What is the best approach to prevent duplicate CIs from being created?

The best approach to prevent duplicate CIs (Configuration Items) from being created is through the use of Data Precedence and Reconciliation Rules. These tools are designed to automatically manage and reconcile data from various sources, ensuring that only a single, accurate representation of each CI is maintained.

Data Precedence helps establish which data source is considered the authoritative source in case of conflicting information about CIs. Reconciliation Rules work hand-in-hand by defining how data should be merged when multiple records are detected during discovery.

By implementing these mechanisms, organizations can significantly reduce the risk of creating duplicates right at the point of data ingestion, rather than having to identify and resolve them later through audits or manual processes, which can be resource-intensive and prone to human error. This approach fosters a cleaner and more reliable configuration management database (CMDB), ultimately leading to better IT service management and operational efficiency.