What is the primary objective of **ITIL**?

**The primary objective of ITIL is to align IT services with business objectives through best-practice guidelines for IT Service Management (ITSM), enabling value co-creation via the Service Value System (SVS).** ITIL 4 (2019) emphasizes 34 practices across general, service, and technical management, structured around the SVS—including 7 guiding principles, governance, the 6-activity Service Value Chain (Plan, Improve, Engage, Design & Transition, Obtain/Build, Deliver & Support), and continual improvement—to manage the full service lifecycle from demand to outcomes.

Who is legally or professionally required to comply with **ITIL**?

**No organizations are legally required to comply with ITIL, as it is a voluntary framework of best practices for ITSM, not a mandatory regulation.** Professionally, it is recommended for IT leaders, service managers, and teams in enterprises managing complex IT environments, with 87% global adoption; certifications via PeopleCert (Foundation to Strategic Leader) are essential for ITSM roles to demonstrate competency in practices like incident and change management.

Does **ITIL** require an external audit or third-party certification?

**ITIL does not require external audits or third-party certification, as it provides flexible guidelines rather than prescriptive controls.** Organizations may pursue voluntary ISO/IEC 20000 certification, which aligns with ITIL practices, but ITIL itself focuses on internal adoption of its 34 practices and SVS; PeopleCert manages practitioner certifications, not organizational audits.

How often should an assessment for **ITIL** be performed?

**ITIL assessments should be performed continually as part of the SVS's embedded continual improvement model, with formal gap analyses conducted during initial implementation and periodically thereafter.** The 7-step continual improvement process recommends regular reviews of KPIs like incident resolution times, integrated into the Service Value Chain's Improve activity, typically annually or after major changes to ensure alignment with the four dimensions of service management.

What are the consequences of non-compliance with **ITIL**?

**There are no legal consequences for non-compliance with ITIL, since it is a non-binding framework; risks include operational inefficiencies, higher downtime, and missed ROI such as the reported 10:1 to 38:1 benefits from adoption.** Poor ITSM without ITIL practices like CMDB or change enablement can lead to increased costs, reduced service quality, and failure to mitigate risks like $3M+ data breaches.

An **ITIL** be mapped to other international frameworks?

**Yes, ITIL can be mapped to other international frameworks, with its practices designed for integration with methodologies like Agile, DevOps, Lean, and standards such as ISO/IEC 20000.** ITIL 4's SVS and 34 practices align seamlessly with these, enabling hybrid models (e.g., "you build it, you run it" with DevOps) while supporting governance and compliance needs.

What is the first step to begin implementing **ITIL**?

**The first step to implement ITIL is Project Preparation, securing executive sponsorship and defining scope as outlined in the 10-step roadmap.** This involves developing a business case, conducting an ITIL assessment to gap analyze current processes against the SVS, and applying the guiding principle "Start Where You Are" to leverage existing assets before role definition and phased practice adoption.

What is the primary objective of **BREEAM**?

**BREEAM's primary objective is to provide a science-based sustainability assessment and certification framework for the built environment, measuring performance across the asset lifecycle.** Developed by BRE in 1990, it uses a category-based structure—**Management, Health & Wellbeing, Energy, Transport, Water, Materials, Waste, Land Use & Ecology, Pollution, Innovation**—with weighted credits converting to ratings: Pass (≥30%), Good (≥45%), Very Good (≥55%), Excellent (≥70%), Outstanding (≥85%). It verifies environmental, social, and resilience outcomes through evidence and third-party audits.

Who is legally or professionally required to comply with **BREEAM**?

**No organizations are legally required to comply with BREEAM, as it is a voluntary certification scheme.** Professionally, it applies to developers, owners, and operators of buildings, infrastructure, communities, and fit-outs seeking market differentiation, ESG credibility, planning incentives, or alignment with investor expectations. National Scheme Operators in **Austria, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden** adapt it locally; others use International versions.

Does **BREEAM** require an external audit or third-party certification?

