There are key steps that every company implementing a IT Service Management System will need to consider:

Purchase the Standard
Before you can begin preparing for your application, you will require a copy of the standard. You should read this and make yourself familiar with it.

Consider Training
Whether you are the IT manager seeking to implement an IT Service Management System, or a senior manager who would like to increase your awareness of ISO/IEC 20000, there are courses available.

Review support literature
In addition to the ISO/IEC 20000 standard, there are additional publications available that are designed to help you understand, implement and become registered to a IT Service Management system. These include a Managers Guide (PD 0005) and a Self-assessment Workbook (PD 0015) and are available.

Assemble a team and agree your strategy
You should begin the entire implementation process by preparing your organisational strategy with top management. To ensure commitment an owner at senior level should be identified for the ITSMS. It is therefore vital that Senior Management is involved from the beginning of the process.

Review Consultancy Options
You can receive advice from independent consultants on how best to implement your system.

Choose a registrar
The registrar is the 3rd party, like BSI, who come and assess the effectiveness of your ITSMS, and issue a certificate if it meets the requirements of the standard. Choosing a registrar can be a complex issue as there are many operating in the market. Factors to consider include industry experience, geographic coverage, price and service level offered. The key is to find the registrar who can best meet your requirements. A great place to start is by contacting us.

Develop a IT Service Management Policy
An IT Service Management policy is a high level document that outlines how an organisation addresses IT Service Management as a whole and also reviews some of the pervasive and underpinning procedures that are necessary to support integrated service management. The scope of your IT Service Management System should also be outlined at this stage (i.e. the boundary of the service management activities).

Develop support documentation
This is typically policies and plans that support each of the key service management processes. Quite simply, it outlines roles, responsibilities and key activities involved in managing the IT Service Management components.

Implement your IT Service Management System
The key to implementation is communication and training. During the implementation phase everyone operates to the procedures and collects records that demonstrate you are doing what you say you are doing.

Consider a pre-assessment
A pre-assessment by your registrar may be of value to your organisation. The purpose of the pre-assessment is to identify areas where you may not be operating to the standard. This allows you to correct any areas of concern you may have before the initial assessment.

Gain registration
You should arrange your initial assessment with your registrar. At this point the registrar will review your ITSMS and determine whether you should be recommended for registration.

Continual assessment
Once you have received registration and been awarded your certificate, you can begin to advertise your success and promote your business. Your ITSMS will be periodically checked by your registrar to ensure that it continues to meet the requirements of the standard.

BSI Management Systems has a structured route to registering to ISO/IEC 20000-1:2005. The BSI
route to registration is designed to make your experience easy and reassuring, with minimal disruption to your own core activity.

ITSMS Registration