Configuration Management

What is meant by Configuration Management?

The term "Configuration Management" refers to the process of managing and controlling configurations, i.e., software, hardware, or other products and their changes throughout their lifecycle.

Typical software functions in the area of "Configuration Management" include:

1. Configuration Management: Central management of configuration information, including versions, changes, and dependencies.
2. Version Control: Control and management of versions of software and documents to track changes.
3. Change Management: Management and control of change requests and their impacts on existing configurations.
4. Build Management: Automation of the software build process to ensure consistent and reproducible builds.
5. Deployment Management: Planning and controlling the deployment of software and updates across different environments.
6. Configuration Audits: Conducting audits to ensure that the current configuration meets defined standards.
7. Reporting and Analysis: Generating reports and analyzing configuration data for decision-makers and development teams.

Examples of "Configuration Management":

1. **Managing software versions and builds for a complex application across various development environments.
2. **Controlling and documenting hardware configurations in a data center, including change tracking and audits.
3. **Automating the deployment process for software updates in testing and production environments.
4. **Version control and change management for documentation of technical specifications and manuals.
5. **Configuration audit to review compliance with security policies and regulatory requirements.
6. **Reporting on the status and history of configuration changes for internal reviews and compliance requirements.