What Does ITSM Mean
The right IT service management solution can unlock efficiency and productivity, along with increasing security and compliance (and other benefits).
In many ways, there has never been a better time to be an IT professional. After all, it’s a highly in-demand profession that it’s become increasingly impossible for businesses to function without. And there are countless ITSM tools on the market, offering a range of versatile and cost-effective solutions.
At the same time, though, we’re at a point of near-overload when it comes to ITSM resources, insights, and tools. It can be difficult to know where to start with ITSM, especially when it comes to evaluating different ITSM examples and companies.
Ultimately, the more you understand about ITSM and its core objectives, the easier it becomes to see the value of a comprehensive tool like Lumos. Keep reading for a brief overview of ITSM, including how to develop and implement an effective ITSM framework.
What Is ITSM?
ITSM stands for IT service management, which is exactly what it sounds like: a framework (or set of processes) related to the efficient and secure design, delivery, implementation, and support of an organization’s IT services.
Enabled by a range of innovative and powerful ITSM products, the exact services included are tailored to the organization’s distinct needs and priorities, making it a scalable and cost-effective way to meet business objectives.
What Is the Main Objective of ITSM?
The main objective of the ITSM process is to ensure functional alignment between an organization’s IT needs and the technology, tools, and processes they leverage. Focusing on this alignment helps to ensure not only that core needs are met, but that resources are appropriately allocated to deliver the greatest value and enable the best possible outcomes.
That’s essentially a long-winded way of saying that the main objective of ITSM is to make your IT team members’ jobs easier. It can improve collaboration, enhance incident response capabilities, streamline and align processes, and more. The result? More secure systems, better workflows, and an increased productivity (among other benefits).
What Is an ITSM Framework?
An ITSM framework provides a repeatable process for evaluating an organization’s needs and developing or adjusting processes in order to better meet them. There are multiple existing frameworks for implementing ITSM, with the ITIL framework being among the most common.
Whatever framework you choose, it ultimately serves as a sort of ITSM process flow template, helping to ensure a successful implementation. That’s not to say every ITSM implementation is going to be identical, however.
Rather, your approach to ITSM should be closely tailored to the current needs of the business—underscoring the importance of ongoing monitoring and a familiarity with common ITSM process steps like assessing needs, gathering feedback, and evaluating solutions.
What Are ITSM Tools?
Modern ITSM tools are versatile software platforms designed to help companies manage their IT service needs as they relate to both internal and external users. There are countless ITSM tools on the market today. Some are designed to do specific things really well (standalone ITSM ticketing tools, for example), while others (like Lumos) offer a more comprehensive, end-to-end experience, including powerful tools for automation.
What Does an ITSM Tool Do?
It really depends on the tool (or tools) you choose to implement. As noted above, the modern marketplace of ITSM providers offers plenty of choice—which can be overwhelming if you jump straight to the ITSM tools list without first evaluating your needs and setting clear objectives.
Some of the most in-demand features and capabilities of ITSM tools include:
- Routine task automation
- Custom integrations
- Security and compliance
- Incident management
- Service request management
- Change management
- Problem management
- Configuration management
- Reporting and analytics
What Are the Advantages of ITSM?
The right ITSM tool—or tools—can deliver almost immediate value by transforming how an organization understands and mitigates the challenges of IT service management. By implementing the right tool or tools for the job, companies can reap several impactful benefits, including the ability to:
- Improve efficiency and productivity
- Enhance security and compliance
- Reduce costs
- Provide “single source of truth” for ITSM insights
- Deliver a better user experience
- Use timely data and insights for better decision making
- Modify and scale IT services as needs evolve
- Mitigate IT staff burnout with an improved toolset
If you’re looking for the most bang for your ITSM buck, consider a comprehensive and highly-customizable solution like Lumos. That way, you can address your current needs while keeping a strategic eye focused on the future. If you’re looking to increase efficiency and security, you can leverage our many integrations to further maximize the return on your investment.
Discover Next-Level ITSM Tools with Lumos
Lumos delivers a powerful, easy-to-use ITSM solution for companies looking to streamline operations, enhance security, and improve the user experience—among other positive outcomes. To see what makes our platform different, you can book a demo today to see it in action or visit our website to learn more about what all we offer (and what it can do for your business).
