| ITIL v.2 was released in 2001 and lasted until 30th May | | | | ITIL v.3 also introduced 12 new processes and 3 new |
| 2007, when it was officially replaced by ITIL v.3. This | | | | functions to the library. |
| essentially meant the publication of five new 'core' | | | | Using ITIL in a modern business environment |
| guides and the introduction of new, credit-based ITIL | | | | Another new feature in ITIL v.3 was the focus on IT |
| qualifications. However, the ITIL v.2 books are still | | | | service management within the real world - hence the |
| available in print and online format from TSO (the | | | | emphasis on a 'business-driven' strategy. Like |
| official ITIL publishers), and the ITIL v.2 qualifications are | | | | PRINCE2 and MSP, the new ITIL aimed at eliminating |
| still offered and recognised as industry standards. | | | | processes and practices that had ceased to provide |
| So what is the difference between ITIL v.2 and ITIL | | | | benefit to the business or organisation. |
| v.3? Which is the version best for you? If you already | | | | The ITIL Diploma |
| have an ITIL v.2 certificate, do you need to upgrade or | | | | The concurrent use of ITIL v.2 and ITIL v.3 has led to |
| refresh your skills? | | | | confusion over which version is 'better'. As there is no |
| IT Infrastructure Library - the books | | | | date currently set for phasing out the old examination |
| The ITIL books form the basis for ITIL qualifications and | | | | system, many individuals and organisations still follow |
| practice, and are designed as 'best practice' guides for | | | | the v.2 qualification pathway. |
| providing IT services. They have been written by | | | | Individuals requiring ITIL qualifications fall into four main |
| expert IT service managers, and contain input from | | | | groups:o Qualified in v.2 and intending to continue |
| professionals from a wide variety of industry | | | | training in v.2o Qualified in v.2 and intending to convert |
| backgrounds. | | | | to v.3o Unqualified and intending to train in v.2o |
| ITIL v.2 contained eight core titles, of which only two | | | | Unqualified and intending to train in v.3 |
| were commonly studied. Service Support (describing | | | | For those already qualified in ITIL v.2 it is tempting to |
| best practices for day-to-day IT service management) | | | | continue training in the same format. This has |
| and Service Delivery (best practices for planning IT | | | | advantages in terms of immediate cost and |
| service provision) were not only the most familiar ITIL | | | | consistency, but it does mean that students are not |
| v.2 guides, but also formed the two fundamental | | | | updated on the processes, functions and concepts |
| streams of the ITIL v.2 Practitioner and Service | | | | new to ITIL v.3. |
| Manager qualifications. | | | | For this reason, ITIL has produced two 'Bridging' |
| The six remaining titles are: ICT Infrastructure | | | | courses, one designed to enable individuals qualified in |
| Management, Planning to Implement Service | | | | ITIL v.2 Foundation to study for ITIL v.3 Intermediate |
| Management, Application Management, Business | | | | qualifications, and the other to enable individuals |
| Perspective (volumes one and two) and Software | | | | qualified in ITIL v.2 Practitioner to become ITIL v.3 |
| Asset Management. | | | | Experts. There are clear advantages to IT service |
| One aspect of ITIL v.2 that the ITIL Refresh Board | | | | managers in gaining the most up-to-date qualifications |
| wanted to alter was the process-based structure of | | | | for creating strong CVs and applying for new service |
| the library. This led to the introduction of a new | | | | management positions. |
| concept, the Service Lifecycle, around which the ITIL | | | | Individuals who have not yet qualified in ITIL v.2 are |
| v.3 volumes were to be focused. The purpose of | | | | most likely to choose to begin with ITIL v.3, as the ITIL |
| using a service lifecycle framework was to improve | | | | Successful Candidates Register indicates - there are |
| the design logic, through which specific process | | | | already more than three times as many ITIL v.3 |
| elements could be introduced at the appropriate | | | | qualified students as those who have the ITIL v.2 |
| stages. | | | | certificate. This reflects the sharper focus on |
| The five core ITIL v.3 volumes are:o Service Strategy | | | | real-world business strategy, and the more logical |
| (how to develop a business-driven strategy for IT | | | | structure of the ITIL v.3 course. |
| service management)o Service Design (how to design | | | | ITIL of the future |
| a system to support the strategy of choice)o Service | | | | Just like PRINCE2 and MSP, ITIL strives to provide |
| Transition (how to transition the new system to the | | | | users with a methodology focused as closely as |
| production environment)o Service Operation (how to | | | | possible on practical management processes and |
| support operations in the long-term)o Continual Service | | | | techniques. The new ITIL is designed to draw together |
| Improvement (how to continually improve the IT | | | | the best aspects of ITIL v.2, in order to develop a |
| services provided) | | | | coherent, consistent and up-to-date guide to service |
| The chief purpose of restructuring ITIL was to provide | | | | management practice. While ITIL v.2 is a perfectly |
| more clearly-defined and specific guidance for IT | | | | usable theoretical guide to service management, the |
| service management best practices, and to 'fill in the | | | | improvements made to ITIL v.3 means that new |
| gaps' that emerged through the earlier, process-based | | | | students can only benefit from beginning with ITIL v.3. |
| approach. In addition to the new structure, therefore, | | | | |