Introduction

ITIL® or Information Technology Infrastructure Library Certifications are among the most valuable certifications for IT professionals. It helps them enhance their career and provide IT Service Management (ITSM) to their company to align the goals of their business with IT services and deliver value to the organization. ITIL 4 Foundation training renders the necessary training and knowledge to IT professionals to help them upskill and gain a competitive edge among their peers. Whether you are an IT professional, IT director, manager, or business manager, obtaining an ITIL certification can provide you with insights into managing IT services in business, including selection, planning, delivery, and maintenance in IT.

ITIL can provide IT service management guidance to businesses and organizations so that they can gain optimal value. Therefore, it becomes imperative to understand the fundamental idea behind ITIL and how training obtained by IT professionals can help them incorporate multiple factors into IT development. In this article, we have discussed how pursuing ITIL certifications can help an individual professionally and what drives the ITSM path in the future.

Understanding ITIL in 2024

Information Technology Infrastructure Library or ITIL® is a set of best practices that IT service management may choose to adopt to align their services with the goals of the business to deliver value to the organization. The current ITIL level offers a series of twelve professional certifications which validate a professional’s level of competency over their peers.

ITIL is one of the most useful professional certifications, but determining how it provides value to an IT professional in earning credentials is difficult to calculate. Regardless of that, it is generally accepted that an optimal combination of tangible and intangible factors makes certifications a worthwhile investment of time and capital for both businesses and individuals. Let's understand how investing in an ITIL certification benefits IT professionals.

Benefits of ITIL Certification

ITIL certifications have distinct career-enhancing benefits for IT professionals and unlock new doors for them to explore further in their careers. ITIL also offers several advantages to organizations for going into ITIL and hiring professionals with ITIL certifications. Here are some significant benefits of obtaining the ITIL certifications:

1. Enhanced Career Prospects

It certainly goes without saying that obtaining ITIL certifications can boost one's career and make one stand in the spotlight among the crowd of IT professionals. An ITIL certification can not only open up new paths to choose from but also help you secure your dream job at your dream company. By upgrading your IT skills through certification training, you can make sure to earn your place and become an asset to your company in no time!

2. Greater Earning Potential

Career advancement and growth in earning go hand in hand. As you make your way up the corporate ladder, you can hike up your wages just the same. After taking a quick tour of several job posting websites, we found that ITIL certification holders can earn anywhere between $50,000 and $140,000 per year.

3. Improved Efficiency and Effectiveness

Many large brands and organizations are shifting towards an ITSM framework to streamline their internal processes and make delivery faster and smoother. This is largely due to the contributions of IT professionals who have professional qualifications like ITIL and are continuously upskilling and reskilling to provide optimal solutions for the ever-evolving needs and demands of the company's customers and clients. Having ITIL certifications can help you demonstrate your skills to employers and become a key player in your workplace. Additionally, having extra knowledge of your field can be an instant confidence booster. Companies aligning with ITSM can also benefit from this by serving their clients better.

4. Global Reach

ITIL certifications are accepted at a global level and can be implemented in any industry of any scale. Therefore, if you wish to work in another country or be assigned to a project, you can rest assured that you will be able to work in the same manner as before. Your credentials will be recognized globally by top IT companies, giving you an extra edge to showcase in front of your employers.

5. Common Ground for Communication

The IT industry is filled with job roles that use various technical terminologies of the advanced languages that higher-level IT managers may be heard using. Without a solid understanding of the ins and outs of the IT world, navigating through technical job roles can be challenging. The ITIL certifications can help you upgrade your knowledge, master the common terminologies, and obtain a working knowledge of the technical field to better fulfill your job role.

ITIL Certification Levels

The official ITIL certification program offers twelve certifications that help establish the credentials of an IT professional from a fundamental level to an advanced level of knowledge. Out of these, five levels of certifications are offered, and candidates can choose based on their level of expertise. These certification levels are as follows:

1. ITIL Foundation

The ITIL Foundation certification represents the fundamental level of certification provided by ITIL. It is open to individuals with an interest in the subject, including IT service managers and directors.

2. ITIL Practitioner

The ITIL Practitioner certification is designed for individuals who have successfully obtained their ITIL Foundation certification. This certification demonstrates the practical application of ITIL concepts at an organizational level.

3. ITIL Intermediate

The ITIL Intermediate certification centers around the management of information technology service (ITSM).

4. ITIL Expert

The ITIL Expert certification is an advanced-level qualification that covers all processes and practices across the various ITIL disciplines. To qualify for this exam, candidates must have accumulated 17 credit points through completion of the ITIL Foundation, Practitioner, and Intermediate certification exams.

5. ITIL Master

It represents the pinnacle of ITIL certification provided by ITIL, granting IT professionals the knowledge and skills to implement the ITIL framework in real-world scenarios. To qualify for this certification, candidates must have achieved the ITIL Expert certification.

ITIL in Digital Transformation

ITIL and digital transformation are closely linked with one another as ITIL serves as a valuable framework to support and optimize IT service management practices during the journey of digital transformation. ITSM provides guidelines on managing IT services effectively and ensures that the organizations are effectively adopting digital technologies while also delivering value to customers without compromising product or service quality and customer satisfaction.

