ITIL (formerly known as the Information Technology Infrastructure Library) defines the best practices in IT service management with a particular focus on serving the needs of a given business.
ITIL defines a set of procedures, processes, checklists, and tasks that comprise IT service management. These are not specific to a given type of business activity or technology but rather are aimed at providing an overall strategy that delivers value to stakeholders and ensures a baseline of competence in practice. It is a measure of compliance with relevant standards and is used by businesses for measuring the effectiveness of their IT services and when implementing change.
The ITIL Foundation Certification is a qualification that confirms the holder has learned and applies the best practices in IT service management. Certification is only available to individuals through AXELOS (a joint venture between the firm Capita and the UK Cabinet Office).