**Yes, BREEAM requires third-party certification by BRE Global Ltd following quality audits of evidence submitted by licensed BREEAM Assessors.** BRE, accredited to **ISO/IEC 17065** and aligned with **ISO 9001**, performs QA including potential site visits. Assessors coordinate evidence like energy models, IAQ plans, and ecological assessments for impartial verification.

How often should an assessment for **BREEAM** be performed?

**BREEAM New Construction assessments occur at design and post-construction stages for one-time certification, while BREEAM In-Use requires reassessment every 3 years to maintain validity.** Post-Occupancy Evaluation (POE) is recommended ongoing via tools like metering to verify performance gaps, supporting continuous improvement without formal recertification in all schemes.

What are the consequences of non-compliance with **BREEAM**?

**Non-compliance with BREEAM results in denied credits, lower ratings, or failed certification, with no direct legal penalties as it is voluntary.** Consequences include lost market premiums (e.g., up to 25% rental uplift), rejected planning incentives, investor scrutiny, higher operational costs from unoptimized energy/water use, and reputational risk in ESG reporting.

An **BREEAM** be mapped to other international frameworks?

**BREEAM does not officially map to other frameworks within its standalone requirements, but Version 7 aligns with EU Taxonomy for net-zero carbon, whole-life emissions, biodiversity, and resilience.** Its evidence rigor (e.g., ISO/IEC 17025 testing) supports ESG disclosures, though scheme-specific manuals and KBCNs govern compliance independently.

What is the first step to begin implementing **BREEAM**?

**The first step is to select the appropriate scheme (e.g., New Construction, In-Use) and version, then appoint a licensed BREEAM Assessor early at project inception.** Conduct a pre-assessment using the technical manual to target ratings, identify credits, and integrate into design/procurement for cost-effective compliance.

ITIL vs BREEAM

Standards Comparison

ITIL

Voluntary

2019

Global framework for IT service management best practices

BREEAM

Voluntary

1990

Global sustainability certification for built environment performance.

Quick Verdict

ITIL provides best practices for IT service management across organizations worldwide, while BREEAM delivers sustainability certification for buildings and infrastructure. Companies adopt ITIL for operational efficiency and BREEAM for environmental compliance and asset value uplift.

IT Service Management

ITIL

ITIL 4 IT Service Management Framework

Cost

€€€

Complexity

High

Implementation Time

12-18 months

Key Features

Service Value System for holistic value co-creation
34 flexible practices across three management categories
Seven guiding principles directing value-focused decisions
Four dimensions balancing people, tech, partners, processes
Continual improvement embedded in every element

Building Sustainability

BREEAM

Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method

Cost

€€€

Complexity

High

Implementation Time

12-18 months

Key Features

Credit-based scoring with weighted sustainability categories
Third-party certification by licensed assessors and BRE
Covers new construction, in-use, infrastructure schemes
Knowledge Base updates for continuous compliance guidance
Alignment with net-zero, biodiversity, EU Taxonomy

Detailed Analysis

A comprehensive look at the specific requirements, scope, and impact of each standard.

ITIL Details

What It Is

ITIL 4 is a standalone framework of best practices for IT Service Management (ITSM), evolved from the UK's 1980s Information Technology Infrastructure Library. Its primary purpose is aligning IT services with business objectives via a flexible, value-driven approach through the Service Value System (SVS), emphasizing co-creation and continual enhancement across the service lifecycle.

Key Components

SVS core: 7 guiding principles (e.g., Focus on Value, Progress Iteratively), governance, Service Value Chain (6 activities), 34 practices (14 general, 17 service, 3 technical), and continual improvement.
**Four dimensionsorganizations & people, information & technology, partners & suppliers, value streams & processes.
Certification model via PeopleCert: Foundation to Managing Professional/Strategic Leader.

Why Organizations Use It

Adoption (87% globally) drives ROI (10:1-38:1), cost efficiencies, 20% faster resolutions, risk mitigation ($3M+ breaches), and integration with DevOps/Agile. It fosters service quality, customer satisfaction, common language, and career growth without legal mandates.

