Mark Thomas
Why I would start with Continual Service Improvement (CSI)
It has been a question since the dawn of ITIL version 3: Where do we start? A natural reaction is to focus on the things that are causing acute pains: incident, problem, change, and so on. I liken this to … Continue Reading
Aren’t Assets and Configuration Items the same thing according to ITIL?
A student in a recent ITIL class asked me a very good question: "Why did ITIL v3 combine the processes of Asset Management and Configuration Management, is it because assets and configuration items are the same thing?" Well, yes and no, … Continue Reading
Aligning IT goals using the COBIT5 Goals Cascade
IT is no stranger to pressure: complex technologies, new and often confusing regulatory and compliance concerns, and above all how to ensure value creation. One technique that I’ve found valuable is cleverly designed in COBIT5. The COBIT framework is designed … Continue Reading
Is Problem Management a Source of Your IT Problems?
What is Problem Management? According to the IT Infrastructure Library (ITIL), the goal of Problem Management is to minimize the adverse impact of Incidents or prevent these Incidents from occurring at all. Problem Management seeks to get to the root cause … Continue Reading
Access Management Control in IT is not just about the tools!
In today’s changing and complex environment, there is a growing concern and much discussion around the role of access management and the validity of the controls in place to support overall security and compliance initiatives. Often times, organizations fall short of … Continue Reading
COBIT 5 Foundation Exam – Get ready for the latest release from ISACA
I recently finished my COBIT 5 Foundation certification exam (yes, I passed) and wanted to share with you my thoughts on it. But first, it makes sense to give you a little background on the latest COBIT release from ISACA. … Continue Reading
Can you guess the most popular question I get in an ITIL class?
Can you guess the most popular question I get in an ITIL class? "What process should we start with?" – No. "How do I become an ITIL expert?" – No. "What is the best approach to implementing Change Management?" – … Continue Reading
ISACA’s Newest COBIT 5 Release – A Big Deal for a Good Reason
Why is COBIT 5 such a big deal? There has been a lot of talk about ISACA’s newest COBIT release, and for good reason. COBIT 5 is the latest edition of ISACA’s globally accepted framework that includes input from experts … Continue Reading
Using the ITIL process for your next budget planning
Heads up – your 2013 budget is due soon. It will be here before you know it so assemble the team and start planning. If you’re on a calendar year financial cycle, it is likely you’re starting to hear rumblings … Continue Reading
Can you really use SharePoint to manage process? YES.
About three years ago I was in charge of all IT operations for a managed service provider and had just completed an assessment of our service management processes. In that assessment we discovered that several key Service Management processes had … Continue Reading
Five good tips to running a Change Advisory Board (CAB)
Time and time again, I’m asked the question: “How do you manage a CAB effectively?” Having been a change manager for two companies as well as assisted several organizations optimize their process; I’ve painfully discovered some handy tricks and tips … Continue Reading
ITIL, COBIT, PMBOK, BABOK & TOGAF – 5 tools to improve your IT department
Too many needs and too many tools to choose from. Here are the five I would use if I were your IT leader. Back in 1997, my first civilian job when I left the military was to manage a newly … Continue Reading
ITIL vs COBIT – Which is best for you?
In this video, Mark Thomas, Director of Business Services and ITIL & COBIT instructor at Interface Technical Training breaks down the difference between ITIL & COBIT. I wanted to share something with you that I experienced not too long ago. … Continue Reading
