Understanding ITIL – Information Technology Infrastructure Library
Article Date: 04/06/2011
For those still starting in the I.T. field, ITIL may not mean a thing. ITIL stands for Information Technology Infrastructure Library, a set of concepts and practices for managing IT. It was generated in the 1980s when the then-called Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency (CCTA), now titled Office of Government Commerce (OGC), was instructed to create an approach for efficient and cost effective use of IT resources. Their goal was to develop an approach that is not dependent on any supplier, which resulted in what we call now as ITIL.
ITIL is now practiced around the globe for over two decades.
In a nutshell, ITIL gives detailed explanation of IT practices that can fit to any IT organization. It offers a common framework for all the activities of an IT department, of which activities are divided into processes that provide framework to make the IT service more mature. ITIL approach describes what must be included in IT Service Management to provide IT services required.
There are five elements that ITIL addresses. The first is the business perspective. In this element, ITIL focuses on areas like partnership and outsourcing, adapting the business to changes, business continuity management, and surviving changes.
Another factor is the IT infrastructure management, which addresses areas like systems and environmental management, computer installation and acceptance, network service and operations management, and management of local processors.
For application management, ITIL focuses on software life cycle support and testing IT service for operational use.
ITIL core is described as the elements of service support and service delivery.
So why use ITIL? Companies laud ITIL because of its cost-saving benefits. With the program, the provision of IT services are more customer-focused, plus the services are described clearer, in more details, and in an easier to understand language.
The IT organization also benefits from ITIL in a way that they develop a clearer structure and become efficient. ITIL also provides a consistent frame of reference for communications within the organization and with suppliers. With the system, organizations become more focused on the corporate objectives as well. |
