asset management
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CMDB for AWS - Well-Architected Strategy & 6 Tools to Know in 2025
What Is a Cloud CMDB? #
A cloud CMDB, unlike traditional CMDBs, is designed to help organizations manage and track their cloud resources, but not in the same way that physical assets were tracked in the past. Instead of focusing on hardware like servers and laptops, it adapts to the ephemeral nature of cloud infrastructure, resources that can be spun up and down dynamically.
However, it’s important to note that the term "cloud CMDB" can be misleading since it doesn’t necessarily function as a traditional CMDB would. Cloud providers already track your resources via APIs, and infrastructure is typically managed through Infrastructure-as-Code (IaC) rather than through ITSM workflows. In essence, the cloud environment requires a new approach to configuration management, one that accounts for the fluidity and complexity of modern cloud systems.
In this article:
Benefits of CMDB in an AWS Environment #
In a cloud environment, resources are created, modified, and deleted rapidly, often automatically through auto-scaling, infrastructure-as-code pipelines, or platform orchestration tools.
Traditional, manually updated CMDBs cannot keep pace with this rate of change. Cloud CMDB solutions like CloudQuery, Firefly, or native tools from cloud providers address this gap by continuously discovering configuration items (CIs), recording their current and historical states, and mapping inter-resource relationships.
- Real-time change detection: Cloud CMDBs detect resource changes in near real time, capturing updates to compute instances, storage configurations, security policies, and metadata. This eliminates stale or incomplete records that plague legacy CMDBs in fast-evolving cloud environments.
Dependency mapping across accounts & regions: As organizations scale across multiple cloud accounts and regions, understanding dependencies between services becomes critical. Cloud CMDBs automatically map how resources interconnect, such as which virtual machines rely on security groups or load balancers, supporting root cause analysis and impact assessments.
Policy enforcement and compliance tracking: Modern CMDBs act as the foundation for compliance and audit frameworks. They evaluate configurations against security or operational policies (e.g., CIS benchmarks, PCI DSS requirements), track violations, and maintain a verifiable history of non-compliant events for audit purposes.
Improved incident, problem, and change management: By serving as a central source of truth for resource states and change histories, a cloud CMDB helps incident responders trace changes that may have caused outages. Change managers can simulate “what‑if” scenarios by reviewing CI relationships before applying updates, reducing the risk of cascading failures.
Cost control via inventory and tagging: Cloud CMDBs enable organizations to identify untagged, orphaned, or underutilized resources. By integrating with tagging and cost allocation strategies, they support cost tracking, cleanup efforts, and chargeback models for better financial governance.
Unified view in hybrid and multicloud environments: Cloud CMDBs can aggregate data from multiple providers (AWS, GCP, Azure) and on-premises systems (Kubernetes), providing a single pane of glass for hybrid or multicloud infrastructures. This centralized governance model ensures consistent operations and visibility across the enterprise.
Building a Cloud CMDB on AWS: Well-Architected Strategy #
According to AWS guidelines, designing a CMDB for the cloud requires a cloud-native approach to discovery, tracking, and governance. In AWS, a well-architected CMDB strategy addresses where to track configuration items (CIs), which items to track, and how to maintain their accuracy over time. These elements can be constructed using AWS services like AWS Config, AWS Systems Manager, and AWS License Manager, as well as third party solutions like CloudQuery.
Choosing the Right CMDB Architecture #
Organizations can approach cloud CMDB integration in one of three ways:
Extend an Existing CMDB: Continue using the current CMDB as the single source of truth and integrate AWS CIs via scheduled imports or event-driven updates.
Federated CMDB: Maintain the existing CMDB for on-premises CIs while creating a cloud-native CMDB to track AWS-specific CIs, with bidirectional sync between them.
Cloud-Native CMDB: Use a cloud CMDB as the authoritative CMDB for both on-prem and cloud resources, especially when modernizing legacy systems.
Each model should ensure a consistent source of truth that integrates with ticketing systems to support ITIL processes.
