This IDC study discusses types of software virtualization and how they affect change and configuration management software. Virtualization technologies generally fall into four areas. How these technologies can be used within change and configuration management software depends on who's using them. Licensing these technologies is going to be a challenge if they are released to customers in various instances, and that continues to be addressed by the vendors selling the technologies.

"Virtualization continues to be a work in progress," said Fred Broussard, research manager, PC and Device Management Software and Enterprise System Management Software. "There's plenty of promise in virtualization, but the greatest promise for users of CCM software may come from embedding virtualization technologies within their solution for extending their scale and reach."