Patent ID: 8631389
Filing Date: 2014-01-14
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A method for authenticating one or more configuration items in a configuration management database comprising steps of: retrieving a change history for each of the one or more configuration items for a specified time period; retrieving requests for change identifiers utilized for each of the one or more configuration items in the specified time period; generating an audit report for the one or more configuration items in accordance with the retrieved change history and the retrieved request for change identifiers; determining if an attribute value change in the change history of each of the one or more configuration items is authorized; and recording a marker in the change history through which a given configuration item has authorized changes; wherein the step of determining if each attribute value change is authorized comprises the step of comparing changes in the retrieved change history to the retrieved request for change identifiers for each of the one or more configuration items to distinguish attribute value changes that occurred without a request for change from attribute value changes that occurred with a request for change, the attribute value changes that occurred without a request for change are determined to be unauthorized changes, and the attribute values changes that occurred with a request for change are determined to be authorized changes; wherein the step of comparing changes in the retrieved change history to retrieved request for change identifiers comprises the steps of: unwinding prior changes to a last recorded marker for each of the one or more configuration items, wherein changes prior to the last recorded marker are authorized changes; and reviewing changes subsequent to the last recorded marker in accordance with the retrieved request for change identifiers for each of the one or more configuration items.