CMDB for Small Business: Simple Guide to Asset & Service Management
Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2025 12:50 pm
[00:00 – 00:10] — INTRO
Small Business CMDB — Simple Guide
“Most small businesses struggle to keep track of devices, software, accounts, subscriptions, and services. In this video, I’m going to show you how a CMDB — a Configuration Management Database — can help you organize everything with almost no cost.”
⸻
[00:10 – 00:35] — WHAT A CMDB ACTUALLY IS
What is a CMDB?
“A CMDB is not just an ‘IT tool.’
It’s a simple database that stores everything your business owns and how it’s connected—computers, phones, software, cloud services, employee accounts, vendors, licenses, and more.
Think of it as the brain of your business operations.”
⸻
[00:35 – 01:10] — WHY SMALL BUSINESSES SHOULD CARE
Why You Need One
Script:
“Small businesses always say the same thing: ‘We’re too small for this.’
But a CMDB saves time, money, and headaches.
Here’s what it gives you:
• Clear inventory of every device and license
• A map of who uses what
• Lower IT and service costs
• Easier security and compliance
• Faster onboarding and offboarding employees
• Fewer surprises when something breaks
This is the stuff companies waste money on every single day.”
⸻
[01:10 – 01:50] — WHAT YOU SHOULD TRACK
Start with These Items
“You don’t need to track thousands of items.
Start small — track only what matters:
• Computers & phones
• Software licenses
• Subscriptions
• Servers & cloud accounts
• Wi-Fi equipment
• Vendor contacts
• Employee accounts
• Business services (email, payroll, website, etc.)
Then link them together.
For example: ‘Employee → Laptop → Software Licenses → Cloud Accounts.’
That’s a CMDB.”
⸻
[01:50 – 02:30] — TOOLS YOU CAN USE
Tools (Free / Low-Cost)
“You do not need BMC, ServiceNow, or any enterprise tool.
You can build a CMDB with:
• Excel or Google Sheets
• Notion
• Airtable
• Snipe-IT (free)
• iTop (free)
• CMDBuild (open source)
Pick whatever you’re comfortable with.
The important part is consistency — not the tool.”
⸻
[02:30 – 03:20] — SIMPLE EXAMPLE (SHOW A SERVICE)
Example: Email Service Map
“Let me show you a simple example every business understands: your email service."
Here’s how it looks in a CMDB:
• Domain name
• Email hosting provider
• DNS settings
• Employee accounts
• Devices connected to email
• Multi-factor authentication
• Monthly cost
• Renewal dates
This one small map alone will save your company money, prevent outages, and make employee changes painless. That’s the power of a CMDB.”
⸻
[03:20 – 03:50] — HOW TO START TODAY
Small Business CMDB — Simple Guide
“Most small businesses struggle to keep track of devices, software, accounts, subscriptions, and services. In this video, I’m going to show you how a CMDB — a Configuration Management Database — can help you organize everything with almost no cost.”
⸻
[00:10 – 00:35] — WHAT A CMDB ACTUALLY IS
What is a CMDB?
“A CMDB is not just an ‘IT tool.’
It’s a simple database that stores everything your business owns and how it’s connected—computers, phones, software, cloud services, employee accounts, vendors, licenses, and more.
Think of it as the brain of your business operations.”
⸻
[00:35 – 01:10] — WHY SMALL BUSINESSES SHOULD CARE
Why You Need One
Script:
“Small businesses always say the same thing: ‘We’re too small for this.’
But a CMDB saves time, money, and headaches.
Here’s what it gives you:
• Clear inventory of every device and license
• A map of who uses what
• Lower IT and service costs
• Easier security and compliance
• Faster onboarding and offboarding employees
• Fewer surprises when something breaks
This is the stuff companies waste money on every single day.”
⸻
[01:10 – 01:50] — WHAT YOU SHOULD TRACK
Start with These Items
“You don’t need to track thousands of items.
Start small — track only what matters:
• Computers & phones
• Software licenses
• Subscriptions
• Servers & cloud accounts
• Wi-Fi equipment
• Vendor contacts
• Employee accounts
• Business services (email, payroll, website, etc.)
Then link them together.
For example: ‘Employee → Laptop → Software Licenses → Cloud Accounts.’
That’s a CMDB.”
⸻
[01:50 – 02:30] — TOOLS YOU CAN USE
Tools (Free / Low-Cost)
“You do not need BMC, ServiceNow, or any enterprise tool.
You can build a CMDB with:
• Excel or Google Sheets
• Notion
• Airtable
• Snipe-IT (free)
• iTop (free)
• CMDBuild (open source)
Pick whatever you’re comfortable with.
The important part is consistency — not the tool.”
⸻
[02:30 – 03:20] — SIMPLE EXAMPLE (SHOW A SERVICE)
Example: Email Service Map
“Let me show you a simple example every business understands: your email service."
Here’s how it looks in a CMDB:
• Domain name
• Email hosting provider
• DNS settings
• Employee accounts
• Devices connected to email
• Multi-factor authentication
• Monthly cost
• Renewal dates
This one small map alone will save your company money, prevent outages, and make employee changes painless. That’s the power of a CMDB.”
⸻
[03:20 – 03:50] — HOW TO START TODAY