SoftwareCIs

SoftwareCIs are software configuration items used in IT service management, representing discrete software components that are managed as part of the configuration management process. In a configuration management database (CMDB), SoftwareCIs model items such as applications, modules, libraries, services, runtimes, scripts, licenses, and their versions, including relationships to other CIs and supporting infrastructure.

Attributes include name, version, vendor, license, deployment environment, installation path, owner, support group, status, and lifecycle dates. Relationships show dependencies, hosting relationships (runs on a server or virtual machine), containment (part of an application suite), and integration points. Changes to SoftwareCIs are governed by change management and tied to release records.

Use and lifecycle: discovered automatically by asset and discovery tools or entered manually. They undergo lifecycle stages such as proposed, in service, updated, or retired. Baselines, version histories, and relationship maps enable impact assessment, change risk evaluation, incident and problem management, and regulatory compliance.

Challenges and tools: maintaining data accuracy, avoiding duplicates, and reconciling data from multiple discovery tools and asset systems. License compliance, software vulnerability management, and audit readiness are ongoing concerns. Common tooling includes CMDB platforms and IT service management suites that support discovery, dependency mapping, and change workflows.