New ITIL Explained for Certified Professionals

ITIL evolves. Your expertise remains valuable.

A confident step forward for the ITIL community

The new ITIL builds on everything professionals already value in ITIL, evolving the framework to reflect today’s digital, product-centric, and AI-enabled reality. Existing knowledge, experience, and certifications remain fully relevant as part of this evolution.

If you are already certified or familiar with ITIL, this is not a reset. It is a natural next step that allows you to move forward with confidence, when and how it makes sense for you.

The key innovations in New ITIL

The new ITIL evolves to match today’s AI-driven, fast-changing environment. It provides practical, role-relevant guidance in digital product and service management that helps professionals and organizations deliver measurable value with consistency.

Modern, integrated, and comprehensive

ITIL (Version 5) provides guidance that works across the entire organization, from leadership and strategy to day-to-day operations. It helps teams collaborate more effectively, align priorities, and create value consistently in both stable and rapidly changing environments.

AI-native and practical by design

ITIL (Version 5) supports professionals working in AI-enabled contexts. It provides clear, practical guidance for adapting ways of working, making informed decisions, and responding to change as technology, business needs, and customer expectations evolve.

End-to-end lifecycle for digital products and services

Digital experience is a core focus in ITIL (Version 5). The framework helps teams design, deliver, and improve digital products and services with greater visibility, stronger collaboration, and a clearer understanding of how different stakeholders experience value.

Why the new ITIL?

A new digital landscape

The digital landscape has changed dramatically. Organizations must operate faster, smarter, and with greater flexibility, particularly as AI reshapes how work is designed, delivered, and governed.

Digital-first business models

Modern organizations are increasingly digital-first and product-centric. While earlier versions of ITIL focused primarily on service management, today’s organizations manage integrated products and services that require updated, holistic guidance.

The AI revolution

AI and automation are transforming operations across industries. The new ITIL is AI-native by design, helping organizations adopt and scale AI responsibly while maintaining trust, transparency, and control.

Greater adaptability

Organizations need frameworks that support agility and rapid change. ITIL evolves to enable adaptive, outcome-focused practices aligned with real-world operating needs.

Stronger interconnection and value focus

Attribution: Originally published by PeopleCert on Jan 29, 2026.

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Moving forward - without starting over

As ITIL evolves, one thing remains constant; the experience, judgment, and practical knowledge built by the global ITIL community still matter. This evolution is not about discarding what works, but about strengthening it, so professionals can continue to deliver value in environments shaped by digital products, AI, and constant change.

As ITSM Academy onboards the new courses within the ITIL (Version 5) qualification scheme, our focus remains the same as it has always been; helping learners translate framework guidance into real-world understanding and application. Each new course is being introduced thoughtfully, with continuity in mind, so existing knowledge is respected and extended; not replaced.

Whether you are just starting your ITIL journey or building on years of certification and experience, the path forward is designed to meet you where you are. The new ITIL builds on familiar principles while providing clearer guidance for modern operating models, enabling professionals and organizations to move forward with confidence.

We’ll continue to share updates, insights, and practical perspectives as the new scheme rolls out - keeping the conversation grounded in what matters most: delivering measurable value through effective service and product management.

Download Introducing ITIL 5 Presentation

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