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A Configuration Item (CI) is any service, component, or other asset that needs to be managed in order to deliver an IT service. Information about each configuration item is recorded in a configuration record and each is identified by a unique name. CI names should be concise, follow a consistent format, and contain enough information that a unique name can be assigned to each individual item and the nature of the item is immediately apparent to any user.

General Principles in Naming CIs

It is unlikely that the same naming standard can be used for all CI classes. The following are general guidelines that should be considered when determining the most appropriate naming convention for a particular CI.

• A format should be chosen that eliminates the need to ever have to rename the CI throughout its life cycle. Do not include version numbers or release dates in CI names unless you are tracking that specific version of the CI through its entire life cycle.

• The name should describe the CI in a way that it is recognizable by the majority of users (including clients) who will see it.

• The name should have the more significant information at the beginning, which will make it easier for systems with autocomplete to find the name when a user searches for it.

• For hardware, consider including the asset tag ID or chassis serial number in the name. This will uniquely identify the CI and typically will not change during the CI's life cycle.

• For software, use the common industry name of the product (for commercial products) or the name by which the software is usually referenced (for software developed internally) as the basis of the name.

• For servers, printers, workstations and other network devices, consider that host names often change and care should be taken when considering them as CI names.

• Make every attempt to avoid abbreviations, jargon, and slang in CI names. Keep in mind that everyone from end users on the business side to the technical staff called on to provide support will need to understand the name.
• Use appropriate capitalization in the name. Pay particular attention to acronyms, application software names, and other words that have unusual letter casing. (See Capitalization Conventions for more information.)
• Under no circumstances should a person’s name be included in a CI name. If, for some reason, a person's name must be included then use the person's home department rather than the person’s name.

Duplication of CI Names

CIs are classified into any number of categories based on the purpose of the item. CI classes typically include IT or business services, hardware, software, buildings, and formal documentation such as process documentation and service level agreements. Every effort should be made to prevent duplication of CI names even across different classes. For example, the name of an application software package often becomes synonymous with the business service supported by the software, as in the following examples:

In everyday use, the application software name is commonly used to refer to both the application and the service. Naming both an application software CI and a business service CI "ServiceNow," even though they are in different configuration classes, leads to confusion when referring to one or the other.