Implementation Overview

Phased 10-step roadmap: assessment, gap analysis, role definition, training, tool integration (e.g., CMDB). Suited for enterprises/SMEs across industries; tailor to context, pilots reduce resistance. No audits required, focus on certifications. (178 words)

BREEAM Details

What It Is

BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) is a science-led sustainability certification framework for the built environment. It assesses buildings, infrastructure, and communities across lifecycles from design to operation. Primary purpose: measure and verify environmental, health, and resilience performance via a credit-based, weighted scoring system producing ratings from Pass to Outstanding.

Key Components

10 core categories: Management, Health & Wellbeing, Energy, Transport, Water, Materials, Waste, Land Use & Ecology, Pollution, Innovation.
Credits earned per issue, weighted by impact (e.g., high for Energy).
Built on technical manuals, KBCNs for updates, and third-party assurance.
Certification via licensed assessors and BRE Global audits.

Why Organizations Use It

Drives ESG alignment, net-zero strategies, and EU Taxonomy compliance.
Delivers energy savings (22-33%), asset value uplift (up to 30%).
Mitigates regulatory/planning risks; enhances tenant appeal.
Builds investor trust via independent verification.

Implementation Overview

Phased: pre-assessment, design integration, construction evidence, certification.
Early assessor/AP appointment essential; suits all sizes/industries globally.
Requires training, evidence management; BRE audits for certification.

Key Differences

Aspect	ITIL	BREEAM
Scope	IT Service Management lifecycle and practices	Building sustainability and environmental performance
Industry	All IT organizations worldwide	Construction, real estate, infrastructure globally
Nature	Voluntary best-practice framework	Voluntary third-party certification scheme
Testing	Certifications and self-assessments	Licensed assessor audits and BRE QA
Penalties	None; loss of certification benefits	None; loss of certification rating

Scope

ITIL

IT Service Management lifecycle and practices

BREEAM

Building sustainability and environmental performance

Industry

ITIL

All IT organizations worldwide

BREEAM

Construction, real estate, infrastructure globally

Nature

ITIL

Voluntary best-practice framework

BREEAM

Voluntary third-party certification scheme

Testing

ITIL

Certifications and self-assessments

BREEAM

Licensed assessor audits and BRE QA

Penalties

ITIL

None; loss of certification benefits

BREEAM

None; loss of certification rating

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about ITIL and BREEAM

ITIL FAQ

BREEAM FAQ

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ITIL

BREEAM

Quick Verdict

ITIL

Key Features

BREEAM

Key Features

Detailed Analysis

ITIL Details

What It Is

Key Components

Why Organizations Use It

Implementation Overview

BREEAM Details

What It Is

Key Components

Why Organizations Use It

Implementation Overview

Key Differences

Scope

Industry

Nature

Testing

Penalties

Frequently Asked Questions

ITIL FAQ

What is the primary objective of ITIL?

Who is legally or professionally required to comply with ITIL?

Does ITIL require an external audit or third-party certification?

How often should an assessment for ITIL be performed?

What are the consequences of non-compliance with ITIL?

An ITIL be mapped to other international frameworks?

What is the first step to begin implementing ITIL?

BREEAM FAQ

What is the primary objective of BREEAM?

Who is legally or professionally required to comply with BREEAM?

Does BREEAM require an external audit or third-party certification?

How often should an assessment for BREEAM be performed?

What are the consequences of non-compliance with BREEAM?

An BREEAM be mapped to other international frameworks?

What is the first step to begin implementing BREEAM?

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5 Ways Modern Compliance Software Makes Evolving Regulations Your Strategic Advantage

Top 5 Audit Survival Secrets for Your First SOC 2 Type 2: What Auditors Really Check (and How to Pass)

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Check out these other Gradum.io Standards Comparison Pages

ISA 95 vs IATF 16949

ISO 31000 vs NIST 800-171

IEC 62443 vs EMAS