Digital transformation of organizations often involves adopting Agile and DevOps practices wherein ITIL can complement these practices by providing a structured approach towards service management. This helps ensure products and services are delivered on time without compromising on the quality, stability, and compliance.

Digital transformation also involves aligning with changes in technology, processes, and people. Change management strategies offered by ITIL can also provide a structured approach to plan, implement, and manage change better.

Job Opportunities and Market Demand

One of the many reasons why IT professionals choose the ITIL certifications for skill upgradation is the tremendous career propulsion obtained after getting certified and the increase in monetary value that comes with it. The ITIL certification is a great way to increase knowledge in IT service management while also getting promoted to higher positions at an organization. With higher designations like project manager, project lead, team lead, or manager, you are certain to obtain better salary incentives with a brighter career ahead.

ITIL has grown in popularity among employers as more and more companies are shifting towards ITSM. As many IT organizations are slowly understanding the benefits of ITIL practices, the demand for professionals with ITIL knowledge and certifications has gone up manifold. With the positive impact that the ITIL has been able to make, it will only gain recognition and popularity going forward.

Challenges and Criticisms

The ITIL framework is being hailed as one of the most robust approaches towards IT service management due to its ability to align IT services with business needs. However, the ITIL approach is not without its shortcomings:

• The ITIL framework encompasses a wide range of aspects which can make it difficult for organizations to manage with limited resources or experience. Hiring professionals with ITIL certifications can be costly to companies on a small scale, and changing on a rapid scale may also be difficult.
• Additionally, the ITIL framework is not a one-size-fits-all solution and thus needs to be tailored according to the requirements of the individual business scale, size, context, and needs.
• The implementation and adoption of ITIL processes and frameworks necessitate a significant commitment, investment, and change management from the organization. It also requires the involvement and agreement of all stakeholders involved.
• It can be difficult to get all stakeholders on board while also dealing with employees to support this change in the organization.

ITIL Training and Resources in 2024

Axelos is the global administrator and resource provider for various certifications, and the ITIL certification is one of them. To begin with the preparation for the ITIL Foundation certification exam, you can access resources from Axelos, such as reading material, books, previous year's question papers, and exam apps.

PeopleCert is one of the leading providers of ITIL certification study materials and collaborates with Axelos for the same. PeopleCert also oversees the administration or organization of various training programs as well as tests for ITIL certification globally. Together, PeopleCert and Axelos provide a variety of preparation tools for candidates to prepare for the online ITIL certification exams of the different levels. You can benefit from online resources as well as classroom classes for ITIL certification exam training.

Future Trends and Developments

ITIL emphasizes aligning IT service management with the requirements of the businesses through a set of best practices. Here are some of the top trends that may propel the ITIL practices forward in 2024:

• AI-driven ITIL practices

Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are set to revolutionize the way ITIL practices are conventionally performed. This can have two major implications on businesses and professional work– automation of routine tasks and using data analysis to serve present and future trends in the industry.

• Collaboration between DevOps and ITIL

While ITIL emphasizes the smooth resolution of conflict through ticket raising in a series of steps, often by different people or teams, DevOps can focus on the automation of ITIL processes. This can help solve the problem of challenges in configuring, releasing, and deploying management processes.

• Higher information security

In this digital age, almost all organizations across all industries have their presence online for better reach to customers. The transfer of and communication through data has increased at a tremendous rate, raising security concerns that can impact the experience of communicating online. Information security is essential for individuals as well as organizations, not only for their success but also for the security and privacy of data being stored and used.

Conclusion

To address the initial question posed in the article, "Is it worth pursuing ITIL in 2024?", we can confidently state that, given the substantial demands in the evolving dynamics of the IT industry where ITIL is gaining the recognition it deserves among top IT companies and in other industries, the demand for ITIL certification programs has increased among IT professionals seeking career advancement in the IT sector. Looking forward to that, it is safe to assume that it is worth doing ITIL in 2024 and beyond in the foreseeable future.

Learning more about IT processes and practices can make you a valuable asset to your company and allow you to work up the corporate ladder in no time. Additionally, clearing the ITIL certification exams through training can be a cakewalk. KnowledgeHut’s ITIL 4 Foundation Training offers an immersive learning program that is required to master all levels of the ITIL certification starting right from the foundation level. So, lace up your boots and stride towards advancing your career in the IT industry, becoming a key player in no time!

FAQs

1. Is ITIL still relevant in 2024, considering the dynamic changes in the IT industry?

The ITIL framework focuses on the best practices of IT service management which emphasizes adaptability, customer-centric growth, and rapid development that is necessary for adapting to the changing requirements of each project. ITSM practices became instrumental in governing and optimizing these services.

2. What career opportunities are available for professionals with ITIL certification?

Some career opportunities available for IT professionals with the ITIL certifications include:

• Process Coordinator
• Mid-level Manager
• ITIL Consultant
• Service Delivery Manager
• IT Analyst
• IT Project Manager
• Service Operation
• Asset Manager
• Senior IT Manager
• IT Manager, etc.

3. How can ITIL contribute to digital transformation, and what skills does it help develop?

IT service management enables organizations to implement new services and process improvements on the basis of automation to make processes faster and streamline their work. It also emphasizes collaboration and transparency to migrate from the analogue world to the digital world.