How does ServiceNow Discovery differ from Service Mapping?

ServiceNow Discovery primarily focuses on identifying and mapping the infrastructure components within an IT environment, which is often described as a horizontal approach. This involves detecting devices, applications, and services across the network and is essential for maintaining an accurate configuration management database (CMDB). The goal of Discovery is to build a comprehensive inventory of all resources present in the environment.

In contrast, Service Mapping takes a more vertical view, as it is designed to illustrate the relationships and dependencies between services and their underlying components. This includes not just the mapping of infrastructure, but also how various services are composed of those components and how they interact with one another. Service Mapping creates detailed service maps that show the end-to-end service flows, making it easier to understand the impact of changes and to troubleshoot issues effectively.

This distinction in approach is critical when implementing effective IT service management practices, as it allows organizations to manage their technology assets and services more efficiently. Understanding this difference helps in recognizing how Discovery and Service Mapping complement each other within the ServiceNow framework to provide a complete view of both the infrastructure and the services it supports.