ITIL practices can be used to help organizations identify areas where they need improvement. These guidelines are industry- and vendor-neutral and help companies streamline and optimize their processes, reduce costs, and maximize efficiency. It helps to understand the history of ITIL.
In 1980s UK, the Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency of the UK (CCTA), developed a set recommendations to address the increasing dependence on information technology. CCTA recognized the need for standard IT management practices. This forced government agencies and private sector contracts to develop their own.
IT Infrastructure Library was born as a collection books that each cover a specific area of IT service management. ITIL was based on a process-model-based approach to controlling and managing operations. ITIL v1 was published in 1989-1996. It included more than 30 volumes.
ITIL v2 was published in 2001. It condensed the publications into nine logical groups, making it easier to access (and more affordable). This edition included process guidelines that were related to IT management, services, and solutions. ITIL version 2 was updated in 2001, but it is still the current version.
How can ITIL be of help to organizations today? It provides valuable guidelines to streamline processes and maximize technology’s potential, which results in better efficiency and a balanced workload. ITIL certification exams and qualifications are a testament to the importance of ITIL. ITIL certifications are a validation of their holders’ knowledge of best management practices. This expertise is highly valuable for government agencies as well as non-profits and businesses alike.
ITIL Qualifications
ITIL’s Qualification Scheme uses a modular approach. All ITIL and ITIL-related qualifications receive a specific credit value. The ITIL qualification layout has five levels.
ITIL Foundation (worth two credits). ITIL Foundation exam is 40 multiple-choice questions. There are no prerequisites. It covers the basics of ITIL service lifecycle management, elements, and concepts.
ITIL Intermediate Level (15 credits) is available to ITIL Foundation holders who have successfully completed an accredited training course. The intermediate level covers two areas. These include Service Lifecycle exams (including Service Strategy and Service Design, Service Transition and Continual Services Improvement) and Service Capability exams (Planning Protection and Optimization and Release Control and Validation. Operational Support and Analysis and Service Offerings and agreements).
ITIL Managing Across The Lifecycle (MALC) is the last module that a candidate must complete before achieving ITIL Expert Level. It is worth 5 credits. Candidates can expect to be able to master the following key concepts and skills after completing the education and exam components.
ITIL Expert Level requires 22 credits to be accumulated by candidates who have passed the ITIL Foundation, Intermediate Level, and MALC exams.
ITIL Master Qualification requires that the candidate be ITIL Expert-level certified. Candidates must explain and justify how they selected and applied a range knowledge, principles and techniques from ITIL and support management techniques to achieve their ITIL Master Qualification.
