Evergreening

Evergreening

A policy for keeping resources up to date. Evergreening typically refers tot he process of keeping hardware resources up to date, but the term can also be applied to software and other resources (such as documents). For example a simple evergreening policy might be to replace all computers older than four years with new models. cf "technology replacement", "technology refresh".

An evergreening policy should state whether the purpose is to replace technology to maintain an acceptable level of reliability (mean time between failure), to acquire improved speed and capacity at an acceptable price or a combination of the two (i.e. to acquire the lowest or lower cost technology replacement with speed and capacity at least as good as its predecessor). cf "Technology Refresh" and "Technology Replacement".

This definition includes a contribution by Craig Senior.

Documentation evergreening consists of the realization that some documents are not a "complete them once and forget about them" but instead need to be periodically revised. There are documents (such as Business Continuity Plans, Disaster Recovery Plans, Processes , Policies, Guidelines, etc) that need to be kept current. These are referred to as living documents and require changes and updates as the environment changes. Document evergreening is process used to keep these living documents up to date and refreshed. Most of the time they include a review date with in the document which requires the document to be reviewed and updated as needed.

Document evergreening contributed by Chris Churchill.