Change Management 1.3

Question 1

What is the importance of CHANGE MANAGEMENT?

Answer 1

• Ensuring that any changes such as software updates, patches to an application, firewall configurations, or modifications to switch ports go through a formal process.

Question 2

What are issues that can arise if there is no formal process for CHANGE MANAGEMENT?

Answer 2

• Can introduce changes that affect the performance of other systems or functions within the organization.

Question 3

What is the purpose of having a FORMAL PROCESS for CHANGE MANAGEMENT?

Answer 3

• Maintain the uptime of a system or service.
• Prevents confusion with other employees.
• Avoid any potential mistakes.

Question 4

What are the typical steps of CHANGE CONTROL PROCESS?

Answer 4

• Complete the request forms.
• Determine the purpose of the change.
• Identify the scope of the change.
• Schedule a date and time of the change.
• Determine affected systems and the impact.
• Analyze the risk associated with the change.
• Get approval from the change control board.
• Get end-user acceptance after the change is complete.

Question 5

How does the CHANGE PROCESS typically begin?

Answer 5

• Begins when the individual or entity needs to make a change.

Question 6

What role does the OWNER play in the CHANGE MANAGEMENT PROCESS?

Answer 6

• The owners manage the change management process.
• Are usually kept informed of the changes and are responsible for testing out the changes on the system.

Question 7

What is the role of the STAKEHOLDERS?

Answer 7

• Stakeholders are individuals or departments that are affected by the change management process.
• Want some input and control of the process.

Question 8

What are some important considerations when involving the STAKEHOLDERS?

Answer 8

• It may not be obvious as to who are the primary stakeholders.
• This just be one individual or an entire company.

Question 9

What is the role and purpose of an IMPACT ANALYSIS?

Answer 9

• Determine the risk and the affects associated with a proposed change.
• Often assessed as low, medium, or high.

Question 10

What are some important considerations when of potentially found risks?

Answer 10

• Can be far-reaching.
• “Fix” doesn’t fix anything or breaks something else.
• Failure of an operating system and data corruption.

Question 11

Are there any risks with NOT going through with the change?

Answer 11

• Security vulnerability
• Application unavailability
• Unexpected downtime to other services.

Question 12

How can the implementation of a SANDBOX ENVIRONMENT further assist in CHANGE MANAGEMENT?

Answer 12

• A sandbox provides a technological safe place.
• Will have no connection to the real world or production system.

Question 13

What can be addressed in a SANDBOX ENVIRONMENT?

Answer 13

• Testing updates or changes can be tested before deployment, and backout plans.

Question 14

What is the purpose of a BACKOUT PLANS?

Answer 14

• These are contingency plans.
• Will revert any changes in the event the worst happens.

Question 15

What is an important consideration when having BACKOUT PLANS?

Answer 15

• Backout plans, that revert or remove made changes, can cause issues too.
• It’s important to have a backup of your project.

Question 16

What is the purpose of a MAINTENANCE WINDOW?

Answer 16

• A planned timeframe to implement the new changes to a system or service currently in production.

Question 17

What are some important considerations of a MAINTENANCE WINDOW?

Answer 17

• Important to not perform a maintenance window during a time when team is working on the project.
• Important to not implement the changes during business hours when there is heavy user traffic.

Question 18

What is the importance of making CHANGE MANAGEMENT as part of your STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE?

Answer 18

• Everyone within the organization will be aware of the change management process.