Everything you need to know when choosing between DevOps & ITIL

DevOps and ITIL are two different approaches to managing IT services. DevOps is a philosophy that focuses on improving software deployment whereas ITIL is a highly structured model built to boost productivity and supply IT teams with statistics. DevOps emphasises speed and delivering new features and updates as quickly as possible, while ITIL prioritises managing and improving existing services. So, how do you know which one is right for you and your business? 

DevOps killed the ITIL star? 

While some people believe that DevOps is replacing ITIL or vice versa, the truth is that both approaches can work together. In fact, combining the two can actually lead to high productivity and improved workflow. To successfully combine DevOps and ITIL, it’s important to establish a common framework for collaboration between teams. 

When deciding which approach to use for network management, you must consider the problems you’re having and the goals you want to reach. If your organisation values speed and agility in delivering new features, DevOps may be the better choice. On the other hand, if your organisation values stability and reliability in managing existing services, ITIL may be more appropriate. 

Benefits of DevOps

DevOps offers several benefits over ITIL, particularly in terms of speed and agility: 

• DevOps emphasises collaboration between development and operations teams to improve software delivery speed and quality.  
• By breaking down silos between teams, DevOps can help organisations achieve faster time-to-market for new products and features. 

• Another benefit of DevOps is that it brings cultural transformation, improving the speed and quality of how software is developed and delivered. This is achieved through automation, continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) and feedback loops. Enhanced collaboration and experimentation that comes with DevOps can lead to greater innovation and creativity. 

In contrast, ITIL focuses on process, standardisation and metrics. While these are important aspects of IT service management, they can sometimes lead to a rigid approach that may not be well-suited for fast-paced environments. ITIL also tends to be more focused on control than on agility. 

How CACI can help you choose the right approach

Ultimately, you don’t need to choose between DevOps and ITIL as they can complement each other. The decision of which approach to use depends on the specific needs of an organisation, as combining both approaches can lead to high productivity and improved workflow. 

Why not get in touch to see how we can help your business fully utilise both DevOps and ITIL to run your IT infrastructure and ITSM practice.