---
title: Availability 
slug: citsmart-8-en/availability
description: This document provides an in-depth understanding of availability and availability management in accordance with ITIL principles. It defines availability as the capability of an IT service to fulfill its purpose precisely when required, with reliability, m
docTags: 
createdAt: 2022-01-19T22:49:57.000Z
---

## Presentation

According to ITIL, availability is defined as "Ability of an IT service or other
 configuration item to perform its agreed function when required. Availability is
 determined by reliability, maintainability, serviceability, performance, and
 security".

Availability management is defined as "The process responsible for ensuring that
 IT services meet the current and future availability needs of the business in a
 costeffective and timely manner. Availability management defines, analyses,
 plans, measures and improves all aspects of the availability of IT services, and
 ensures that all IT infrastructures, processes, tools, roles etc. are
 appropriate for the agreed service level targets for availability".