Rule management using a configuration database

A system comprising:

• a processor;
• a data bus coupled to the processor;
• a memory coupled to the data bus;
• and
• a non-transitory computer-usable medium embodying computer program code, the computer program code comprising instructions executable by the processor and configured for:
• in response to detecting a rule change, transmitting a new rule to a rule control logic in a resource management database, wherein the resource management database is a Configuration Management Database (CMDB), wherein the rule change changes a rule for an attribute of a resource in a data processing system, and wherein the resource management database describes attributes of resources in the data processing system;
• transmitting the new rule from the rule control logic to a resource manager, wherein the new rule instructs the resource manager to implement the new rule in a resource in the data processing system;
• transmitting a watch message from the rule control logic to a Configuration Item (CI) in a CMDB, wherein the CI contains a shadow copy of attribute configurations for resources managed by the CMDB, and wherein the watch message instructs the CI to watch for a certification entry from the resource manager, and wherein the certification entry identifies the resource as being in compliance with the new rule;
• transmitting a certification message from the CI to a certification control in the CMDB, wherein the certification message indicates whether the resource is in compliance with the new rule;
• and
• transmitting a compliance summary. from the certification control to an enterprise Information Systems (IS) manager, wherein the compliance summary describes a compliance status for multiple resources in the data processing system, and wherein the compliance status describes whether a resource has or has not implemented the new rule.

A non-transitory computer readable storage device embodying computer program code, the computer program code comprising computer executable instructions configured for:

• in response to detecting a rule change, transmitting a new rule to a rule control logic in a resource management database, wherein the resource management database is a Configuration Management Database (CMDB), wherein the rule change changes a rule for an attribute of a resource in a data processing system, and wherein the resource management database describes attributes of resources in the data processing system;
• transmitting the new rule from the rule control logic to a resource manager, wherein the new rule instructs the resource manager to implement the new rule in a resource in the data processing system;
• transmitting a watch message from the rule control logic to a Configuration Item (CI) in a CMDB, wherein the CI contains a shadow copy of attribute configurations for resources managed by the CMDB, and wherein the watch message instructs the CI to watch for a certification entry from the resource manager, and wherein the certification entry identifies the resource as being in compliance with the new rule;
• transmitting a certification message from the CI to a certification control in the CMDB, wherein the certification message indicates whether the resource is in compliance with the new rule;
• and
• transmitting a compliance summary from the certification control to an enterprise Information Systems (IS) manager, wherein the compliance summary describes a compliance status for multiple resources in the data processing system, and wherein the compliance status describes whether a resource has or has not implemented the new rule, and wherein the computer executable instructions are deployable to a client computer from a server at a remote location in an on-demand basis.