Understanding IT Configuration Management by Its Purpose
It is quite difficult to explain configuration management to someone who has not actually experienced it firsthand. Configuration management has been considered the “holy grail” of development and information technology companies. While there are limitations in defining the inner workings of configuration management, it can be described by its goals and purposes in which it is setup for.
Configuration management makes it easier for computer systems to evolve with the changes in software and computer technology. Constant upgrades to computer systems, networks, and products are required, because of the ever increasing complexity of information technology. In a nut shell, configuration management can reduce instances of errors caused by upgrading computer systems to newer version. This is done by tracking the changes and components of a computer system. This will reduce network downtime and unintentional outages. In addition, configuration management maintains the integrity of the entire computer system, by assuring that all changes and configurations have been deployed appropriately for all components in the system.
Configuration management reduces the risk when making changes or configuring new computer systems. Systems and even security solutions such as firewalls tend to be more hazardous when a mis-configuration occurs. Configuration management makes it easier to change configurations and setups of computer systems, by providing a restore point option when a new configuration version or upgrade fails to work properly. Configuration management software enables a turn back to a previously good configuration when new configuration changes fail. This will not only reduce configuration risks, but will also minimize network downtime, which constitute a loss of productivity.
Configuration management enhances the security features of a computer network. With a configuration management software in place, all processes, configurations and changes that take place in a computer system or network can be tracked. This greatly reduces the vulnerabilities of computer systems intrusions.