What is ITIL?

ITIL (Information Technology Infrastructure Library) is a framework for IT service management that provides best practices and guidance for managing IT services effectively. The transition from ITIL v3 to ITIL 4 was a significant update that brought about a more modern and holistic approach to IT service management. Axelos, the organization responsible for ITIL, chose to name it ITIL 4 instead of ITIL v4 for a few reasons:

Signifying a Major Shift: The change from ITIL v3 to ITIL 4 represented a significant shift in the approach and framework. ITIL 4 introduced new concepts, principles, and practices that differed from those in ITIL v3. The change was not just an incremental update but a fundamental rethinking of how IT services should be managed in a more agile and holistic manner.

Avoiding Confusion: By naming it ITIL 4 instead of ITIL v4, Axelos wanted to clearly distinguish it from the previous version, ITIL v3. Using a new numbering system made it evident that ITIL 4 was not just a minor update or an evolution of the previous version but a new framework with its own set of principles and practices.

Aligning with Industry Trends: The choice of "ITIL 4" in the name also reflected the alignment of the framework with modern IT and business practices, including agile, DevOps, and digital transformation. It signaled that ITIL was evolving to address the changing needs and challenges of the IT service management industry.

In summary, Axelos named ITIL 4 to emphasize the significant changes and updates introduced in the framework, to avoid confusion with the previous version, and to indicate its alignment with contemporary IT and business practices.