What are configuration items (CIs) in the context of configuration management?

Configuration items (CIs) are essentially the fundamental components of a system that are managed within the configuration management process. They can be various types of assets and can include software, hardware, documents, and even processes. In this context, the correct answer recognizes that these items are treated as a single entity during configuration management.

By managing CIs, organizations can maintain a clear understanding of their infrastructure, track changes, and ensure system integrity over time. This holistic view is essential for maintaining compliance and facilitating effective change management, which are critical elements of security and operational continuity.

The other options don’t accurately capture the broad range of elements considered in configuration management. Financial elements focus solely on monetary values, human resources categories pertain to staff classifications rather than asset management, and legal compliance documents, while important, do not represent the tangible or intangible components that are actively managed within a system configuration context. Understanding this helps in realizing how configuration management strives to control and monitor the components that collectively support the IT infrastructure.