In the world of IT Service Management (ITSM), the word “service” gets tossed around a lot, but without a shared definition, it often leads to confusion, missed expectations, and inefficiency. That’s where ITIL comes in, offering a clear, standardized definition used by organizations worldwide to align IT with business outcomes. 📘 What Is a Service? (According to ITIL) A service is a means of enabling value co-creation by facilitating outcomes that customers want to achieve, without the customer having to manage specific costs and risks. In simpler terms: Services help people achieve results they care about. The provider takes on the complexity, risk, and cost so the customer doesn’t have to. Value isn’t just delivered, it’s co-created through use. Now let’s look at how this definition plays out in real life with a Tale of Two Companies. 🏁 Meet the Contenders: BeanScene vs. Brewtopia Both BeanScene and Brewtopia are rising stars in the specialty co...

A Digital Transformation requires radical and profound change that orients an organization toward an entirely new direction and takes a service provider to an entirely different level! High Velocity IT (HVIT) is the application of digital technology that will likely play a major role in significant business enablement where speed is crucial! This is an Atmospheric View of High Velocity IT - Meditate on this for a few - POWERFUL! High Velocity IT is just a normal way of doing business for some organizations. For others it is an aspiration and many service providers are on a quest to get there fast. Best practice shows that there are three core elements required for HVIT and after taking a deeper dive into these aspects I became excited to see how these characteristics can change the world! Integration of Emerging Technologies : Discuss how advancements in AI, machine learning, and automation have become integral to HVIT practices, enhancing speed and efficiency in service delivery. ...

Originally published November 2016 | Updated May 2025 In the earlier days of ITIL® education, we often referenced “RCV” - shorthand for Release, Control, and Validation - a lifecycle-based intermediate course in ITIL v3. While ITIL 4 has moved away from that structure, understanding RCV still provides important historical context and insight into key practices that continue to drive value in modern service management. A Quick Flashback: RCV in ITIL v3  RCV was one of the five ITIL v3 Lifecycle modules, focusing on ensuring that changes to services are properly managed, tested, and deployed. The primary goal? Minimize risk while improving the business's ability to adapt to changing requirements. The core practices in the RCV module included: Change Management (now evolved into Change Enablement) Release and Deployment Management Service Validation and Testing Service Asset and Configuration Management Evaluation and Knowledge Management These processes hel...

Fresh Ideas for the Service Desk: Inspired by ITIL 4 The Service Desk has always been at the heart of IT service delivery, connecting users to the services they need and providing vital support. But in today’s fast-paced digital world, the expectations placed on the Service Desk are evolving. Organizations need more than just a team that answers tickets; they need a strategic partner that contributes to business value, user satisfaction, and continual improvement. Whether you're just beginning your journey or ready to take your Service Desk to the next level, here are some fresh ideas inspired by ITIL® 4 that can help you modernize and thrive. 💡 1. Shift from Process-Focused to Value-Focused ITIL 4 encourages us to think in terms of value co-creation , not just process adherence. The Service Desk isn’t just logging incidents, it’s playing a central role in delivering value to users and the organization. Idea: Start mapping common user interactions to value streams...

Site Reliability Engineering (SRE) is more than a job title; it’s a mindset, a philosophy, and a set of practices designed to bridge the gap between development and operations. However, not every team or professional using the SRE title truly embodies what it means to be an SRE. In this blog, we’ll explore five key practices that define true SREs. If you’re not doing these, you might want to rethink calling yourself or your team an SRE. 1. Prioritizing Reliability Over Everything Else SREs live and breathe reliability. If you’re not actively measuring and maintaining your systems' availability, performance, and durability, then you’re missing the core purpose of SRE. What You Should Be Doing: Define and track Service Level Objectives (SLOs) and Service Level Indicators (SLIs). Use error budgets to balance feature development and system stability. Implement incident response processes to minimize downtime. 2. Automating Toil Away Toil - the repetitive, manual tasks th...

5 Essential Tips from ITIL 4 IT Asset Management Training Organizations rely on IT assets to power operations, drive innovation, and meet business objectives. Managing these assets effectively can be the difference between seamless operations and costly inefficiencies. That’s where IT Asset Management (ITAM) comes in, a cornerstone practice within the ITIL 4 framework. After diving deep into ITAM training, we’ve gathered five essential tips to help you enhance your ITAM strategy and maximize the value of your IT investments. 1. Focus on the Full Asset Lifecycle ITAM isn’t just about tracking assets - it’s about managing their entire lifecycle. From procurement to retirement, each stage plays a vital role in ensuring your organization gets maximum value. Key points include: Procurement: Align purchases with organizational goals and budgets. Usage: Monitor performance and compliance to reduce waste. Disposal: Ensure environmentally responsible and secure asset disposal ...

