configuration management
compound.compound. the process of keeping track of all the parts of a system and how they work together. It ensures that any changes to software or hardware are recorded and done correctly.
compound. a systems engineering process for establishing and maintaining consistency of a product's performance, functional, and physical attributes with its requirements and design throughout its life.
Good configuration management prevents errors when updating the software.
The IT department implemented a new configuration management tool to track every hardware change across the company's global servers.
Robust configuration management is essential in aerospace engineering to ensure that every component's history and current status are documented for safety and regulatory compliance.
A compound of configuration, from the Latin configurare meaning to fashion from similar parts, and management, derived from the Italian maneggiare. The term emerged from United States Department of Defense technical standards in the 1950s to formalise engineering procedures for hardware systems.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Often used in technical contexts like software development, IT operations, and systems engineering.
Last updated July 22, 2026