Endpoint Insights

Acronyms of Configuration Manager

There are many abbreviations and acronyms associated with Configuration Manager. I’m going to talk about some of the more popular ones and then give you a list of acronyms that I think every Admin needs to know about. Whether you are just starting out, or are an old hand, you should find this information useful. Now, let’s get started talking about the many different acronyms of Configuration Manager.

The Many Different Acronyms of Configuration Manager - Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager

Abbreviations and Acronyms of Configuration Manager

When you refer to Configuration Manager, do you use the official short-forms, “ConfigMgr,” or, “MEMCM?” Do you use the ever-popular, “SCCM,” or the newer, “MECM?” Are you old-school and still use, “SMS?” Personally, I like to use ConfigMgr because unlike the other short-forms, this one doesn’t need to change.

Below, I talk about each one and add a few new ones into the mix.

SMS

If you are new to Configuration Manager, then you may not have heard about Systems Management Server. This is where it all started. You can read more about it on this page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_System_Center_Configuration_Manager

ConfigMgr

This is the official short form, but it doesn’t say which version. Is it referring to 2007, 2012, 2012 R2/R3 or current branch? Despite this problem, it’s still my go-to short form. Here’s more information about it: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/mem/configmgr/

SCCM

This acronym gained popularity when the product was called, “System Center Configuration Manager.” It is not the official acronym. https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/mem/configmgr/

MEMCM

Configuration Manager, along with Intune, is now part of Microsoft Endpoint Manager. This update was announced at Microsoft Ignite 2019. The first letter of each word forms, “MEMCM.” However, Microsoft Endpoint Manager Configuration Manager doesn’t necessarily roll off the tongue! https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/mem/configmgr/

MECM

Instead of using MEMCM, I see a lot of folks using MECM – Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager. https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/mem/configmgr/

Additional Acronyms of Configuration Manager

Below are some more acronyms I’ve seen used and what each one stands for.

CM

Configuration Manager

CM07

Configuration Manager 2007
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_System_Center_Configuration_Manager

CM12

Configuration Manager 2012 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_System_Center_Configuration_Manager

CM12R2

Configuration Manager 2012 R2 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_System_Center_Configuration_Manager

CMCB

Configuration Manager Current Branch https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/mem/configmgr/

Let me know what your favorite Configuration Manager acronym is to use by leaving a note in the comment section below or contacting me @GarthMJ.

Important Acronyms

Below is a list of the most important acronyms that a ConfigMgr Admin will need to know. You might want to bookmark this page for handy reference.


Acronyms

Details

URL

AAD

Azure Active Directory

AD

Active Directory

ADK

Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit

AI

Asset Intelligence

App-V

Microsoft Application Virtualization

ARP

Add Remove Programs

AV

Anti-virus

AVMA

Automatic Virtual Machine Activation

BG

Boundary Groups

BIDS

Business Intelligence Development Studio

BITS

Background Intelligent Transfer Service

BSOD

Blue Screen of Death

BYOD

Bring Your Own Device

CAL

Client Access License

CAS

Central Administration Site

CI

Configuration Item

CMDB

Configuration Management Database

CMG

Cloud Management Gateway

CTE

Common Table Expression

DaRT

Microsoft Diagnostics and Recovery Toolset

DC

Domain Controller

DCM

Desired Configuration Management

DFS

Distributed File System

DHCP

Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol

DISM

Deployment Image Servicing and Management

DMZ

Demilitarized Zone

DNS

Domain Name System

DP

Distribution Point

EP

Endpoint Protection

FQDN

Fully Qualified Domain Name

FSP

Fallback Status Point

GA

General Availability

GC

Global Catalog

GP

Group Policy

GPO

Group Policy Object

GUID

Globally Unique Identifier

HA

High Availability

HD

Hard Disk Drive

HDD

Hard Disk Drive

HW Inv.

Hardware Inventory

IIS

Internet Information Services

IOPS

Input/Output Operations per Second

IP

Internet Protocol

IPv4

Internet Protocol version 4

IPv6

Internet Protocol version 6

ISV

Independent Software Vendor

KMS

Key Management Service

KPI

Key Performance Indicator

KVM

Keyboard Video and Mouse

LAPS

Local Administrator Password Solution

LDAP

Lightweight Directory Access Protocol

LTSB

Long Term Servicing Branch

MAC

Media Access Control

MAK

Multiple Activation Key

MAM

Mobile Application Management

MAN

Metropolitan Area Network

MBAM

Microsoft BitLocker Administration and Monitoring

MDM

Mobile Device Management

MDT

Microsoft Deployment Toolkit

MMC

Microsoft Management Console

MP

Management Point

NAS

Network Attached Storage

NAT

Network Address Translation

NIC

Network Interface Controller

OSD

Operating System Deployment

PBRS

Power BI Report Server

PRI

Primary Site

PXE

Preboot Execution Environment

QOS

Quality of Service

RBAC

Role Based Access Control

RCT

Right-Click Tool

RDP

Remote Desktop Protocol

RFC

Request for Comments

RP

Reporting Point

SCEP

System Center Endpoint Protection

SCUP

System Center Updates Publisher

SDK

Software Development Kit

SSMS

SQL Server Management Studio

SSRS

SQL Server Reporting Services

SUG

Software Update Group

SUP

Software Update Point

SW Inv.

Software Inventory

SWM

Software Metering

TAM

Technical Account Manager

TPM

Trusted Platform Module

UAC

User Account Control

UEFI

Unified Extensible Firmware Interface

UNC

Universal Naming Convention

UPN

User Principal Name

URI

Uniform Resource Identifier

UTC

Universal Time Coordinated

VDI

Virtual Desktop Infrastructure

VHD

Virtual Hard Disk

VHDX

Hyper-V Virtual Hard Disk

VLK

Volume License Key

VLSC

Volume Licensing Service Center

VM

Virtual Machine

VS

Visual Studio

VSS

Volume Shadow Copy Service

WID

Windows Internal Database

WinPE

Windows Preinstallation Environment

WMI

Windows Management Instrumentation

WOL

Wake-on LAN

WSUS

Windows Server Update Services

WUfB

Windows Update for Business

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