Configuration manages the integrity of all configuration item (CI)s and maintains accurate information about those CIs. This information is stored in configuration records.  CIs may include hardware, software, documentation, or other types of controlled by Configuration Management.  This work is maintained within a Configuration Management System (CMS).  The CMS typically consists of:

• multiple configuration management database (CMDB), including CMDBs of service providers
• Definitive Media Library (DML)
• other media libraries for designing, building, testing, deployment, and operations
• definitive spares and other secure stores
• configuration baselines 

CI information is provided upon request by any process.

There are different types of CIs.  All elements in the infrastructure that are controlled are considered CIs and are part of the overall CMS.  Elements that are not controlled are not considered CIs. 

Periodically, the state of the infrastructure is captured as a configuration baseline.

Also, audits are performed to determine the planned state versus actual state of the IT infrastructure.

Assets and configuration items are overlapping concepts.