What is ITIL Certification and What Does it Mean?

Any business, no matter how large or little, depends on its IT services and service providers. Without them, it would be impossible to manage a business in today's connected digital environment. Considering the scope of deployment and usage, managing these IT services is a challenging endeavor. When that happens, ITIL can help.

Background of ITIL

Information Technology Infrastructure Library is referred to as ITIL. In response to the growing reliance of many businesses on IT, it was created by the Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency in Norwich for the British government in the 1980s. Government agencies and private businesses had developed and were utilizing their own IT service management procedures because there were no industry-wide best practices.

Basic Concepts of ITIL

ITIL is a collection of best practices in detail that suggests the different paths and techniques which can be used by an IT professional or service provider to manage themselves in such a way to provide the best service possible. It provides a systematic set of processes, which can be used as a reference to solve the problems which arise.

It had its origins as a set of books published in 1989, with each one covering a specific topic in IT service management. After the initial publication from 1989-96, the total number of books in the ITIL Version1 grew to over 30 volumes.

Evolution of ITIL

In the year 2000-01, the ITIL V1 was replaced by V2, which consolidated the 30 volumes into 9 logical sets, and grouped the books in an organized manner. In 2007, the V2 was replaced by the ITIL Version 3, in which the books were grouped into just 5 volumes. This version is now known merely as the ITIL 2007 Edition. The governing body for ITIL is AXELOS. AXELOS is a joint venture company, created in 2013 by the Cabinet Office on behalf of Her Majesty’s Government (HMG) in the United Kingdom and Capita Plc, to manage, develop and grow the Global Best Practice portfolio.

ITIL certification takes a modular approach to the ITIL framework and is made up of a series of qualifications that are focused on various aspects of the best practices of ITIL in varying degrees of depth and detail. Since the qualification has several tiers, the candidates who are pursuing it can have a lot of flexibility with regard to the different disciplines and areas of ITIL. This allows them to focus mainly on the key areas of interest.

Levels Of ITIL Certification

The 5 levels of ITIL certification are:

ITIL Foundation Level

It is an entry-level certification offering a general awareness of the key elements, basic concepts, and technologies used in the ITIL service lifecycle. There are no prerequisites for this certification, and anyone can appear for the exam. This certification covers all 5 areas of the service lifecycle including the linkage between different stages of the ITIL lifecycle.

ITIL Practitioner Level

The next stage after Foundation is the Practitioner. It was developed to bridge the gap between the Foundation and Intermediate levels. It is the latest entry in the ITIL certification program, and the exam was conducted for the first time in 2016.

ITIL Intermediate Level

The Intermediate Level stage is modular, with every module focusing on a different aspect of IT Service Management. The modules can be classified as Service Lifecycle or Service Capability modules.

ITIL Expert Level

The Expert Level qualification is an advanced certification that covers in detail all the processes and practices across all disciplines of ITIL. This qualification is a prerequisite for the ITIL Master Level certification. The Expert Level certification is given to the candidates who have achieved the required credits from the Foundation, Practitioner, and Intermediate level modules and have superior knowledge and skill base in ITIL Best Practices.

ITIL Master Level

The Master Level in ITIL validates the ability of a person to apply the ITIL principles, methods, and techniques in the workplace or practical assignments involving real-world situations. There is no fixed syllabus or training course for this qualification since each candidate will choose a situation of their choice.

Benefits of ITIL Certification

ITIL Certification provides the following benefits when the concepts of ITIL are implemented in an organization:

• It helps to improve services by providing ways to manage business risk and disruption of service.
• It helps to establish cost-effective systems to manage demand for services.
• It supports business change while maintaining a stable service environment.
• It helps to improve and develop positive relationships with your customers by delivering services that are efficient and meet their needs.

ITIL Certification Worth

• The highest average salary for an ITIL Foundation professional can go up to $ 130,000
• The highest average salary for an ITIL Intermediate professional can go up to  $150,000
• The highest average salary for an ITIL Expert professional can go up to $ 165,000

Conclusion

The ITIL certifications ensure a deeper understanding of the processes and best practices that can efficiently lift the IT Service Management in any organization to its maximum potential. Enroll in ITIL 4 Foundation certification, to take your Service Management career to the next level.