ITIL struggles to catch up with private cloud

Data centres run on the back of good operational processes that are repeatable and trusted. IT management best practices have sometimes been criticised as being monolithic and failing to keep up with change.

ITIL (the Information Technology Infrastructure Library), for example, was defined in the 1990s as a best-practice framework for large-scale UK government systems.

The long-standing goal of data centre management the private cloud has been dynamic IT, or the allocation of IT resources on demand according to the needs of the business.

ITIL has evolved since it was first defined and is now running at version 3 , which is considered a complete overhaul.

Many enterprise management toolsets take into account the principles articulated by ITIL, and organisations that succeed in using ITIL to its full potential and recognising it as a framework, not a prescriptive methodology, remain strong advocates.

But for some the implementation of ITIL is unsuccessful, creating a situation where, instead of enabling service delivery, it acts as a bottleneck.

According to one IT manager cited by the commentator Judith Hurwitz, “It’s bureaucracy gone mad. This approach will not help make IT more responsive, it will do the opposite.”

ITIL v3 builds in elements such as activity-based demand management, but it still incorporates management processes and an interface between IT and the business that can cause unnecessary overheads if implemented poorly.

Against this background, the advent of private cloud has led some to wonder if the framework’s days are numbered.

Some pundits see private cloud and ITIL as chalk and cheese, while others argue that frameworks are more relevant than ever.

Flexibility is at the heart of both arguments. Inflexible operational management may negate the benefits of the private cloud, but at the other end of the scale freedom without controls leads to anarchy and an inability to respond when things go wrong.

For a specific example, consider the configuration management database (CMDB) – the place where information is stored about the assets and resources that exist in the IT environment.

The structure of a CMDB has been the subject of vigorous debate but few would deny its importance. Indeed, as we saw in a previous article [LINK to JC7 – Process and management change], the presence of of such a repository can make things more agile, not less.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY INFRASTRUCTURE LIBRARY

The Information Technology Infrastructure Library is a set of concepts and policies for managing information technology (IT) infrastructure, development and operations. ITIL is the most widely accepted approach to IT Service Management in the world. It promotes a quality approach to achieving business effectiveness, economy and efficiency in the use of information systems. The ethos behind the development of ITIL is the recognition that organizations are becoming increasingly dependent on IT in order to satisfy their corporate aims and meet their business needs. ITIL is a cohesive best practice framework, drawn from the public and private sectors internationally. It describes the organisation of IT resources to deliver business value, and documents processes, functions and roles in ITSM. ITIL is to be adopted and built upon by an organisation as per its purposes and needs. ITIL is supported by a comprehensive qualifications scheme, accredited training organisations, and implementation and assessment tools. In today’s competitive market, being ITIL complaint is a definitive edge over the competitors.

The latest generation of the ITIL is titled “”. This version represents an important evolutionary step in ITIL’s life. ITIL has transformed the guidance from providing a great service to being the most innovative and best in class. In general, ITIL v3 makes the link between ITIL’s best practice and business benefits both clearer and stronger. The main development is that ITIL v3 guidance takes a lifecycle approach, as opposed to organising according to IT delivery sectors.

This article focuses on giving readers a brief understanding of the ITIL.

Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) is a series of books that are used to aid the implementation of a framework for IT Service Management (ITSM). Being a framework, it is completely customisable for application within any type of business or organisation that has a reliance on IT infrastructure. The ITIL originated as a collection of books each covering a specific practice within ITSM. ITIL books are developed by Office of Government Commerce, U.K. (OGC). It is the world’s de-facto standard best practice framework for ITSM. OGC also has qualification certification program for ITIL followers.

ITIL is cornerstone of good quality ITSM and a necessity for quality assurance. It provides a systematic, process-based approach, supported by procedures for key IT service management processes. ITIL is Technology independent. ITIL gives a detailed description of a number of important IT practices with comprehensive checklists, tasks and procedures that can be tailored to any IT organization.

Information Technology Infrastructure Library

A Guide to the Wireless Engineering Body of Knowledge (WEBOK)

Practical Guide to Clinical Computing Systems, Design, Operations, and Infrastructure

Information Tech For Mgmt

CIMA Study Systems 2006: Management Accounting-Risk and Control Strategy