In any IT-based service operation, such as IT Service Management (ITSM), especially when they operate on ITIL principles, a Business Relationship Manager (BRM) is the go-between with the rest of the organization.
As the pace of innovation accelerates, companies must keep up with the latest trends to remain competitive. This, in turn, places a significant burden on the IT department to manage and maintain the technological infrastructure and to identify and implement new technologies. As a result, IT professionals are under mounting pressure to deliver high-quality services in a timely and cost-effective manner, all while ensuring the security and reliability of critical systems.
Change Management is a constant for ITIL and ITSM. Changes are often necessary, whether software or hardware roll-outs or systems upgrades. Regrettably, as every IT professional and team leader knows, mistakes can happen.
Not every change management plan goes smoothly, and when you hit bumps in the road, you need control of the complete end-to-end process. Part of ensuring you have that control is to have contingencies in place for rolling back some of the changes that have been made.
The 80/20 Rule is the principle that 80% of the effects come from 20% of the causes. It's often used in business to help identify how to operate more efficiently. It can be applied to almost every area of business, including IT Service Management (ITSM).
IT service organizations and teams are focused on providing the best possible service to their internal customers. Efficiency has always been integral to ITSM. Monitoring Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and dashboards, and adherence to Service Level Agreements (SLAs) is essential to producing successful outcomes in ITSM.
But how do IT service managers and IT leaders know how and where to focus the team's resources and time?
Is it worth it for companies to encourage IT certifications for their technology employees? What certifications are organizations most interested in? Gaining competency in various areas helps expand the possibilities for your company's growth and an individual's job opportunities. If you're seeking a job in the IT industry, you want to know the best option to land the position you want.
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) can be a tricky yet necessary protocol to follow. A common misconception of those on the "outside looking in" is that HIPAA only applies to healthcare organizations like hospitals and other specialty clinics.
When looking into who is covered by HIPAA, you may be surprised to learn that several more entities have a responsibility to adhere to HIPAA guidelines as a covered entity. Some of these organizations are not even directly involved with healthcare.
In the IT sector, internal and external relationships are often governed by legal or quasi-legal documents. In IT and ITSM, the terms "Master Service Agreement" and "Service Level Agreement" are often used interchangeably.
However, there are differences between the two kinds of agreements that can impact how you want to use them in your organization. While both can be used for similar purposes — such as establishing clear expectations for internal IT service providers or external vendors — what separates them and how they're used are sufficiently different that it's worth taking the time to understand why this is important.
So, what is the meaning of an SLA, or what does SLA stand for, anyway?
The term Service Level Agreement (SLA) is basically self-defining: two parties (service provider and customer) officially agreeing on the level of service by which they both are willing to abide. However, defining and creating an effective SLA between an ITSM team and the rest of the organization, or between a third-party provider and a business isn't always that easy.
In today's society, several factors can impact the business continuity of IT environments. In addition to physical threats like theft and natural disasters, the Internet — despite its many benefits — can also wreak havoc. Downtime, in any form, can cost a company money and, perhaps, its reputation if not managed correctly.
New and seasoned businesspeople know that a well-thought-out business model and strategy are two key ingredients needed to create a successful company.
However, something discussed less frequently is an operating or operational model. This outlines important details about a company, including those regarding employees, processes, systems and technology.
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