Microsoft Operations Framework
Encyclopedia
Microsoft Operations Framework (MOF) 4.0 is a series of guides aimed at helping information technology
(IT) professionals establish and implement reliable, cost-effective services.
, risk, and compliance
activities; management reviews, and Microsoft Solutions Framework
(MSF) best practices.
The guidance in the Microsoft
Operations Framework encompasses all of the activities and processes involved in managing an IT service: its conception, development, operation, maintenance, and—ultimately—its retirement.
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
(SLA) targets.
The Manage Layer helps users establish an integrated approach to IT service management activities through the use of risk management
, change management
, 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), white papers that provide detailed processes and outcomes related to a series of IT disciplines. 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, policies, and procedures that must be followed as a result of senior management’s decisions.
Information technology
Information technology is the acquisition, processing, storage and dissemination of vocal, pictorial, textual and numerical information by a microelectronics-based combination of computing and telecommunications...
(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; governanceGovernance
Governance is the act of governing. It relates to decisions that define expectations, grant power, or verify performance. It consists of either a separate process or part of management or leadership processes...
, risk, and compliance
Compliance (regulation)
In general, compliance means conforming to a rule, such as a specification, policy, standard or law. Regulatory compliance describes the goal that corporations or public agencies aspire to in their efforts to ensure that personnel are aware of and take steps to comply with relevant laws and...
activities; management reviews, and Microsoft Solutions Framework
Microsoft Solutions Framework
Microsoft Solutions Framework is a set of principles, models, disciplines, concepts, and guidelines for delivering information technology solutions from Microsoft. MSF is not limited to developing applications only, it is also applicable to other IT projects like deployment, networking or...
(MSF) best practices.
The guidance in the Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
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 describes the IT service lifecycle in terms of three phases and a foundational layer: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
Service Level Agreement
A service-level agreement is a part of a service contract where the level of service is formally defined. In practice, the term SLA is sometimes used to refer to the contracted delivery time or performance...
(SLA) targets.
The Manage Layer helps users establish an integrated approach to IT service management activities through the use of risk management
Risk management
Risk management is the identification, assessment, and prioritization of risks followed by coordinated and economical application of resources to minimize, monitor, and control the probability and/or impact of unfortunate events or to maximize the realization of opportunities...
, change management
Change management
Change management is a structured approach to shifting/transitioning individuals, teams, and organizations from a current state to a desired future state. It is an organizational process aimed at helping employees to accept and embrace changes in their current business environment....
, 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), white papers that provide detailed processes and outcomes related to a series of IT disciplines. 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, policies, and procedures that must be followed as a result of senior management’s decisions.
See also
- IT Service ManagementIT Service ManagementIT service management is a discipline for managing information technology systems, philosophically centered on the customer's perspective of IT's contribution to the business. ITSM stands in deliberate contrast to technology-centered approaches to IT management and business interaction...
- Information Technology Infrastructure LibraryInformation Technology Infrastructure LibraryThe Information Technology Infrastructure Library , is a set of good practices for IT service management that focuses on aligning IT services with the needs of business. In its current form , ITIL is published in a series of five core publications, each of which covers an ITSM lifecycle stage...
(ITIL) - IT Service Management ForumIT Service Management ForumThe IT Service Management Forum is an independent and internationally-recognised forum for IT Service Management professionals worldwide....
(ITSMF) - Microsoft's infrastructure optimization