ServiceNow Data Center Modernization for an RBI-Compliant Indian Bank
Phase 1 Focus – Banking CMDB Implementation and Discovery Strategy with ServiceNow
80%
of CMDB coverage
100%
of Critical Data Assets mapped
100%
regulatory audit passed
An Overview
A prominent Indian bank, operating under stringent RBI guidelines, partnered with LMTEQ to initiate a multi-phase data center modernization using ServiceNow.
The objective :- Achieve full visibility of IT and non-IT assets across their distributed data centers, build a compliant CMDB, and lay the foundation for integrated, real-time monitoring.
The bank had previously implemented ServiceNow ITSM and ITOM, including Problem, Change, and Knowledge modules. However, they lacked a robust ServiceNow Discovery strategy for BFSI and faced integration barriers due to regulatory constraints.
Our Phase 1 implementation focused on enabling secure discovery, ensuring CMDB visibility in banking with ServiceNow, and enabling scheduled maintenance tracking in ServiceNow to support RBI audit readiness.
This case study highlights how ServiceNow solutions for banking can be adapted for complex, compliance-driven modernization efforts in the financial sector.
About the Client
The client is a nationally recognized bank in India with a footprint across thousands of branches and multiple high-availability data centers. Their operations span retail banking, treasury, wealth management, and fintech services, all of which rely on uninterrupted digital infrastructure.
While the bank had begun its ServiceNow journey, it lacked centralized control over data center components such as UPS systems, HVAC, chillers, and backup generators, assets critical to service uptime.
With regulatory policies from the RBI restricting direct integrations (such as REST, SOAP, SSH), the bank sought a partner with deep experience in ServiceNow for RBI-compliant banks to implement a scalable and compliant CMDB.
Challenges in Achieving ServiceNow Data Center Modernization
Incomplete CMDB Coverage
Regulatory Integration Limitations
Due to RBI policies, conventional discovery methods involving direct API calls or remote access (SSH, SNMP, etc.) were either disallowed or highly restricted. This posed challenges for any ServiceNow Discovery for BFSI initiatives.
No Unified Maintenance Framework
Maintenance schedules and SLAs for physical assets were scattered across tools and email chains. Without structured processes, the bank lacked scheduled maintenance tracking in ServiceNow, increasing the risk of outages and audit violations.
No Risk or Impact Modeling
With no relationships defined between infrastructure components and banking services (like loan processing or ATM uptime), the bank had no way to calculate impact or prioritize fixes, limiting their ability to fully adopt ServiceNow for data center management.
Phase 1 Implementation: ServiceNow Discovery and CMDB Structuring for BFSI
LMTEQ’s Phase 1 rollout was centered around three pillars: compliant discovery architecture, custom CMDB schema for BFSI infrastructure, and maintenance integration.
RBI-Compliant Discovery Architecture
To enable ServiceNow Discovery for BFSI without violating regulatory constraints:
- Our team deployed on-premises MID Servers within secure subnets of each data center
- Data ingestion was carried out through scheduled file drops, SNMP traps, and secure FTP, not REST or SSH
- Source data included power metrics, cooling logs, and asset inventory spreadsheets from existing tools
This compliant model ensured data center asset visibility through ServiceNow, while adhering to RBI audit frameworks.
Custom CMDB Design for Banking Infrastructure
The CMDB was tailored to support a true banking infrastructure modernization model:
- Defined custom CI classes for chillers, UPS, air handlers, fire suppression, and PDUs
- Created logical relationships between physical assets and IT infrastructure (e.g., UPS → Server Rack → Application)
This implementation ensured CMDB visibility in banking with ServiceNow, unlocking future use cases in monitoring and compliance reporting.
Integrated Maintenance Scheduling
To address gaps in maintenance planning, we implemented:
- A maintenance schedule framework using preventive maintenance tracking in ServiceNow
- CI-level lifecycle metadata for each asset, including warranty status, SLA expiry, and inspection logs
- Approvals and workflows tied to the Change Management module, ensuring every maintenance event was trackable
As a result, the client gained visibility into both scheduled and overdue maintenance, improving asset reliability.
Measurable Outcomes from Phase 1
- CMDB coverage increased from 45% to over 85%, spanning both IT and non-IT infrastructure
- 100% of critical data center assets are now mapped to associated business service
- Regulatory audits passed with full CMDB traceability for non-IT components
- Manual maintenance tracking eliminated; all cycles are now scheduled in ServiceNow
- Phase 1 lays the groundwork for ServiceNow SIEM integration for banks and automated alerting in future phases
This transformation demonstrates how ServiceNow for RBI-compliant banks is possible with the right blend of technical depth, regulatory awareness, and phased execution.
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Looking Ahead – Scaling ServiceNow for Data Center Management
With Phase 1 completed, the bank is preparing to move toward real-time monitoring and automation:
- ServiceNow SIEM integration for banks will allow the client to correlate infrastructure anomalies with business impact
- Event Management and AIOps modules will be integrated in Phase 2 to build intelligent response systems
- Ongoing updates to the CMDB will support automated impact analysis and improved MTTR
Through this phased approach, we are helping the client achieve true ServiceNow data center modernization while staying fully aligned with RBI norms.
Ready to Modernize Your Banking Infrastructure with ServiceNow?
If your bank is struggling with limited asset visibility, disconnected maintenance records, or compliance challenges, LMTEQ can help you implement secure, scalable, and regulator-friendly ServiceNow solutions for banking.
As an AI-powered transformation partner, we help businesses unlock potential with ServiceNow to achieve faster, high-quality outcomes.