Are you interested in a career in IT, working for a business that uses service management to increase productivity? If so, ITIL training will give you a massive advantage as you prepare to break into business technology.
Continue reading to find out what ITIL is all about, and which ITIL courses and resources you can use to earn certifications and become an IT professional.
What Is ITIL?
ITIL, formerly known as Information Technology Infrastructure Library, is a set of practices and guidelines that aids the IT service management process. It is used to continuously help a business improve its services. Axelos owns ITIL and makes two versions of the library, ITIL v3 and ITIL v4. They are available to any organization that uses service operations products.
You may want to learn ITIL just to boost your resume, or you can work toward becoming an IT manager, analyst, or consultant in ITIL by gaining certifications.
What Is ITIL Used For?
ITIL is used by businesses to improve their IT services by providing a framework that can make basic processes more efficient. It includes tips for improving customer satisfaction, service design, service desk operations, and service strategies.
It is also used to solve issues within a business and provide resources that will improve a business’s services. Organizations of all sizes and industries, including major companies like Disney, use these frameworks to organize their IT activities and resources.
With an ITIL professional certification, you will be able to apply for jobs in almost any industry that is of interest to you.
ITIL Skills
ITIL requires a combination of information technology, science, and business skills. Below are some of the basic skills that an ITIL professional should possess.
Information Technology Service Management (ITSM) Skills
To successfully use ITIL, you must have a strong understanding of IT service management processes. These skills include IT management, an understanding of artificial intelligence, and user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) design skills.
Business Management Skills
A general background in business is crucial. As an ITIL professional, you will be working to improve business processes. To understand what a company needs, you should have business management skills in communication, networking, and customer relationship management.
Analytical Skills
ITIL professionals should be able to effectively analyze information to help a business develop new IT processes. Once you have an advanced certification in ITIL, you will be able to analyze a company’s relationship with its customers and map out new courses of action to improve that relationship.
Learning ITIL
To learn ITIL, you should have all the assets listed above. You will also need to be proficient in IT skills. The formal process for learning ITIL from scratch is outlined in this section.
How Long Does It Take to Learn ITIL?
The timeframe for learning ITIL depends on your current skills and experience. Some courses will take three or four days, while some will last a couple of weeks.
To excel at ITIL, business knowledge and advanced IT knowledge are necessary. You can meet these requirements by getting a business management degree in technology or learning ServiceNow to get a better understanding of how ITSM software works. But, in the end, the amount of time it will take to learn ITIL depends on the time and effort you put into learning.
How to Learn ITIL: Step-by-Step
- Enroll in ITSM courses. To fully understand how to use ITIL, it is important to first learn about IT service management by enrolling in an ITSM course.
- Read about business management. Learn about the business management processes that companies use to increase efficiency. You can do this by enrolling in courses and watching YouTube videos if you don’t have a background in business.
- Enroll in ITIL courses. Now, you are ready to enroll in ITIL courses. If you have followed the previous steps, then learning these practices will be easy.
- Practice. Practice as much as you can. This is very important if you want to learn how to properly apply ITIL methods.
- Take a certification exam. Once you are very comfortable with ITIL, you can take a certification exam.
- Apply for jobs. With your certificate in hand, you can now apply for IT management jobs, especially those that require ITIL specialization.
The Best ITIL Courses and Training
ITIL guidelines have the potential to turn a struggling business into a successful one. To learn these important processes, you will need to have an advanced understanding of IT techniques and software.
So, to learn this set of ITSM practices, you will need to read books, take courses, and get certified. Use the resources and courses below as a jumping-off point.
Best Online ITIL Courses
Enrolling in online courses will help you get hands-on experience navigating ITIL. These IT concepts are easier to grasp if you’re being guided by experienced instructors via virtual classrooms, or self-paced courses. Below are some of the best online ITIL courses.