Tracking the Right CIs #
Instead of tracking every transient resource (like short-lived containers or AWS EMR clusters), focus on higher-level resources such as Auto Scaling groups or configuration templates. Cloud CMDBs allow selective tracking of resource types and support custom CIs for resources not natively supported.
When using AWS native tools, you can supplement AWS Config with AWS Systems Manager Inventory for granular OS-level data, and AWS License Manager for tracking BYOL software licenses.
Maintaining CI Accuracy #
To define and enforce desired states:
- Use configuration rules to detect drift and auto-remediate noncompliant resources.
- Avoid drift for IaC-managed stacks using automated processes like AWS CloudFormation drift detection.
- Enforce configuration baselines (e.g., required software or closed ports). For example, this can be achieved with AWS Systems Manager State Manager.
Cloud CMDBs can record configuration changes over time and create a data lake of historical configurations (for example, in Amazon S3), enabling historical audits and custom analytics.
Tagging for Visibility and Compliance #
Tagging helps classify and manage resources by environment, cost center, or compliance requirements. Implement preventive controls using service control policies and IAM conditions, and reactive controls using CMDB rules that detect missing or incorrect tags. Enforce organization-wide tagging policies and regularly review reports to ensure adherence.
Monitoring and Notifications #
Real-time alerts on CI changes or compliance violations allow teams to respond promptly. Cloud CMDBs like CloudQuery provide this functionality, and when working with native AWS tools, you can integrate AWS Config with Amazon SNS to build a notification engine.
Evaluating Your CMDB Design #
Align your CMDB strategy with the AWS Well-Architected Framework, especially the Management and Governance Lens, to ensure scalability, operational visibility, and control across dynamic cloud environments.
By combining AWS-native services and aligning them with established ITSM practices, you can build a cloud CMDB that delivers real-time visibility, compliance, and operational efficiency across your AWS asset portfolio.
Notable Cloud CMDB Tools for AWS #
Here are some popular cloud CMDB tools you can use to manage CIs in your AWS environment.
1. AWS Config #
Amazon provides a native CMDB solution, AWS Config. It is a managed service that enables organizations to assess, audit, and evaluate the configurations of AWS resources. It acts as a native configuration management solution within the AWS ecosystem, continuously recording configuration changes and maintaining an inventory of AWS resources and their relationships.
Key features include:
- Resource inventory and relationships: Maintains an inventory of AWS resources and visualizes their relationships
- Configuration history and snapshots: Tracks changes over time and provides historical snapshots for auditing and troubleshooting
- Rule-based compliance checks: Supports custom and managed rules to validate configuration settings against compliance requirements
- Multi-account, multi-region aggregation: Consolidates data across accounts and regions for centralized governance
- Integration with AWS services: Works with AWS CloudTrail, Security Hub, and Systems Manager
Limitations (as reported by users on G2):
- The interface can be unintuitive for new users and requires time to learn
- Limited support for tracking configurations of non-AWS resources
- Pricing can become expensive in environments with many resources and frequent changes
- Some users reported delays in configuration updates and event propagation
2. CloudQuery #
CloudQuery is a data movement platform that supports multiple cloud services, allowing you to centralize your AWS information with syncs from other services such as Google Cloud Platform and Microsoft Azure. Its SQL-based querying makes it easy to quickly get answers to common questions about your setup and ensures continuous enforcement of policies.
Key Features Include:
- Multi-cloud support: As well as AWS, information can be imported from over 70 other services and the plugin-based nature of the product means it is possible to use the API to create custom plugins for other tools.
- SQL-based querying: Easy yet in-depth querying using a language that your team is already familiar with.
- Rules-based compliance checks: Check your systems regularly for compliance based on rules that you set.
- Augment your AWS data with internal information: Sync information on FinOps or any other business function using CloudQuery to get a CMDB with true context on your cloud setup.
Limitations:
- Syncs must be hosted on your own system and you will need to select a destination to use your data
- Sync setup requires a small learning curve
- Plugin library is limited but creating your own is possible.
3. 3. ServiceNow CMDB #
ServiceNow CMDB is a cloud-based configuration management database that aims to provide a single system of record for all IT infrastructure and application components across an organization. It centralizes CI data and enables visibility into the relationships and states of these items.
