By IT Brew Staff
less than 3 min read
Definition:
ITIL is a framework of best practices and guidelines to help organizations manage IT support and services.
Key takeaways
In the late 1980s, the UK government’s Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency (CCTA) attempted to document its best practices for government IT service management, in what eventually became known as the Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL). Other organizations adopted ITIL’s exhaustive breakdown of IT processes and functions, and the ITIL itself underwent significant revisions and streamlining over the next few decades.
The second and third versions of ITIL were released by the UK’s Office for Government Commerce, while the fourth version was launched by Axelos, a joint initiative of Capita PLC and the UK’s Cabinet Office. Axelos was then acquired by PeopleCert in 2021.
ITIL 4 the win
The ITIL 4 features seven principles for continuous improvement:
- Focus on value
- Start where you are
- Progress iteratively with feedback
- Collaborate and promote visibility
- Think and work holistically
- Keep it simple and practical
- Optimize and automate
In addition, ITIL 4 features 34 practices grouped into three categories: general management practices, service management practices, and technical management practices. These practices cover everything from information security management and project management to deployment management and service continuity management. PeopleCert and approved certification partners offer certifications for those who want to formalize their ITIL knowledge, starting with the ITIL 4 Foundation.
In theory, knowledge of ITIL can help tech professionals make their respective organizations more efficient and transparent. For IT professionals, having ITIL certification on a résumé or CV could open up jobs at organizations that have embraced ITIL principles.
