Configuration Management: Monitor
Most IT organizations have accepted that CMDB is a critical component in implementing the ITSM processes. To ensure a successful outcome of the implementation, IT organizations should establish processes in the beginning of the project to perform continuous monitoring of all configuration changes.
Log Intelligence can be used to alert on all configuration changes by any network devices, systems or applications. Whenever a change is made to a configuration item, the IT administrators are immediately notified. The IT administrators can then compare this alerted change to the CMDB being implemented to ensure it has been appropriately approved.
Continuous monitoring using TIBCO LogLogic provides several benefits to the implementation of the CMDB. First, by alerting changes made in real-time allow IT administrators to quickly identify holes in the implementation process and ensure that all critical IT components are covered. Second, continuously monitoring allows standard change candidates be identified early on. The IT administrators can then adjust the implementation process to incorporate the standard changes. Third, even after the implementation of the CMDB, some users can still circumvent the established processes to make unauthorized changes. By continuously monitoring all configuration changes, the IT organization can ensure all changes are made through the appropriate channels. Fourth, continuous monitoring through Log Management allows the IT organization to monitor changes to network devices, system and applications that are not part of the CMDB. Essentially, Log Intelligence is a great complement to the CMDB.