Microsoft Operations Framework (MOF) 4.0 is a series of guides aimed at helping

information technology Information technology (IT) is the use of computers to create, process, store, retrieve, and exchange all kinds of data . and information. IT forms part of information and communications technology (ICT). An information technology system (I ...

(IT) professionals establish and implement reliable, cost-effective services.

Overview

MOF 4.0 was created to provide guidance across the entire IT life cycle. Completed in early 2008, MOF 4.0 integrates community-generated processes;

governance Governance is the process of interactions through the laws, social norm, norms, power (social and political), power or language of an organized society over a social system (family, tribe, formal organization, formal or informal organization, a ...

, risk, and compliance activities; management reviews, and

Microsoft Solutions Framework Microsoft Solutions Framework (MSF) is a set of principles, models, disciplines, concepts, and guidelines for delivering information technology services from Microsoft. MSF is not limited to developing applications only; it is also applicable to ...

(MSF) best practices. The guidance in the

Microsoft Microsoft Corporation is an American multinational technology corporation producing computer software, consumer electronics, personal computers, and related services headquartered at the Microsoft Redmond campus located in Redmond, Washing ...

Operations Framework encompasses all of the activities and processes involved in managing an IT service: its conception, development, operation, maintenance, and—ultimately—its retirement.

Structure of MOF 4.0

MOF 4.0 The Plan Phase focuses on ensuring that, from its inception, a requested IT service is reliable, policy-compliant, cost-effective, and adaptable to changing business needs. The Deliver Phase concerns the envisioning, planning, building, stabilization, and deployment of requested services. The Operate Phase deals with the efficient operation, monitoring, and support of deployed services in line with agreed-to

service level agreement A service-level agreement (SLA) is a commitment between a service provider and a customer. Particular aspects of the service – quality, availability, responsibilities – are agreed between the service provider and the service user. T ...

(SLA) targets. The Manage Layer helps users establish an integrated approach to IT service management activities through the use of risk management,

change management Change management (sometimes abbreviated as CM) is a collective term for all approaches to prepare, support, and help individuals, teams, and organizations in making organizational change. It includes methods that redirect or redefine the use of ...

, and controls. It also provides guidance relating to accountabilities and role types. Service Management Functions MOF organizes IT activities and processes into Service Management Functions (SMFs) which provide operational guidance for capabilities within the service management environment. Each SMF is anchored within a related lifecycle phase and contains a unique set of goals and outcomes supporting the objectives of that phase. Management Reviews An IT service’s readiness to move from one phase to the next is confirmed by management reviews, which ensure that goals are achieved in an appropriate fashion and that IT’s goals are aligned with the goals of the organization. Governance, Risk, and Compliance The interrelated disciplines of governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) represent a cornerstone of MOF 4.0. IT governance is a senior management–level activity that clarifies who holds the authority to make decisions, determines accountability for actions and responsibility for outcomes, and addresses how expected performance will be evaluated. Risk represents possible adverse impacts on reaching goals and can arise from actions taken or not taken. Compliance is a process that ensures individuals are aware of

regulations Regulation is the management of complex systems according to a set of rules and trends. In systems theory, these types of rules exist in various fields of biology and society, but the term has slightly different meanings according to context. For ...

policies Policy is a deliberate system of guidelines to guide decisions and achieve rational outcomes. A policy is a statement of intent and is implemented as a procedure or protocol. Policies are generally adopted by a governance body within an organ ...

, and procedures that must be followed as a result of senior management’s decisions.

External links

Microsoft Operations Framework 4.0 homepage

Microsoft Solution Accelerators

Microsoft Operations Framework Brazil Project

Cross-reference MOF v4 versus ITIL v3
Microsoft initiatives Information technology management

Overview

Structure of MOF 4.0

See also

External links