Which phase focuses on collecting information about existing CIs?

The Exploration Phase is focused on collecting information about existing Configuration Items (CIs). This phase involves identifying and assessing all CIs within the environment, which allows organizations to build a comprehensive inventory. During the Exploration Phase, the Discovery process gathers detailed data about the hardware and software present in the network. This information is crucial for establishing a reliable Configuration Management Database (CMDB), as it lays the groundwork for effective configuration management practices that will follow in later phases.

In this phase, various discovery methods are employed to probe networks, identify devices, and accumulate relevant property data associated with each CI. This can encompass things like specifications, relationships, and states of the CIs to ensure that the CMDB accurately reflects the organization's infrastructure.

In contrast, other phases such as the Identification Phase primarily focus on recognizing and classifying CIs, the Horizontal Exploration Phase typically involves deeper analysis of relationships among CIs, and the Configuration Phase is concerned with managing and maintaining the CIs within the CMDB rather than the initial collection of data. Thus, the Exploration Phase is critical for establishing the foundational data needed for effective IT asset management.