Configuration management (CM) is a key practice in systems management that helps you maintain consistency, control, and quality across your IT infrastructure. But what exactly does a configuration management do and how can it benefit your organization? In this article, we will explain the main functions and benefits of CM, as well as some common tools and methods to implement it.
One of the main tasks of CM is to define and document the configuration items (CIs) that make up your IT system, such as hardware, software, network, data, and processes. CIs are the building blocks of your system that need to be tracked, managed, and updated. CM helps you identify and document the attributes, relationships, dependencies, and versions of each CI, as well as the baselines and standards that they must comply with.
Configuration management is a vital process in IT, focusing on identifying, organizing, and controlling the various components of an IT system, which are known as configuration items (CIs). These elements encompass everything from software and hardware to networks and data. The primary goal here is to maintain a detailed understanding of each component, including its characteristics, interdependencies, and the specific version in use. This detailed tracking ensures that all elements are in line with the set standards and benchmarks, thereby streamlining system updates and maintenance.
Another important function of CM is to monitor and audit the status and performance of your CIs, as well as the changes and modifications that occur in your system. CM helps you detect and prevent configuration drift, which is the deviation of your actual system from your desired state. CM also helps you verify and validate that your CIs meet the requirements and specifications that you have defined. By monitoring and auditing your system, you can ensure its reliability, security, and efficiency.
A third essential role of CM is to control and manage the changes and updates that affect your CIs and your system as a whole. CM helps you plan, approve, implement, and review the changes that are necessary to improve or fix your system, as well as the impacts and risks that they may entail. CM also helps you manage the configuration versions and variants of your CIs, as well as the backups and restores that you may need to perform.
A final key aspect of CM is to communicate and collaborate with the stakeholders and teams that are involved in your system. CM helps you share and distribute the configuration information and documentation that you have created and maintained, as well as the feedback and reports that you have collected and generated. CM also helps you coordinate and synchronize the activities and tasks that are required to manage your system, as well as the roles and responsibilities that are assigned to each person.
To perform the functions and benefits of CM, you need to use tools and methods that can help you automate and streamline your processes. Common tools for CM include configuration management databases (CMDBs), which are repositories that store and organize configuration data and records; configuration management systems (CMSs), which are applications that integrate and automate configuration processes; and configuration management software (CMS), which are programs that enable you to define, monitor, control, and manage CIs and system. Common methods for CM include configuration identification, which is the process of naming, labeling, and classifying CIs and system; configuration control, which is the process of regulating and authorizing changes; configuration status accounting, which is the process of recording and reporting status and history; and configuration verification and audit, which is the process of checking that CIs meet requirements.
Overall, configuration management helps organizations maintain control over their systems’ configurations, reduce risks associated with changes, ensure consistency and reliability, and facilitate efficient operations and maintenance.