A new version to the Information Technology Infrastructure Library which you popularly refer to as ITIL is set to be released by Axelos in 2019. This is planned to be termed as ITIL V4 certification. With this, the globally popular IT Service Management (ITSM) framework will be delivered a new upgrade. Quite exciting, isn’t it? However, where on one hand a section of society is taking it positively there are many others who are viewing it with suspicion. Just like there is no fire without smoke similarly this suspicion is also not baseless. The world has witnessed many upgrades in diverse spheres earlier also but not all the new versions that have been added to the existing ones have proved to be beneficial. Thus, the big question that everyone has in heart is the benefits that this new release is going to get to the forefront. Another vital question revolves around the features that this new version has in store to offer and if these will be inducing enough to shift people towards this and ignoring the current version of ITIL. Whether, ITIL4 Certification is going to be worthy of all the attention that it is getting or not will only be clear once it is released. However, prior to that we can only make predictions and compare it with the current version to highlight the prominent differences. In this article we are going to shed light on the Must Know Factors That Differentiate ITIL 4 From ITIL V3.

Background knowledge of ITIL V2 and ITIL V3

The formal ITIL nomenclature had never been using the version number before and in the most simplistic form it was termed as “ITIL”. It was almost three decades back that the iteration of ITIL arrived at the forefront in the 1980s constituting an array of books that were published within a time span of one decade. On the switch of the millennium, came ITIL V2 in 2001 dealing with the 10 core processes in addition to the service desk. The subsequent version was brought in front of the world in 2007 and this new version was termed ITIL V3. The publishers preferably chose to keep it simple and term it ITIL 2007. With the introduction of the new version, a service lifecycle was also introduced that was further segregated into five stages. These stages in sequence are service strategy, service design, service transition, service operation, and continual service improvement. This version had not 10 processes, but presentation over the two dozen. Today ITIL V3 is termed as ITIL 2011 which is also the current version that will continue to be followed by the latest version that is announced to be released soon. The major change that the version offered was the Business Relationship Management (BRM) process and was comparatively easier to read and a plethora of inconsistencies were also edited out. The five core books of ITIL V3 are ITIL Service Strategy, ITIL Service Design, ITIL Service Transition, ITIL Service Operation, and ITIL Continual Service Improvement.

Motive Behind Introducing ITIL V4

The major reason behind introducing ITIL by an organization remains to be the need for better alignment with Information Technology services. With the help of this, any business organization or a company will be able to conduct the risk management effectively besides improving the customer relations. Also, it helps to better foster the cost-effective practices as well as create the dynamic IT environment free to grow as well as improve. ITIL V4 Certification is deemed to take the IT sector to an entirely another level in terms of efficiency as well as effectiveness by making use of diverse tools and techniques. The motive behind introducing the latest version is the alignment of ITIL with the other already existing procedures that are inclusive of IT4IT, Agile, DevOps, and Lean. With this, the most common problems and complaints of the users pertaining to the previous versions of ITIL will also be dealt with directly.

ITIL V4 vs ITIL V3: The Major Points Of Differences

Additional best practices and integration material

The basic constituents of ITIL version 3 are claimed to remaining ideally the same, the only difference that will be noticeable, distinguishing ITIL V4 certification from the existing versions will be the inclusion of add on best practices plus the latest material on integration. In this new version there is claimed to be the fewer silos and enhanced collaboration, helping communication around the entire organization as well as the integration of Agile and DevOps to the existing ITSM strategies. ITIL V4 is opined to be not only more customizable but comparatively more flexible. To put in short, it will offer a better insight into the IT.

Basic focus and principles

The focus of ITIL V4 will be more on the concepts of costs and outcomes besides risks as well as value. The vital principles around which the new version rotates are collaboration, holistic work, direct observation, transparency, simplicity and progressive iteration. One must begin from where they started by focusing on the value and designing for the experience. In other words, ITIL V4 is a refined version of ITIL V3, demonstrating the alterations in the corporate culture with teamwork as well as the intercommunication getting the additional weight thereby helping in better integration of IT with the holistic business structure.

Levels of ITIL V4 Certification

The initial certification release of ITIL V4 will be via the Foundation level, a prerequisite to undergo the upcoming higher-level certifications. Other than this, there are ITIL Specialist modules further divided into three parts, first being: Create, Deliver, Support, second being: Driver Stakeholder Value and third being: High Velocity IT. ITIL Strategist comprises of Direct, Plan, Improve. ITIL Leader includes Digital & IT Strategy and then there is ITIL Master.

Overall, these are the Must Know Factors That Differentiate ITIL 4 From ITIL V3. One thing that must be noticed here is that switching from ITIL V3 to ITIL V4 does imply the alterations in the content of the library. It simply implies the alteration in the approach as well as the philosophy. With technology advancing at an unprecedented rated especially in the overview of the IT sector, the need for the IT departments to be well equipped has also increased. It department of any company, big or small is considered to be the core of an organization which can help the company grow by leaps and bounds only if the structure of the company is well equipped with the latest integration techniques. Two factors that are considered to be the most important for the success of a company is the communication as well as collaboration where ITIL has an integral role to play. thus, all who aspire to be the ITIL experts out there must surely look for the release of the new version ITIL V4 Certification but should not waste time waiting for it and get enrolled in the current version of ITIL certification as this is going to be of a great value to you. so, without giving it a second thought join the classroom training or the online ITIL certification training as suitable to you in the era where all and sundry have a hectic schedule to follow.