
ServiceNow
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Traditionally, system administrators used to run scripts manually to configure and manage infrastructure, applications, networks, servers, or anything that needs to be connected to the IT system. This involved manual documentation of every change within the IT environment, which increased the chances of human error.
This is where software tools designed for the job come into play. Called configuration management systems, these tools allow IT professionals and operations teams to control hundreds of servers, track changes to applications, and gain visibility into the actual state of an organization’s IT resources. This makes system management predictable and scalable.
But given the many options available on the market, buying a configuration management tool can be difficult. In this buyers guide, we’ve included all the information you’ll need to make a purchase decision.
Here’s what we'll cover:
Configuration management software is a tool that can help track, control, and maintain IT resources and services. The software helps DevOps teams record all changes in their IT environment (such as any software added, removed, or updated) and changes in server settings or network configuration. Tracking these changes allows users to know the current state of their applications and identify poor performing, outdated, or noncompliant configurations.
Such type of software integrates with bug tracking tools, version control systems, and compliance management systems to mitigate risks, making sure the functions in the IT environment are complying with policies and regulations.
Reporting and visualization in Puppet Enterprise (Source)
Configuration automation |
Automate the deployment and configuration of settings in the IT infrastructure, and automatically discover network devices, applications, or any middleware running in the IT infrastructure and store their configuration settings. |
Compliance management |
Ensure IT systems and servers are secured and in compliance with mandated policies. |
Reporting and visualization |
Gain real-time visibility into the functioning of IT resources and applications. |
Infrastructure automation/infrastructure as code |
Automate the provisioning of infrastructure to develop, deploy, and scale cloud applications with greater speed, less risk, and reduced cost. |
Node management |
Classify and manage the lifecycle of nodes that form the bridge between actions and the events that trigger those actions. |
Role-based access control |
Grant employees/users access rights to applications, networks, or other systems based on their roles/job functions. |
Change management |
Track and monitor any configuration change and transition of components/elements within the IT infrastructure. |
REST API Integration |
Integrate with other systems/databases to effectively monitor and control IT resources from one central location. |
Application deployment |
Deploy any application by instructing the software on how and when to install. |
Orchestration |
Manage the interconnections and interactions among workloads to automate tasks in the IT environment. |
Before purchasing a system, you should assess what kind of a buyer you are. The majority of buyers belong to one of these categories:
Below is a comprehensive list of benefits you can expect from deploying configuration management software:
Note: The applications selected in this article are examples to show a feature in context and are not intended as endorsements or recommendations. They have been obtained from sources believed to be reliable at the time of publication.