Key features include:
- CMDB workspace: A central dashboard for exploring, auditing, and analyzing CIs and their activity
- Service graph connectors: Standardized integrations that bring external system data into the CMDB seamlessly
- Automated data acquisition: Tools that automatically collect, normalize, and populate CI data from multiple sources
- Visualization and reporting: Graph-based views that display relationships and business context across technical CIs
- Data curation and quality management: Continuous validation of data accuracy to support trusted operations and AI models
Limitations (as reported by users on Peerspot):
- Complex initial setup and configuration require significant time and expertise
- Maintaining data accuracy can be challenging without strong governance processes
- Performance issues may occur when managing large datasets or running complex queries
- Licensing and customization costs can be high for smaller organizations
4. BMC Helix CMDB #
BMC Helix CMDB is a configuration management database that acts as a centralized, business-aware reference for IT assets and services. It enables organizations to track, manage, and visualize configuration items across on-premises and cloud environments.
Key features include:
- Automated discovery and updates: Integrates with BMC Helix Discovery and other tools to populate and refresh CI data
- Federated data integration: Combines data from external sources through APIs and connectors to build a unified CI repository
- KPI-driven management: Tracks key performance indicators to evaluate configuration management processes
- Service and dependency visualization: Offers graphical views of services and their supporting components to simplify relationship mapping
- Scalable CI management: Supports modeling and managing millions of CIs in hybrid IT landscapes
Limitations (as reported by users on G2):
- Steep learning curve for new users and administrators
- UI is dated and less intuitive compared to newer platforms
- Integration with third-party tools can be complex and require additional customization
- High resource consumption and performance degradation in very large environments
5. SolarWinds Service Desk #
SolarWinds Service Desk is a cloud-based, AI-powered IT service management (ITSM) platform to simplify operations and help improve user satisfaction. With automation workflows, it supports ITSM functions like incident, asset, and change management, while offering a CMDB to track infrastructure relationships.
Key features include:
- Incident management: AI-based ticket classification, sentiment analysis, auto-assignment, and collaboration tools to accelerate resolution
- CMDB: Maps relationships between assets and services to improve understanding of system dependencies and impact analysis
- IT asset management: Tracks hardware and software inventory, supports compliance, and optimizes asset lifecycles Change management**: Enforces structured workflows to control change execution
- AI assistance: Automates solution suggestions, speeds ticket triage, and scales service delivery
Limitations (as reported by users on Gartner):
- Limited flexibility in customizing workflows and forms
- Reporting features are basic and may not meet advanced analytics needs
- Performance issues can occur when managing a large number of tickets or assets
- Integration options with external tools are less extensive compared to enterprise-grade ITSM platforms
6. i-doit #
i-doit Cloud is a cloud-based IT documentation and configuration management platform intended to simplify asset tracking and CMDB management without the overhead of on-premise infrastructure. It provides centralized access to IT documentation, with tools for customization, analysis, and scalability.
Key features include:
- Cloud-based access: All IT documentation and CMDB features are available via the internet
- Simple interface: The UI supports fast adoption and efficient use for IT teams
- IT documentation: Track hardware, software, network components, and service relationships in a centralized CMDB
- Scalability: Adjust subscription plans based on evolving business needs without dealing with physical infrastructure
- Analysis tools: Use the i-doit Add-on Analysis for service cost calculation, data quality checks, and failure simulations
Limitations (as reported by users on G2):
- Limited integrations with other IT management and monitoring tools
- Customization options are constrained without purchasing additional add-ons
- UI design feels outdated and could be more user-friendly
- Reporting and analytics capabilities are less advanced than in enterprise CMDB platforms
Conclusion #
A cloud CMDB provides critical visibility and control in modern, fast-changing IT environments. By continuously discovering resources, mapping their relationships, and enforcing governance policies, organizations can manage complexity, reduce operational risk, and maintain compliance at scale. Unlike traditional CMDBs, these systems are designed to align with the dynamic, API-driven nature of cloud infrastructure, making them a foundational element for effective cloud operations and governance.