What is ITIL?

  • February 18, 2025
  • Business Process
  • 15 min read
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Introduction

You would be shocked to know that around 70% of digital transformation initiatives fail to reach their goals. One primary reason contributing to this is poor IT service management.

This is where ITIL comes  in. It is a globally recognized framework that helps organizations improve their IT service management practices.

In this guide, we will explain the ITIL definition. You will learn its benefits and principles and how it helps businesses stay competitive. This blog aims to make ITIL clear and easy to understand for anyone, no matter their experience level.

But first, let’s get clear about what is ITIL.

What is ITIL?

ITIL is abbreviated as IT Infrastructure Library. It is a collection of guidelines for managing IT services to satisfy customer needs. It helps businesses provide top-notch IT support and stay responsive. So,  when any issues arise, it can be resolved quickly. ITIL minimizes downtime and keeps customers satisfied. 

For example, if a company wants to improve customer satisfaction, ITIL practices can help resolve their complaint tickets faster by providing speedy resolution.

With ITIL, you can:

  • Reduce potential issues before they pop up.
  • Improve your customer relations to the next level.
  • Save money by optimizing resources.
  • Support continuous improvement in your IT operations.
  • Work with Agile, DevOps, and Cloud technologies.

History of ITIL

With regard to history, ITIL has also adapted over the years to be in concert with dynamic technology. Here is a quick recollection:

  • 1980s – The UK government first developed ITIL to improve IT service quality. It was viewed as a cost center of the organization. Here, collaboration and automation were missing.
  • ITIL v2 – The second version was introduced in 2000, and it introduced key service management processes.
  • ITIL v3 – In 2007, ITIL version 3 was released. It gave a broader look at IT services and focused on a lifecycle approach for management. There were five volumes titled as:
    1. ITIL Service Strategy
    2. ITIL Service Design
    3. ITIL Service Transition
    4. ITIL Service Operation
    5. ITIL Continual Service Improvement
  • 2011: A minor update to ITIL v3 was published. It refined some of the previous content and provided additional guidance on implementing ITIL practices.
  • ITIL 4: Published in February 2019, this is the latest version of ITIL. The seven guidelines are mainly focused on providing value, visibility, and keeping things simple. ITIL 4 was designed to introduce more diverse features like 
    1. Change management
    2. Cloud automation,
    3. Improved Customer Relationship Management
    4. AI-driven IT services.
    5. Collaborating DevOps, Lean, Agile, and Axelos’ products

Why is ITIL Important Today?

Technology is changing fast. And companies need a structured approach to IT services to keep up. ITIL (the latest version) is in line with the current digital environment. By adopting ITIL 4 best practices, organizations can:

  • Adapt to cloud computing, AI, and automation.
  • Improve service management efficiency and provide value to customers.
  • Align IT services with business goals.
  • Introduce flexible working practices and improve productivity.
  • Enhance customer satisfaction and reduce costs.
  • Improve their vendor/supplier relationships.
  • Improve communication with stakeholders by building long-lasting relationships.

What is the ITIL Framework?

You may think of the ITIL framework as some rigid set of checklists that must be followed word for word. Well, to your relief, it is not so. After all, every organization has a unique set of pain points to resolve. 

The ITIL framework is a structured approach to IT service management (ITSM). It consists of:

  • Service Lifecycle – Covers strategy, design, transition, operation, and improvement.
  • ITIL Processes – Guidelines for managing IT services.
  • ITIL Tools – Software that helps implement ITIL best practices.

Key ITIL Terms You Should Know

Incident Management

Incident management is all about handling unexpected IT issues as quickly as possible. So, if there is a computer crash, the IT ops team must restore their services.

Problem Management

Finding the root cause of IT issues to prevent future problems.

Service Desk

More like a help desk where users contact to request IT service requests or report any problems faced.

Change Management

 Managing people and processes after any change is introduced. Change management helps prevent disruptions. 

Configuration Management

It maintains accurate records of IT assets and configurations.

What are the ITIL Guiding Principles?

ITIL 4 has seven guiding principles:

  1. Focus on Value – Prioritize customer needs.
  2. Start Where You Are – To access your current capabilities and work on it
  3. Progress Iteratively with Feedback – Make small yet continuous improvements.
  4. Collaborate and Promote Visibility – Encourage teamwork and transparency.
  5. Think and Work Holistically – Consider all aspects of IT services.
  6. Keep It Simple and Practical – Avoid unnecessary complexity in processes.
  7. Optimize and Automate – Use automation to improve efficiency.

