables in this Domain | Entity | Table Name | | ------------------ | ----------------------------- | | Product Idea | `sn_align_core_product_idea` | | Planning Item | `sn_align_core_planning_item` | | Strategic Plan | `sn_gf_plan` | | Strategic Priority | `sn_gf_strategy` | | Goal | `sn_gf_goal` | | Target | `sn_gf_goal_target` | ### Definitions - [x] **[[Product Idea (CSDM)|Product Idea]]** - Complete product, feature, enhancement, change proposal or suggestion that can be promoted into demand, project, epic, or story [completed:: [[2026-02-06]]] - [x] **[[Planning Item (CSDM)|Planning Item]]** - Any work aligned to goals (demands, projects, epics, custom work items) [completed:: [[2026-02-06]]] - [x] **[[Strategic Plan (CSDM)|Strategic Plan]]** - Mission, Vision, and Value statements [completed:: [[2026-02-06]]] - [x] **[[Strategic Priority (CSDM)|Strategic Priority]]** - Key focus areas driving long-term goals, cross-functional across business units [completed:: [[2026-02-06]]] - [x] **[[Goal (CSDM)|Goal]]** - Broad qualitative outcomes desired, often specific to business units [completed:: [[2026-02-06]]] - [x] **[[Target (CSDM)|Target]]** - Quantifiable measures for goals, measurable milestones [completed:: [[2026-02-06]]] --- ## 4. NEW: Value Stream Capability **Location**: Foundation Domain **Definition**: How work really happens across the organization - all activities to deliver value (product or service) to a customer. ### Value Stream Tables | Table Label | Table Name | Purpose | | -------------------------- | ----------------------------- | ------------------------------------------- | | Value Stream | `cmn_value_stream` | The value stream itself | | Value Stream Category | `cmn_value_stream_categories` | Categorization | | Value Stream Stage | `cmn_value_stream_stage` | Grouping of activities (flow relationships) | | Value Stream to Capability | `cmn_value_stream_capability` | M2M link to Business Capabilities | | Value Stream Process | `cmn_value_stream_process` | M2M link to Business Process | That's [[Value Stream (CSDM)|Value Stream]], [[Value Stream Category (CSDM)|Value Stream Category]], [[Value Stream Stage (CSDM)|Value Stream Stage]], [[Value Stream to Capability (CSDM)|Value Stream to Capability]], and [[Value Stream Process (CSDM)|Value Stream Process]] ### 16 Pre-Defined Categories (Memorize These!) - [x] Customer Engagement [completed:: [[2026-02-06]]] - [x] Order Fulfillment [completed:: [[2026-02-06]]] - [x] Customer Service [completed:: [[2026-02-06]]] - [x] Manufacturing [completed:: [[2026-02-06]]] - [x] Procurement Service [completed:: [[2026-02-06]]] - [x] Product & Design Engineering [completed:: [[2026-02-06]]] - [x] Research [completed:: [[2026-02-06]]] - [x] Marketing [completed:: [[2026-02-06]]] - [x] Market Information Capture [completed:: [[2026-02-06]]] - [x] Product Maintenance [completed:: [[2026-02-06]]] - [x] Legal [completed:: [[2026-02-06]]] - [x] Digital Product Development [completed:: [[2026-02-06]]] - [x] Technology Enablement [completed:: [[2026-02-06]]] - [x] Human Resources [completed:: [[2026-02-06]]] - [x] Leased & Capital Asset Management [completed:: [[2026-02-06]]] - [x] Financial Management [completed:: [[2026-02-06]]] ### Key Relationships - Value Stream Stage → Business Process (via `cmn_value_stream_process`) - Value Stream Stage → Business Capability (via `cmn_value_stream_capability`) - Relationship type: **[Operationalizes::Operationalized by]** ### Tools - **Enterprise Modeling and Visualization** (EA) - design value stream data model - **Lenses** (SPM) - relate value streams to strategic management --- ## 5. NEW: [[Service Instance (CSDM)|Service Instances]] (Expanded) Previously only Application Services existed. CSDM 5 adds new siblings: | Service Instance Type | Table Name | | ---------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------- | | Application Service (existing) | Various (`cmdb_ci_service_discovered`, etc.) | | **Data (AI) Service Instance** | `cmdb_ci_data_service_instance` | | **Connection Service Instance** | `cmdb_ci_connection_service_instance` | | **Network Service Instance** | `cmdb_ci_network_service_instance` | | **Facility Service Instance** | `cmdb_ci_facility_service_instance` | | **Operational Process Service Instance** | `cmdb_ci_operational_process_service_instance` | - [x] I can identify all 6 Service Instance types [completed:: [[2026-02-06]]] - **[[Application Service (CSDM)|Application Service]] (existing)** - **[[Data (AI) Service Instance (CSDM)|Data (AI) Service Instance (CSDM)]]** - **[[Connection Service Instance (CSDM)]]** - **[[Network Service Instance (CSDM)|Network Service Instance (CSDM)]]** - **[[Facility Service Instance (CSDM)|Facility Service Instance (CSDM)]]** - **[[Operational Process Service Instance (CSDM)|Operational Process Service Instance (CSDM)]]** --- ## 6. NEW: [[Software Bill of Materials (CSDM)|Software Bill of Materials]] (SBOM) - **Purpose**: Detailed inventory of all components in a piece of software - **Use Case**: Security Operations, vulnerability tracking - **App**: SBOM Core (`sn_sbom_core`) - available on ServiceNow Store - **Domain**: Foundation (supports Service Delivery) - [x] I understand SBOM purpose and location [completed:: [[2026-02-06]]] --- ## 7. NEW: System Component Model & Product Feature ### [[System Component Model (CSDM)|System Component Model]] (New Product Model Hierarchy) - Software Component Model - Service Offering Model ### [[Product Feature (CSDM)|Product Feature]] - **Definition**: Represents what a Product (model) does - **Purpose**: Support release of products - **Used by**: Digital Product Release (DPR) - Connects to stories, code, testing via product enhancements - [x] I understand Product Feature purpose [completed:: [[2026-02-06]]] --- ## 8. NEW: [[Teams (CSDM)|Teams]] **Purpose**: Related list for CIs that associates user groups to a CI by group type ### Group Types (Base System) - Change Group - Managed by Group - Support Group **Behavior**: When you set a group assignment on a CI form, it automatically synchronizes with the Teams related list. - [x] I understand Teams functionality [completed:: [[2026-02-06]]] --- ## 9. NEW: AI Data Model | Entity | Table Name | Description | |--------|------------|-------------| | AI Function | `cmdb_ci_function_ai` | AI SaaS apps on public cloud platforms | | AI Application | `cmdb_ci_appl_ai_application` | AI software on Linux, Windows, Docker, K8s | - [x] I can distinguish [[AI Function (CSDM)|AI Function]] vs [[AI Application (CSDM)|AI Application]] [completed:: [[2026-02-06]]] --- ## 10. [[CSDM Life Cycle Stage & Status|Life Cycle Stage & Status]] ### Key Points - Introduced in **Paris** release - Replaced 8+ legacy state/status attributes - Two attributes on every CI: **Life Cycle Stage** + **Life Cycle Stage Status** - Values are **NOT editable** - provided by ServiceNow - Display only choices that align to the object type ### [[CSDM Life Cycle Processes|Life Cycle Processes]] | Process | Stages | |---------|--------| | Product | Ideation → Design → Build → Operational → End of Life | | Hardware (Tangible) | Ideation → Purchase → Inventory → Deploy → Operational → Defective → Missing → End of Life | | Logical (Intangible) | Ideation → Purchase → Design → Inventory → Deploy → Operational → End of Life | | Document | Ideation → Operational → End of Life | | Location | Ideation → Operational → End of Life | ### Location Life Cycle Definitions (New in CSDM 5) **Ideation**: Chartered, Build **Operational**: Available, In Use, Pending Retirement **End of Life**: Sold, Lease Return, Obsolete - [x] I understand the 5 life cycle processes [completed:: [[2026-02-06]]] - [x] I can identify which stages belong to which process [completed:: [[2026-02-06]]] --- ## 11. [[CSDM Adoption Stages|Adoption Stages]] (Foundation, Crawl, Walk, Run, Fly) ### Foundation Stage - Organizational Structure (Company, Business Unit, Department) - Locations - Groups - Users ### Crawl Stage - Business Application - Application Service - Application (discoverable) - Server/Host (discoverable) ### Walk Stage - Technology Management Service - Technology Management Service Offering - Dynamic CI Group ### Run Stage - Business Service Portfolio (not CMDB table) - Business Service - Business Service Offering ### Fly Stage - Request Catalog (not CMDB table) - Business Capability - Information Object - [x] I can match tables to their adoption stage [completed:: [[2026-02-06]]] --- ## 12. [[CSDM Key Principles|Key Principles]] (10 Total) 1. Simplified Concepts 2. Designed for Reporting & Analytics 3. Prescriptive Relationships 4. Shared Data Model Collaboration 5. Definitions 6. CSDM OOB Tables 7. Consistent Data Integrations 8. CSDM Adoption 9. Data Governance & Process 10. Product Use Documentation --- ## 13. Service Classification Attribute - Attribute on `cmdb_ci_service` table (inherited by extensions) - Used to identify: - Business Service vs Technology Management Service offerings - Dynamic CI Group behavior (Application Service vs Technical Service classification) - Usually populated automatically based on CI class --- ## 14. Dynamic CI Group **Table**: `cmdb_ci_query_based_service` **Service Classification determines behavior**: - **Application Service** → Acts like query-based Application Service - **Technical Service** → Acts like grouping of CIs managed by Technology Management Offerings **Important Rule**: A CI should not be related to multiple Technology Management Service CIs through Dynamic CI Groups. --- ## 15. Operational Technology (OT) - Systems/devices for automating, monitoring, controlling physical processes - Industrial environments: manufacturing, energy, transportation - Classes added via **CMDB Class Model App** (ServiceNow Store) --- ## 16. Quick Reference: What's NOT a CMDB Table - Product Model (`cmdb_model`) - Service Portfolio (`service_portfolio`) - Business Service Portfolio - Request Catalog (`sc_catalog`) - Contracts (`ast_contract`) - Value Stream tables (`cmn_*`) - Ideation & Strategy tables (`sn_align_*`, `sn_gf_*`) --- ## Exam Tips 1. **Focus on differences** - Know what changed from CSDM 4 2. **Table names matter** - Know the table name AND the label 3. **Relationships** - Understand which entities connect to which 4. **Adoption stages** - Know which tables belong in Foundation/Crawl/Walk/Run/Fly 5. **Domain placement** - Know which domain each entity belongs to 6. **Service Classification** - Understand how it affects behavior 7. **Life Cycle** - Know the 5 processes and their stages --- ## Study Progress Tracker | Topic | Confident? | |-------|------------| | Domain changes (5→7) | ⬜ | | Table label changes | ⬜ | | Ideation & Strategy Domain | ⬜ | | Value Stream (16 categories) | ⬜ | | Service Instances (6 types) | ⬜ | | SBOM | ⬜ | | Teams | ⬜ | | AI Data Model | ⬜ | | Life Cycle Stages | ⬜ | | Adoption Stages | ⬜ | --- *Last updated: 2025-02-03*