Introduction to Service Management with ITIL 4
- Provider: Udemy
- Prerequisites: None
- Price: $11.99
- Time: 2 hours
Udemy is a massive open online course provider that offers an array of IT classes. This course offers an introduction to the ITIL 4 framework and how it can be used in IT.
In this class, you will learn how to describe a framework and apply it to an organization. You will study using real-world examples to help you understand how the guidelines should work.
We recommend this course if you want to master the basics. By the end of the program, you will be well-versed in ITIL’s guiding principles, its four dimensions, its service value system, and general practices.
ITIL Practitioner
- Provider: Global Knowledge
- Prerequisites: ITIL foundation v3 equivalent
- Price: $2,395
- Time: 3 days
Although this course is on the pricey side, it is a fast way to get up to speed on ITIL practices. This program is for those who are interested in IT development, IT operations, or IT service management.
In this class, you will learn service management concepts and different service improvement approaches. You will also study metrics and measurement, organizational change management, and communication.
One of the best takeaways from this course is the certification exam tips and practice tests that will help you prepare for the Axelos ITIL practitioner exam. A certificate is available upon completion of this class.
Putting ITIL into Practice: Applying ITIL 4 Foundation Concepts
- Provider: Lynda
- Prerequisites: None
- Price: $29.99 per month, $299.88 per year, free trial available
- Time: 1.5 hours
In this Lynda.com course, you will learn how to apply ITIL using seven frameworks. It covers foundational concepts of ITIL as well as cloud-based IT management concepts.
You will learn how to apply the four dimensions of service management, service value chain activities, and service management practices. We recommend this course for students with intermediate IT skills.
Creating Measures and Metrics Using the ITIL 4 Framework
- Provider: Udemy
- Prerequisites: Basic IT service management knowledge
- Price: $11.99
- Time: 1.5 hours
Udemy offers many ITIL courses, including this one that will teach you all about the four ITIL frameworks. To get the most out of this course, you should have basic IT service management knowledge and a good understanding of your company’s goals and vision.
The course will teach you the reasons behind why a company should track its metrics, and will cover ITIL’s five measurement models and assessment methods. At the end of the course, you will be able to develop custom measurements to help your company meet its goals.
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Best Free ITIL Courses
If you’re on a budget, you may want to sign up for one of these free online ITIL courses. Then, once you have the basics down, you may want to sign up for a certification course. Below are our top picks for free online courses.
Information Technology Infrastructure Library Overview
- Provider: Coursera
- Time: Self-paced
- Prerequisites: None
- Price: Free
Coursera offers courses in partnership with many renowned organizations, including this one on ITIL offered by IBM. This class covers topics like cybersecurity roles and processes and operating systems security. You will also study key cybersecurity processes and how to use them. You should take this course if you are interested in how ITIL can be used to improve cybersecurity.
IT Management – Building Information Systems- Revised
- Provider: Alison
- Time: Self-paced
- Prerequisites: None
- Price: Free
This course is intended for IT professionals looking to go into management. It will teach you about building information systems, designing tasks, and user-oriented design.
This program will get you closer to having the business, IT, and science skills necessary to become an IT manager.
ITIL 4 Introduction
- Provider: Udemy
- Time: 46 minutes
- Prerequisites: None
- Price: Free
If you are looking for a short introduction to ITIL 4, this is a good option. The course will help you learn the basics of the frameworks and processes that make up ITIL.
If you are new to ITIL or are working in IT but are only certified for ITIL v3, then you should consider taking this course. It also comes with an optional certification at the end for a fee.
Best ITIL Books
If you’re not interested in taking an online course, you may want to read one of these ITIL books instead. Choose one that is closest to your expertise level. Once you feel you’ve done enough research, you can try out your ITIL skills on one of the online resources listed later in this article.
ITIL For Beginners: The Complete Beginner’s Guide to ITIL, by ClydeBank Technology
This book by ClydeBank Technology covers everything ITIL. It’s a great place to start learning the subject, including its history and applications. You will also learn how to implement ITIL life cycle phases and processes.
