# ITIL Configuration Management Database (CMDB) Software - ManageEngine

## Map out every single dependency of your IT infrastructure

Drive faster decisions and reduce risks while managing IT services by visually mapping CI relationships in the built-in CMDB of ServiceDesk Plus

![CMDB software for IT mapping](https://cdn.manageengine.com/products/service-desk/itsm/images/cmdb-features.png)

### Build and maintain a single source of truth for your IT infrastructure.

- Populate the CMDB with built-in discovery or through popular third-party tools.
- Build interactive business views to keep track of specific IT services.
- Associate configuration items (CIs) with key ITIL practices for better stakeholder context.
- Keep the CMDB in sync as new CIs are added in the environment.

## Remove ambiguity when making decisions about your IT infrastructure

ServiceDesk Plus' built-in CMDB is the centralized system of record for configuration data to manage complex IT infrastructures. With newly added CIs automatically synced with the CMDB as your IT environment grows, ensure your stakeholders always have accurate information while managing other ITSM practices.

## Visually map the relationships and dependencies between CIs

Schematically recreate your IT infrastructure component dependencies on a drag-and-drop canvas, defining custom relationships between CIs. Organize service-specific segments of the infrastructure into distinct business views for quick and easy reference.

![CMDB diagram](https://cdn.manageengine.com/products/service-desk/itsm/images/configuration-management-database-diagram.png)

## Support ITSM practices with contextual configuration data

Gain clarity and make decisions faster by leaning on the CMDB data for managing incidents, problems, changes, projects, and releases. When CIs are associated with any ITSM process, stakeholders can effortlessly view the infrastructure dependency map in a single click.

![Configuration Management Database (CMDB) software](https://cdn.manageengine.com/products/service-desk/itsm/images/configuration-management-database-software.png)

## Auto-sync newly discovered assets in the CMDB

Keep your CMDB up to date as new components are added to the infrastructure. Assets added to the cloud version of ServiceDesk Plus discovered through its probe or through any external integrations are automatically synced based on predefined conditions.

![ITIL CMDB relationship](https://www.manageengine.com/products/service-desk/itsm/images/cmdb-solution.png)

## Automatically discover Layer 2 devices and application dependencies

Automatically sync the CMDB with Layer 2 network devices, applications, and their interdependencies through integrations with ManageEngine's full-stack observability suite for a real-time, accurate view of the entire IT environment.

![ServiceDesk Plus built-in CMDB](https://cdn.manageengine.com/products/service-desk/itsm/images/manageengine-cmdb.png)

## Connect the CMDB with full-stack observability solutions to populate CI information and relationships

Integrate with a range of IT monitoring and observability tools and populate ServiceDesk Plus' CMDB with CIs fetched from both ManageEngine and third-party observability tools. Learn more about ServiceDesk Plus' integrations here.

![Task allocation template](https://cdn.manageengine.com/products/service-desk/itsm/images/cmdb-path.svg)

![CMDB with full-stack observability solutions](https://cdn.manageengine.com/products/service-desk/itsm/images/cmdb-full-stack.png)

## Other ITIL® capabilities you might be interested in

### [IT asset management](https://www.manageengine.com/products/service-desk/it-asset-management/it-inventory-management-software.html)

Gain control over the entire life cycle of your IT assets from purchase to expiry.

### [Change enablement](https://www.manageengine.com/products/service-desk/it-change-management/change-management-software.html)

Build workflows and streamline even the most complex IT change processes.

### [Incident management](https://www.manageengine.com/products/service-desk/it-incident-management/)

Speed up response times and improve collaboration to handle IT incidents more efficiently.

### [Explore more features](https://www.manageengine.com/products/service-desk/help-desk-features.html?rel-fea)

Optimize and streamline all facets of your IT service management operations with purpose-built, out-of-the-box modules.

## Frequently asked questions

### 1. What is a configuration management database (CMDB) in ITIL?

A CMDB is a centralized repository that maintains up-to-date information about an organization's IT infrastructure and its interdependencies. These dependencies can include IT assets, departments, and the personnel responsible for managing them.

### 2. What is a CI in CMDB?

A configuration item (CI) is any component within the IT environment that directly or indirectly contributes to service delivery. This includes IT hardware, software, teams, individual contributors, and external vendors. A CMDB is repository of CIs.

### 3. How does a CMDB improve ITSM?

The CMDB provides a visual representation of the IT services infrastructure, making it essential for incident resolution, root cause analysis, change risk assessment, security policy development, and more. It offers valuable insights into the IT environment, enabling informed decision-making.

### 4. How do you build a CMDB?

There are many ways to build a CMDB, but not all are practical at scale. Manually tracking dependencies in spreadsheets is error-prone and hard to maintain. A more effective approach is using an ITSM platform with a built-in CMDB that can automatically discover and source CIs from various tools, including full-stack observability platforms. This not only ensures accuracy but also delivers contextual insights across core ITSM processes. ServiceDesk Plus offers a robust, scalable CMDB designed to evolve with your growing IT infrastructure.

### 5. What are the must-have CMDB capabilities in an ITSM platform?

A scalable CMDB should automatically discover and map CIs from various sources, like observability platforms and endpoint and security management platforms, to enrich each CI with detailed context. It must also offer a visual relationship map to help IT teams easily understand service dependencies and the broader IT landscape.