What is the primary difference between service maps and dependency maps?

The primary difference between service maps and dependency maps lies in the way they visualize and present their data about relationships and dependencies within IT environments. Service maps are designed to provide a high-level view of services and their critical components, illustrating how various components collectively contribute to service delivery. They often emphasize the business services and their dependencies on underlying infrastructure.

In contrast, dependency maps focus on the intricate connections between all components in the IT ecosystem. They provide comprehensive data not just about the critical relationships but also about every relationship that exists within the system, offering detailed insights into how components interact at a granular level. This robust data allows for better understanding and management of dependencies, as well as the impact of changes within the IT landscape.

Therefore, the assertion that dependency maps provide robust data on all relationships accurately captures this distinction, highlighting their capability to offer a broader overview of the system’s architecture compared to service maps, which are more focused on service delivery.