Functions of ITIL

The following are the major functions of ITIL:

Service Strategy

It defines business goals and how IT services support them.

Service Design

This creates IT services that meet business and customer needs.

Service Transition

Service transition is to manage the deployment of new or updated services.

Service Operation

Ensures day-to-day IT services run smoothly.

Continual Service Improvement

Continuously enhances service quality and efficiency.

Top 7 Benefits of ITIL

ollowing are the top seven advantages of ITIL:

Improved IT Service Quality

ITIL helps IT teams deliver better services by providing a structured approach. So, we have fewer hiccups, faster fixes, and happier users.

Cost Savings and ROI

ITIL reduces operational costs and improves return on investment.

Enhanced Customer Satisfaction

One of the major focuses of ITIL is customer experience. It also relies on third-party integrations to improve the quality of customer service. 

Efficient Resource Management

Resources are always scarce, so for efficient utilization, ITIL comes to the rescue. It optimizes IT staff and technology for maximum productivity.

Alignment with Business Goals

Rather than actually creating strategies for business goals, ITIL supports them. From departmental to organizational objectives, ITIL aligns everything. 

Risk Reduction

Did you know that almost 25-85% of IT projects fail? ITIL helps minimize security risks and IT failures.

Greater Visibility and Control

Having ITIL is like having a manual. Your IT team can easily organize their work with it. This way, everyone knows what's happening and who's responsible for their tasks. 

How Does ITIL Reduce Costs?

ITIL minimizes costs in the following ways:

  • It minimizes downtime: Faster issue resolution reduces productivity losses.
  • ITIL optimizes resources: Ensures efficient use of IT staff and tools.
  • It improves work efficiency: Streamlines IT processes to save time and money.
  • Prevents costly IT failures: Proactive management reduces unexpected expenses.

How Does ITIL Help Businesses?

ITIL helps businesses of all kinds - from big MNCs to small-scale enterprises. It does so by:

  • Supporting company growth
  • Enhancing customer retention rate
  • Boosting operational efficiency
  • Strengthening compliance
  • Improving decision making

Implementing ITIL in Your Organization

Below is a short and simple guide for the implementation of the ItIL framework in your company:

Assessment

Most organizations don't even know if they actually need ITIL. So, before you put ITIL into practice, ask yourself:

  • What are your organization's top concerns? Data silos, automation, or other tech problems, etc.
  • What are the key areas of your target? Is it CRM or incident response management? How do you aim to fix them?

Leadership and Stakeholder Engagement

Stakeholders are an essential link to all your operations. Without their support, you won't be able to succeed. So, communicate the details with them to get their buy-in.
Training and Certification

Whenever you introduce a new system, your team must be trained enough to be able to operate it. Therefore, investing in ITIL training and certification programs is a must to get their basics cleared. At NetCom Learning, we offer ITIL certifications and courses to make up upskilled.

Pilot Implementation

Start with a trial implementation of ITIL processes to test the waters. This step helps you to:

  • Gather insights
  • Analyse Hiccups 
  • Make adjustments 
  • Demonstrate quick wins.

Challenges and Mitigation

Be prepared for challenges along the way. Common obstacles include: 

  • Resistance to change 
  • Technology integration issues

Measurement and Continuous Improvement

Finally, establish metrics to measure the success of your ITIL implementation. Regularly review these metrics and seek feedback from staff and customers. This will help you identify areas for improvement and work on them.

Tools that Support ITIL Implementation

While ITIL itself is not a tool, many tools can support its implementation. These tools can help with various aspects, as we saw earlier, like change management, incident management, etc.

Some of the ITSM tools that support the deployment process are:

  • ServiceNow
  • Freshservice

These are software programs that help IT teams do things like:

  • Tracking network issues.
  • Planning, testing, and scheduling change management practices.
  • Handling team requests.

ITIL vs ITSM: What’s the Difference? 

Features

ITIL

ITSM

Definition

A framework for IT service management.

A broader approach to managing IT services.

Focus

Best practices and processes.

Overall IT service delivery and support.

Flexibility

Structured but adaptable.

Varies by organization.

Implementation

Follows a defined lifecycle.

May include multiple frameworks.

 ITIL vs Other Frameworks (COBIT, DevOps, etc.) 

