This definition originally appeared on our sister site, Whatis.com.
The ITIL (Information Technology Infrastructure Library) is a globally recognized collection of
Requires Free Membership to View
Download CIODecisions Ezine FREE with your registration.
Get essential editorial insights that senior IT executives need to run IT operations effectively and efficiently. Check out past issues then register to get the latest issue.
Get Enterprise CIO Decisions Now!
best practices
for information technology (IT) service
management. The United Kingdom's Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency (CCTA) created the
ITIL in response to growing dependence on information technology for meeting business needs and
goals. The ITIL
provides businesses with a customizable framework of best practices to achieve quality service and
overcome difficulties associated with the growth of IT systems. Hewlett-Packard and Microsoft are
two businesses that use ITIL as part of their own best practices frameworks.
The ITIL is organized into "sets" of texts which are defined by related functions: service support, service delivery, managerial, software support, computer operations, security management and environmental. In addition to texts, which can be purchased online, ITIL services and products include training, qualifications, software tools and user groups such as the IT Service Management Forum (itSMF).
While owned by the CCTA since the mid-1980s, the ITIL is currently maintained and developed by The National Exam Institute for Informatics (EXIN), a non-proprietary and non-profit organization based in the Netherlands.