ITIL or otherwise the IT Infrastructure Library offers best practices on information technology infrastructure as well as monitors the application of these practices and provides appropriate certification of professionals regarding the management of IT assets and IT services. All these activities have been overseen by the UK government since the 1980s.
In more detail, ITIL details the procedures, checklists, processes, and tasks that a company can apply to achieve the developed business strategy. It is a kind of framework to standardize the planning, selection, maintenance, and delivery of the overall lifecycle of IT services within the business.
In 2013, ITIL was acquired by AXELOS, a company that licenses organizations and companies to use ITIL intellectual property products, manages structure updates, and accredits exam bodies. Even today, ITIL qualifications are at the top of any list of mandatory IT certificates. This is not surprising, since ITIL certification is a true validation of your ability to manage risk, implement cost-effective practices, strengthen customer relationships and develop a stable IT environment.
ITIL Certification Program
You should keep in mind that ITIL certification is only available to individuals, so many companies wishing to implement ITIL practices are interested in getting their employees this accreditation. Moreover, the ITIL accreditation program is periodically updated. Thus, the latest version, ITIL 4, has been fully implemented by 2021, focusing on maintaining flexibility and innovation in IT service management. Also, AXELOS has announced its intentions to fully complete support for ITIL 3 by 2022.
Currently, the ITIL 4 accreditation scheme consists of 2 main qualification tracks. Thus, you must start at the Foundation level and progress through the Strategic Leader (SL) or Managing Professional (MP) track. At the same time, if you choose to complete both tracks, you can achieve ITIL Master status. Let's take a closer look at the proposed certifications.
- ITIL 4 Foundation is a qualification that covers the foundation for implementing ITIL practices in your company's daily workflow. And to pass the appropriate exam, candidates must have a core understanding of the process of creating valuable services and products, as well as the basic principles of ITIL 4 and the key concepts of Agile, Lean, and DevOps.
- Managing Professional (MP) – this qualification proves the knowledge of IT professionals regarding the launch of IT projects as well as work processes and teams, using technical and practical skills. And it will require passing some accreditation exams such as ITIL Strategist Direct Plan & Improve, ITIL Specialist High Velocity IT, ITIL Specialist Drive Stakeholder Value, and ITIL Specialist Create Deliver & Support.
- Strategic Leader (SL) - this qualification is designed to confirm competencies in various digital services, not just IT operations. By proving your expertise, you will be able to show how IT affects business strategy. But to do so, you need to obtain the ITIL Strategist Direct Plan & Improve and ITIL Leader Digital & IT Strategy certificates.
- ITIL Master is the highest qualification for candidates who have completed both ITIL tracks and have at least 5 years of experience in IT service management at a consultant, management, or leadership level. This track does not involve a precise test, as you will be evaluated in a specific situation appropriate to your experience.