Perhaps the scariest aspect of IT Infrastructure Library's (ITIL's) evolution is that with each new version, the portfolio of IT best practices grows into a voluminous monster of processes that extends far beyond the maturity level (or actual needs) of most IT shops. It's no wonder, then, that ITIL adherence strikes fear into the hearts of many small and medium enterprises.

The truth of the matter is that there's nothing to fear from ITIL when it's applied judiciously. A basic early ITIL win demonstrates value to stakeholders, as well as providing much needed experience for SME implementation to give a boost to IT.