Many companies are faced with the challenge of a perpetually growing digital infrastructure and the question of how to keep track of everything when there are so many different components. Only those who have the necessary data for configuration and IT service management under control can automate existing processes end-to-end, support innovative business models and actively shape never-ending change. This is where configuration management and the configuration management database (CMDB) come into play.
The CMDB is the central database that contains all the data relevant to configuration management. This includes information on the nature and status of all configuration items (CIs) and the relationships between them. Each element of the IT infrastructure, whether hardware, software or service, as well as entities in the environment such as a person, a user, a contract or a room, represents a CI.
Many will still remember the classic CMDB from earlier times. Perhaps with horror because of failed implementation projects and its appearance as an opaque collection of database tables with feature-poor maintenance dialogs as the only GUI for the user. Once decried by many as an unfathomable repository for any kind of configuration data, it is now more important than ever as a modern version in the age of digital transformation. This is because modern CMDBs are much more than a simple collection of information and hence differ significantly from the classic CMDB approaches of the past. They offer convenient and powerful visualization, workflow, and automation functionalities, create a comprehensive overview of the IT infrastructure on the one hand, and focus on infrastructure details where they really add value to the business on the other. Interfaces make it easy to connect a wide variety of applications and systems, such as IT help desks or auto-discovery systems and the IT infrastructure’s operational management systems for the rapid collection and updating of system data. The economic added value increases, while the administration effort for the digital infrastructure decreases significantly.
With a modern, powerful CMDB, companies not only gain an overview of their IT infrastructure components, but also receive the much-needed tools for more efficient operations.
Download our white paper to learn more about how a modern CMDB can help you get the most out of your existing system data. Plus, read real-world examples and tips for successful CMDB implementation.
Von: Matthias Gromann, Head of Business Line Enterprise IT