Feature

ITIL

COBIT

DevOps

Purpose

IT service management

IT governance and control

Software development & IT operations

Focus

Best practices for ITSM

Aligning IT with business goals

Automation and collaboration

Flexibility

Structured but adaptable

Rigid governance framework

Highly flexible and iterative

Implementation

Follows IT service lifecycle

Focuses on regulatory compliance

Encourages continuous integration and deployment

Best for

Organizations managing IT services

Enterprises needing strict compliance

Agile teams and fast-paced development

Drawbacks of ITIL

Here are a few limitations that can arise when using ITIL:

Complexity and Resource Requirements

While ITIL has great benefits, it can be complex to implement. Customization, documentation, and automation can be a load of tasks. Besides, not every company has surplus funds to invest in such a time and resource-intensive framework. 

Resistance to Change

Employees and stakeholders may resist adopting ITIL practices due to:

  • Fear of getting replaced by automation
  • Lack of understanding
  • Their comfort level with current practices

Limited Agility in Some Cases

ITIL's structured approach may slow down fast-paced organizations. Hence, organizations may face difficulty in adapting to rapid technological changes.

Potential for Over-Standardization

Following ITIL too rigidly can result in over-standardization, where processes become too inflexible. Businesses may struggle to customize ITIL processes to their unique needs. So, a balance is needed in adaptation.

ITIL Certification Levels and Their Worth

Foundation

If you are a beginner, you can take our ITIL 4 foundation course and learn everything basics. Below are the details:

Course duration is 3 days.

Level: Beginner-friendly.

Learning options

  • Instructor-led virtual learning (for $ 2,395)
  • Self-e-learning (for $ 995)

PDUs you earn: 24 (18 technical and six strategic)

Upcoming Schedules: In the first week of every month.

Practitioner

This level builds on the foundation level ITIL concepts. We have ITIL 4 Managing Professional course at this level. It is suitable for businesses and IT professionals who wish to improve their ITSM skills.

The modules are:

Intermediate

The Intermediate level provides an excellent opportunity to get an advanced understanding of certain ITIL arenas, allowing for possible specializations. 

 For Free resources, click here.

Expert

For experts who want to deal with all digitally enabled services, opt for ITIL Strategic Leader (SL) exam. 

We have two modules in the ITIL 4 Strategic Leader (SL) stream:

Here are the details:

Course duration for both Modules: 3 days 

Level: Advanced

Learning options:

  • Virtual with instructor (for $ 2,395)
  • e-Learning (for $ 1,195)

Who Should Attend?

  • IT Project Managers
  • IT specialists
  • IT Networking Specialist

Master 

Master level is one of the highest levels of certification one can gain. For expert-level professionals pursuing Practice management, we at Netcomm Learning have ITIL 4 Master Certification. But, to be qualified for this level, the candidate must have:

  • Foundation to expert level qualification. 
  • At least five years of work experience.

Success Stories: How Companies Benefit from ITIL

Here are some real-life case studies of corporations that benefited from implementing ITIL practices:

IBM 

  • Improved IT service efficiency, reducing downtime.
  • Enhanced customer support through ITIL best practices.

Vodafone and Idea (Now VI)

  • Focused on breaking down silos in their departments post-merger.
  • Streamlined IT operations by combining resources.

Citi Bank Group

  • Strengthened their risk management practices.
  • Increased IT security and compliance to protect sensitive data like customer bank details, personal info, etc.

The Future of ITIL in 2025

Entering 2025, you can expect the ITIL framework to have a major focus on customization and customer delight. 

Secondly, cybersecurity will be given heavy importance due to increasing data breaches and cyber-attacks. Lastly, with AI and ML, routine tasks in ITIL, like incident management, can be automated. 

Lastly, ITIL will be used in predictive analysis to forecast needs and potential issues by analyzing historical data, making IT service management much more proactive.

Conclusion

ITIL is essential for modern businesses. It helps organizations manage IT services effectively, reduce costs, and improve customer satisfaction. Want to improve your technical skills?

Join Netcomm Learning and learn everything about the ITIL 4 framework. Our Top recommendations:

Tuan Yang
Author

Tuan Yang

Chief Marketing Officer,
NetCom Learning

Table of Contents

  • Introduction
  • What is ITIL?
  • History of ITIL
  • Why is ITIL Important Today?
  • What is the ITIL Framework?
  • Key ITIL Terms You Should Know
  • What are the ITIL Guiding Principles?
  • Functions of ITIL
  • Top 7 Benefits of ITIL
  • How Does ITIL Reduce Costs?
  • How Does ITIL Help Businesses?
  • Tools that Support ITIL Implementation
  • ITIL Certification Levels and Their Worth
  • Success Stories: How Companies Benefit from ITIL
  • The Future of ITIL in 2025
  • Related Resources