ITIL® Practitioner Guidance, by AXELOS
Who better to learn ITIL from than AXELOS? In this book, you will learn the essential information you’ll need to become an ITIL practitioner.
It’s also a helpful resource for anyone seeking general ITSM information. It discusses the relationship between ITIL and ITSM, as well as how they can be used in conjunction with Lean, Agile, and DevOps processes.
ITIL® 4 Essentials: Your Essential Guide for the ITIL 4 Foundation Exam and Beyond, by Claire Agutter
When learning ITIL, you have to make sure you are up-to-date on the latest IT frameworks and processes. This book will give you tips on how to apply ITSM techniques to real businesses. This is a great book for project managers and consultants.
ITIL Certifications
There are several levels of ITIL v4 and ITIL v3 certifications. Below are several AXELOS certifications you can take to prove your expertise in ITIL.
ITIL v3 Certification Scheme
The ITIL v3 certification scheme has five levels. You should take the exam that matches your skill level.
Foundation Certification
This certification course will teach you the basic elements, concepts, and terminology of the v3 library. This is a beginner-level course for those who are trying to improve their general IT knowledge.
Practitioner Certification
This certification course covers the Continual Service Improvement model and the three areas of improvement. These include organizational change management, communication, and measurement and metrics.
Intermediate Certification
The intermediate certification course will teach you how to integrate ITIL versions and understand how they are related. This certification is divided into two cycles: Service Lifecycle and Service Capability.
Expert Certification
This advanced certification is for IT professionals who already understand all ITIL processes and practices.
Master Certification
This is the highest v3 level certification. Acquiring this accreditation shows that you are able to easily apply ITIL practices. If you want to apply for jobs that require proficiency in ITIL, you should have this certificate.
ITIL v4 Certification Scheme
ITIL v4 is the newest version of ITIL, so it’s a good idea to get certified in this version if you want to excel in the IT industry.
Foundation Certification
This course teaches the foundations of the new version of the library. In it, you will learn to connect IT service management with the end-to-end operating models. This certification is a prerequisite to the next ones on this list.
ITIL 4 Managing Professional Certification
This management course teaches the four new modules included in ITIL v4:
- Specialist Create, Deliver, and Support
- Specialist Drive Stakeholder Value
- Specialist High-Velocity IT
- Strategist Direct, Plan, and Improve
This highly respected certification is for professionals already working as part of a company’s digital team.
ITIL 4 Strategic Leader Certification
This certification level is separated into two modules:
- Strategist Direct, Plan, and Improve
- Leader Digital and IT Strategy
The strategic leader certification will prove that you are highly capable of integrating IT in a way that will help a business optimize its productivity.
Master Certification
This certification tests your personal experience with applying ITIL principles, methods, techniques, and frameworks. This is an advanced level certification that will look good under the software and computer skills section on your resume.
Best Online ITIL Resources
Below are a couple of the best online ITIL resources you can refer to when you’re ready to practice the ITIL skills you have learned.
ITIL Training Guide
This is a free training guide by ITSM Solutions that includes a detailed guide to ITIL frameworks and practices, as well as information on how to get certified. This is a must-read for anyone starting out in ITIL.
ITIL World
When learning a new skill, it is always a good idea to check out free video tutorials on the topic. The ITIL World channel on YouTube has many videos covering the basics of ITIL. If you aren’t looking to enroll in a foundation course but you still need to learn ITIL fundamentals, we suggest checking out these videos.
Should You Learn ITIL?
For years, ITIL has played a key part in supporting, managing, and integrating ITSM to help companies improve. If you want to succeed in the tech field and find the best tech jobs, then learning ITIL is a good idea. These practices have become very popular because they allow businesses to use IT in a more efficient and productive way.
Moreover, knowledge of ITIL will give you an advantage over other job applicants who may only have a general online IT degree, as it shows you have a highly specialized skill. Once employed, you’ll be able to integrate ITIL processes so that your new employer can make the most of their technology.
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