Simple definition
An IT change is a planned modification to an application, infrastructure component, configuration or service.
Technical definition
Change management records the purpose, impact, risk, approvals, implementation plan, maintenance window, testing and rollback steps. It helps teams coordinate controlled modifications in production.
What is IT change management used for?
Reduce service interruptions, document decisions and make changes easier to review or reverse.
Practical example
Before updating a firewall, a team validates the configuration backup, confirms a maintenance window and prepares a rollback plan.
Common risks
- Incomplete documentation
- Poorly defined priority
- Insufficient monitoring