What does the IT in ITIL® stand for? The historical answer is “information technology.” ITIL originated as the Information Technology Infrastructure Library, although today ITIL is used as the framework’s name rather than spelled out. But that simple answer raises a more interesting question: What do we actually mean when we say “IT”? When I first explored this question in 2012, the concern was that people used the same term to mean different things. That concern still matters. Cloud services, digital products, automation and artificial intelligence have made the boundaries even less obvious. ITIL (Version 5) brings a broader perspective through digital product and service management. It also gives us a good reason to revisit an old question: When someone says, “That belongs to IT,” does everyone understand the same thing? One Term, Several Meanings The following are practical ways people use the term IT in everyday conversations. They are overlapping perspectives, rather tha...
Build the knowledge, credentials, and confidence to move from Foundation to ITIL Master. With ITIL (Version 5), professionals can now develop deeper capabilities across digital products, services, experience, transformation, strategy, AI governance, and the operational practices that support reliable service delivery. And ITSM Academy is ready with the full portfolio. Whether you are beginning with Foundation, updating an existing ITIL certification, building toward a Managing Professional or Strategic Leader designation, or planning your complete journey to ITIL Master, we can support you in every step of your journey. ITIL (Version 5) Foundation Foundation introduces the essential concepts, language, principles, and models used throughout ITIL (Version 5), with an increased emphasis on digital product and service management (DPSM). Upcoming Virtual Instructor-Led classes open for enrollment: 📅 September 15-18, 2026 📅 December 1-4, 2026 ITIL Managing Profess...