Code, Dependencies, and Instance Resource Management

Until a system is retired, its underlying resources and dependencies must be managed until no active consumers depend on it and all instances have been retired, and possibly longer, depending on factors such as regulatory requirements for data retention.

To maintain the operational integrity of a Digital Product, the code, hardware, third-party software (each has their own support lifecycle), and integrations must be managed. Often, dependencies have their own upgrade and maintenance cycles that should be tracked as well.

Digital Products rely on a supply chain that is often real-time: code-executed and data-driven functionality. The Digital Product Manager is accountable for ensuring that dependencies with other Digital Products are managed along with any contractual, financial, and technical requirements.

The rapid cycle time for changes in Digital Products requires a level of automation not needed for more traditional products. Many products receive software updates weekly or even daily. This can only be managed using an automated toolchain and support process. The IT4IT Standard describes how this can be done.