ServiceNow Certified System Administration Practice

What action is facilitated by having a CMDB?

1. Increased incident response time

2. Reduced system downtime

3. Increased documentation burden

4. More service requests

The correct answer is: Reduced system downtime

Having a Configuration Management Database (CMDB) is crucial for effective IT service management. One of the primary benefits of a CMDB is the reduction of system downtime. A CMDB provides a centralized repository of information related to IT assets (the configuration items or CIs), making it easier to understand the relationships and dependencies between various components of the IT environment. When system issues occur, having detailed and accurate information in the CMDB allows for quicker identification of affected components and their interdependencies. This, in turn, enables IT teams to respond more efficiently to incidents, conduct root cause analyses, and make informed decisions regarding remediation, ultimately leading to faster recovery times and less overall downtime. While other options may seem plausible, they don't align with the core function and benefits of a CMDB as effectively as reducing system downtime does. For example, increased incident response time could be a result of having a CMDB but is not its primary purpose. Similarly, the idea of an increased documentation burden contradicts the efficiency that a well-maintained CMDB aims to achieve. More service requests do not directly relate to the advantages of a CMDB. Therefore, the action facilitated by having a CMDB is most accurately described as reduced system downtime.