1.1 Understanding Secure Configuration Manager Components

Secure Configuration Manager deploys agents to collect information, stores information in a central database, and displays reports in the Secure Configuration Manager console. Secure Configuration Manager Core Services manages communication among the components. Secure Configuration Manager includes the major components listed in the following table.

Component	Description
Agents	Receive requests from Core Services and run commands or respond by returning data, status, or results. Agents run platform-specific software locally on assets throughout your enterprise.
Database	Stores product configuration data and results from security checkup reports in Microsoft SQL Server format.
Console	Serves as an interface for Secure Configuration Manager so you can perform the following functions: Add, remove, and view your IT resources Execute security checks and run policy templates Remediate policy exceptions Manage jobs Filter information Control automatic AutoSync updates Configure product settings
Core Services	Communicates between agents, the database, and console to perform the following functions: Manage interaction between agents and console Authenticate requests to the agents Receive data from agents and store it in the database Log product activity, security checkup results, and configuration data in the database

For more information about modifying component settings and grooming the database, see Section 9.0, Maintaining the Secure Configuration Manager Database.