Configuration Management System
Configuration Management a set of technical and administrative tasks that are carried out to ensure that all software and hardware which a company owns are all maintained and consistently configured to ensure consistency of performance and function the organisations requirements. CMS can also be used for the following purpose:
- Service Modeling
- Standardization and Compliance
- Incident Resolution
- Change Impact Analysis
- Change Control
- Even Management
- License Management
Configuration management consists of two concepts, often which are performed by the same group of employees:
Configuration management – Here you manage changes related to project management plans, processes, and baselines.
Change management – you manage changes related to product scope. This is the process for requesting changes to the baseline.
Configuration Management Process
Configuration Management Process usually involves the three following steps:
- Baselining
- Patch Management
- Vulnerability Management
Change Control or Change Management Process
Configuration Management and Change Management are critical process to be defined at organizational level. Configuration management’s goal is to set and maintain consistency in your product(s). That means you always know what configuration items, and their version, are bundled together. Change management is about managing changes against the project and its product(s).
Change control within information technology (IT) systems is a process—either formal or informal—used to ensure that changes to a product or system are introduced in a controlled and coordinated manner. It reduces the possibility that unnecessary changes will be introduced to a system without forethought, introducing faults into the system or undoing changes made by other users of software. The goals of a change control procedure usually include:
Change Management Activities
You do the following during change management:
- Identify the changes.
- Prepare proper documentation for the changes.
- Review, analyze, and make a decision for the change request.
- Make sure that the request is implemented, registered, and communicated.
Configuration Management Activities
You do the following during configuration management:
- Identify the configurable items.
- Record and prepare a report for all configurable items.
- Verify and conduct an audit of all configurations are as per the requirements.
Change management and configuration management do not compete for the same space. They are used for different purposes. Change management relates to changes related to the plan, process, and baselines, while configuration management deals with changes related to the product scope.
