Tech Glossary

What is ITIL?

ITIL (Information Technology Infrastructure Library) is a library of best practice methods for IT service management (ITSM). ITIL was developed by the British Standards Institution (BSI) and is used by thousands of companies worldwide to improve their IT operations. The ITIL library contains methods for all aspects of ITSM, from design and planning to delivery and support. The ITIL methods are structured in a series of five steps, called the Service Lifecycle: 1. Service Strategy: Methods for planning, controlling and implementing IT services. 2. Service Design: Methods for designing IT services and service delivery. 3. Service Transition: Methods for planning, testing and implementing changes in IT services. 4. Service Operation: Methods for managing and supporting IT services. 5. Continual Service Improvement: Methods for analyzing and improving existing IT services. The ITIL methods are flexible and can be adapted to all types and sizes of organizations. Most organizations begin by implementing ITIL in one or more of the five stages of the Service Lifecycle. ITIL is not a complete solution for ITSM, but rather a library of tools and methods that can be used to tailor a solution that suits your own organization. There are many d