What Is Service Asset and Configuration Management?

 

In this series of blog articles on Service Asset and Configuration Management (SACM) we will explore what SACM is, the benefits that its use can bring to an organisation and how it can be implemented.  We will also explore the importance that SACM now holds in helping to address the challenges a modern CIO is faced with.  In this first article we will look at what SACM is.

According to ITIL, Service Asset and Configuration Management (SACM) is:

“The process responsible for ensuring that the assets required to deliver services are properly controlled, and that accurate and reliable information about those assets is available when and where it is needed. This information includes details of how the assets have been configured and the relationships between assets.”

SACM is probably one of the most important, but least understood of the ITIL processes. It should be one of the first that is implemented as it underpins all the other processes, but as it is also one of the most complex, and is one of the ITIL processes that are most commonly ignored.

The concept of SACM is that a business consumes a number of technology services, each of which is made up of components that contribute to the overall working of the service.  SACM deals with the attributes, configurations and relationships of these individual components that make up the services, and the relationships between the services themselves.

SACM is a combination of two important processes:

• Asset Management, which addresses the assets you use to deliver IT services, and
• Configuration Management, which tracks the configurations of, and relationships between, the various components (or Configuration Items) of the technology services

The information on this data is stored on the Configuration Management System (CMS), a logical model for the IT infrastructure and contains one or more physical Configuration Management Databases (CMDB). These, in turn, contain all the data, the relevant Configuration Items (CIs), which are required for service delivery.

The development and implementation of an SACM policy form the basis for the Service Asset and Configuration Management process.

All changes to Service Assets and Configuration Items (CIs) must be authorised and controlled via the Change Management process. Adherence to this policy is a key, critical factor for a successful service management organisation.

The benefits of implementing SACM processes include:

• Better cost management of services
• Improved planning and delivery of changes and releases
• More efficient resolution of incidents and problems, meeting SLAs more frequently

Less risk of non-compliance to important legal, regulatory, and procedural standards

 

iCore can assist in the planning and preparation, population and implementation, and operation and continual improvement of your Service Asset and Configuration Management (SACM) process and Configuration Management System (CMS) tooling, ensuring that you realise the expected benefits for your business.

iCore provides consultancy and pragmatic approach to delivery helping many organisations to change their IT Service Delivery to adapt to new and emerging technologies, frameworks and working practices. iCore consultants have practical Service Management experience, working in technology departments for top 250 companies.

If you would like to discuss how iCore can help you then contact us on +44 (0) 207 868 2405 or email us at info@icore-ltd.com