What is a Configuration Management Database? A Configuration Management Database (CMDB) is a repository of information related to all of the components of an information system.  Although repositories similar to CMDBs have been used for years in IT, the origin of the CMDBs stems from Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL).   CMDBs help monitor and discover what system components are needed for effective and efficient business processes and IT service management.  A core component in IT best practices, the CMDB serves to maximize the alignment of human capital, technology and business processes. While configuration management can be implemented for organizations of any size, any and all associated metadata contained in the database must be kept up to data.  As with technology in general, relevancy and accuracy are extremely important.   Without timely and actionable information, incorrect decisions can be made by IT and management of a firm.  The following are also common misconceptions about CMDB, which can lead to erroneous decision making by key decision makers in organizations: 

• CMDB is just a database.A CMDB, despite the name, is not (just) a database.  It is an analysis tool that happens to use an internal database to maintain a configuration state and snapshots.  A unique feature is that the database is populated by auto-discovery instead of business transactions.

• A CMDB enables ITIL.
  This can be a confusing phrase. A CMDB is a trusted source of configuration or structural information. Controlling the ITIL workflows and collecting process metrics is managed by a separate workflow, forms and dashboard tools.

• CMDB is just a part of change management.
  Change management uses the CMDB analysis and report capability to identify rogue changes, simulate the impact of proposed changes and confirm releases.  CMDB is an important tool for automating the change management process.  A CMDB implements the ITIL configuration management process.