IT Service Management (ITSM) is far more than a set of processes for managing IT services. It’s a strategic tool that can help organizations achieve their broader goals, from driving digital transformation to enhancing customer satisfaction. However, realizing this potential requires a deliberate effort to align ITSM with organizational objectives. In this guide, we’ll walk you through a step-by-step process to ensure your ITSM initiatives directly support and amplify your organization’s goals. Step 1: Understand Your Organization’s Goals Before aligning ITSM with organizational objectives, you need a clear understanding of what those objectives are. Engage with leadership and business units to identify key priorities, such as: Improving customer experience. Enhancing operational efficiency. Driving innovation or digital transformation. Increasing profitability or cost control. 💡Pro Tip: Translate high-level goals into actionable metrics. For example, “improve customer exper...

At ITSM Academy, we pride ourselves on delivering training that not only meets global certification standards but also provides an exceptional learner experience. Many of the courses we offer, such as ITIL, DevOps, and Agile Service Management, are best-practice courses with pre-defined syllabi and certification requirements. While these standards set the framework, our mission is to bring them to life in ways that resonate with learners, both during and after class. Here’s a look behind the scenes at how we ensure our courses are more than just a checklist, they’re transformative learning experiences. 1. Aligning with Global Standards Every course we deliver is carefully aligned with globally recognized best practices and certification requirements. We ensure that: All syllabus objectives are covered thoroughly and accurately. Certification exam preparation is seamlessly integrated into the course. All content reflects the latest updates and standards from governing bodies. Meeting th...

The Future is Bright ☀️ Be Ready to Shine! As we move into 2025, the demand for skilled IT professionals continues to soar. Certification training in ITIL, DevOps, Agile, and Employee Experience isn’t just a smart move, it’s an essential investment in your future.  Here’s why: DevOps:    The global DevOps market is expected to grow at an impressive 22.34% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) reaching $44.06 billion by 2030. With companies prioritizing operational efficiency, cloud computing, and continuous delivery, the need for DevOps expertise is skyrocketing. Certification helps you master the tools and practices that drive faster releases, improved collaboration, and seamless automation. Agile :   By 2033, the Agile market is forecasted to hit $179.9 billion, as organizations across industries adopt Agile frameworks to stay competitive. Agile training equips you with the mindset and techniques to lead adaptive teams, manage evolving priorities, and deliver cus...

Investing in ITSM training is a smart step toward advancing your career, improving team performance, and driving organizational success. But training is just the beginning. The real value lies in how you apply that knowledge to create meaningful change. To help you maximize your training, we’ve compiled actionable tips for turning what you’ve learned into impactful results. 1. Define Your Goals Before Training Starts Begin with the end in mind. Ask yourself (or your boss): What do I/we want to achieve after this training? How will this course help me address current challenges in my role or organization? Clear goals give your learning purpose and focus. Whether it’s streamlining a process, improving service delivery, or boosting team collaboration, having a defined objective ensures that your training aligns with real-world needs. 2. Engage Fully During Training Your training experience is what you make of it. To maximize your learning: Participate actively : Ask questions, share you...

For 21 years, ITSM Academy has been at the forefront of IT Service Management education, equipping professionals to navigate the complexities of ITIL, DevOps, and more. Along this journey, we’ve gathered invaluable insights from our learners, instructors, and partners. Lessons that transcend the classroom and resonate throughout the ITSM profession. As we celebrate our 21st anniversary, we’re excited to share 21 key lessons we’ve learned.  Whether you’re new to ITSM or a seasoned professional, these insights hopefully inspire your journey. 1. ITSM Is About People First Processes and tools matter, but people drive success. Focusing on collaboration, communication, and culture is essential for any ITSM initiative. 2. Continuous Improvement Is Non-Negotiable The IT landscape evolves rapidly, and staying stagnant is not an option. Always seek opportunities to improve services, processes, and skills. 3. Start with the "Why" Successful ITSM projects begin with a clear under...

This January, ITSM Academy proudly celebrates 21 years, and we couldn’t be more excited to share this incredible milestone with our extended community of learners, partners, and ITSM professionals. When we launched in 2004, our vision was both simple and ambitious: to create a space where IT service management professionals could come together to learn, grow, and thrive. Over the years, that vision has transformed into a vibrant reality, made possible by the trust, support, and dedication of everyone who has been part of our journey. As we mark 21 extraordinary years, we take this moment to reflect on the milestones achieved, the memories created, and the magic that continues to inspire us. From the very beginning, ITSM Academy has been built on a people-first foundation. We’ve always believed in the transformative power of education. Not just to advance individual careers but to drive organizational success and innovation. Along the way, we’ve been honored to witness countless “aha!” ...