# Configuration Data > Configuration Data means data that prepares a software system for its specific use case **Term:** Configuration Data **Last updated:** 2026-07-29 ## Definition ## What Configuration Data Means in a Contract Configuration Data is the category of information used to adapt a software system, typically a hosted or licensed platform, to a particular customer's operational needs. It includes items such as workflow rules, permission settings, field mappings, integration parameters, notification triggers, and dashboard layouts. It is not the underlying software code, and it is usually distinct from the substantive business records a customer stores in the system, often called customer content or customer data. Contracts reference Configuration Data to clarify what a customer controls and can export, versus what a vendor owns as part of its proprietary platform architecture. Because configuration choices often embody a customer's specific processes and know-how, parties frequently want clarity on whether this information is portable, whether it can be reused by the vendor for other clients, and how it is treated on termination. The term also matters for technology vendors serving regulated industries, such as [healthcare](https://www.genieai.co/industry/healthcare) or [finance](https://www.genieai.co/industry/finance), where configuration choices may reflect compliance-driven settings that a customer needs preserved or documented for audit purposes. ## How Configuration Data Is Defined or Measured There is no universal statutory definition of Configuration Data, so its scope depends entirely on the contract's drafting. A well-drafted definition will describe the data by function, meaning the settings and parameters that determine how the software operates for a given customer, rather than by format or storage location, since configuration information can exist in databases, configuration files, or administrative interfaces. Measurement or scoping typically happens through examples and exclusions. Agreements often list illustrative categories, such as user roles, approval workflows, custom fields, branding elements, and integration credentials, while expressly excluding source code, underlying algorithms, and the vendor's core software architecture. Some contracts also separate Configuration Data from Customer Data by stating that Configuration Data does not include the substantive records a customer inputs during use. - Settings and parameters chosen by the customer during implementation - Custom workflows, templates, and permission structures - Integration and connectivity settings, excluding underlying credentials treated as confidential information ## Where Configuration Data Appears in Agreements Configuration Data commonly appears in software licensing agreements, hosted service agreements, and implementation statements of work, particularly where a vendor customizes a platform during onboarding. It is also relevant in [data processing agreement](https://www.genieai.co/en-us/template-type/data-processing-agreement) schedules when configuration settings intersect with personal data, since certain configuration choices, like notification recipients or access permissions, can affect how personal data flows through a system. Provisions addressing Configuration Data typically sit within definitions sections, data ownership clauses, exit and transition provisions, and sometimes in security documentation such as an [acceptable use policy](https://www.genieai.co/en-us/template-type/acceptable-use-policy) where administrators are told what configuration changes are permitted. In multi-tenant SaaS arrangements, vendors may also reference Configuration Data when describing backup and retention practices, since restoring a system after an incident often requires reapplying configuration settings alongside customer content. Industries with heavily customized deployments, including [manufacturing](https://www.genieai.co/industry/manufacturing) and public sector procurement, tend to negotiate more detailed configuration provisions because the settings represent significant implementation investment. ## Why the Exact Wording Matters Ambiguity about Configuration Data can create disputes at the end of a contract. If a customer assumes it owns and can export all configuration settings, but the vendor's definition excludes anything embedded in proprietary architecture, the customer may find migration to a new system far more difficult and costly than anticipated. Precise wording avoids this mismatch by clarifying exactly what will be delivered on exit. The wording also affects confidentiality and security obligations. If Configuration Data reveals sensitive business logic or security architecture, the contract should specify whether it is treated as confidential information and who bears responsibility for protecting it against unauthorized disclosure or misuse. ## Drafting Considerations Drafters should define Configuration Data functionally, giving concrete examples relevant to the platform involved, and should explicitly state its relationship to Customer Data, Confidential Information, and the vendor's proprietary technology. Ownership language should specify whether the customer retains rights to its specific configuration choices even though the underlying platform remains vendor property. Exit provisions should address whether Configuration Data will be exported in a usable format upon termination, within what timeframe, and at what cost. Security-conscious drafters should also consider referencing a [data retention policy](https://www.genieai.co/en-us/template-type/data-retention-policy) to align how long configuration records are kept after an account closes, particularly where configuration settings might contain information relevant to security audits or regulatory review. Finally, parties should confirm that definitions of Configuration Data are consistent across related documents, including statements of work, security schedules, and service level agreements, to avoid conflicting obligations arising from inconsistent terminology. ## Context ### Relevant circumstances - Implementing a new software system - Modifying existing software for a specific use - Maintaining a software system in a dynamic environment ### Relevant sectors - Healthcare - Finance ## Relevant contract types - [Data Processing Agreement](https://www.genieai.co/en-us/template-type/data-processing-agreement) - [Acceptable Use Policy](https://www.genieai.co/en-us/template-type/acceptable-use-policy) - [Data Retention Policy](https://www.genieai.co/en-us/template-type/data-retention-policy) --- This is the Markdown representation of [https://www.genieai.co/en-us/define/configuration-data](https://www.genieai.co/en-us/define/configuration-data), provided for AI agents and crawlers. The HTML page is canonical. See [/llms.txt](https://www.genieai.co/llms.txt) for the full content map.