Change Management Policy
Purpose and Scope
Section titled “Purpose and Scope”The purpose of this Change Management Policy is to establish a standardized approach for managing changes to Code Town’s information systems and infrastructure.
This policy applies to all employees, contractors, and third-party providers involved in initiating, approving, or implementing changes within Code Town.
Policy Statements: Our Commitments
Section titled “Policy Statements: Our Commitments”The following policy statements outline our approach to change request, approval, implementation, and review.
Change Management Process and Documentation
Section titled “Change Management Process and Documentation”All changes to information systems, network devices, applications, data structures, and facilities must follow a standardized change management process. This process includes formal request, assessment, approval, testing, implementation, and review stages.
All change requests must be formally documented, including:
- Author
- Approver
- Description and justification of the change
A separate, streamlined process is defined for emergency changes, with appropriate documentation and approvals.
Approval
Section titled “Approval”Changes require approval by appropriate personnel based on their classification and potential impact. The approval process maintains segregation of duties.
Testing and Implementation
Section titled “Testing and Implementation”All changes undergo testing in a non-production environment before implementation. Test results require documentation and approval before proceeding to production.
Only authorized personnel may implement changes, following the approved plan and schedule.
Development and production environments are kept separate to reduce the risk of unauthorized changes.
Monitoring, Review, and Continuous Improvement
Section titled “Monitoring, Review, and Continuous Improvement”All changes are logged and monitored to maintain an audit trail. Significant changes undergo post-implementation reviews to verify success and identify issues or lessons learned.
The change management process is subject to regular review and improvement based on feedback and lessons learned.
Access Control and Security
Section titled “Access Control and Security”Access to implement changes is restricted to authorized personnel only. Access rights for change implementation undergo regular review and updates.
The change management process integrates with the configuration management system to maintain accurate tracking of system configurations.
Communication and Vendor Management
Section titled “Communication and Vendor Management”All relevant stakeholders are informed of significant changes before implementation.
Vendor or third-party implemented changes must adhere to this policy and are subject to the same level of scrutiny and control.
Compliance and Enforcement
Section titled “Compliance and Enforcement”Compliance with this policy is mandatory for all employees, contractors, and third parties with access to Code Town’s data.
In rare cases, business needs, local laws, or regulations may require exceptions. Management will approve any exceptions and define alternative solutions.
Non-compliance may lead to disciplinary action, including termination, as per Code Town’s policies.
Policy Review and Maintenance
Section titled “Policy Review and Maintenance”This policy will be reviewed annually or when significant changes occur to maintain its continuing suitability, adequacy, and effectiveness.