Help Desk vs. Service Desk What's the difference?

​People often use the terms "help desk" and "service desk" to mean the same thing, but they are actually two different tools for meeting an organization’s needs.

The main difference between a help desk and a service desk lies in their features and the level of support they provide. Here’s how they differ:

Help Desk

• Scope: A help desk focuses on giving technical support to end users, usually within an organization. It mainly deals with specific problems or incidents users face.
• Support Level: Help desks are reactive, meaning they respond when users report problems. They are often the first place users go for help, aiming to fix issues as quickly as possible.
• Function: Help desks handle tasks like troubleshooting software or hardware issues, helping with applications, resetting passwords, and fixing technical problems. They follow set procedures to resolve these issues efficiently.

Service Desk

• Scope: A service desk goes beyond just technical support. It often uses IT Service Management (ITSM) practices to provide full-service solutions for users inside and outside the organization.
• Support Level: Service desks offer both reactive support (responding to issues) and proactive support (preventing problems before they happen). They manage services like change control, service catalogs, and fulfilling service requests.
• Function: Service desks focus on aligning with business goals and improving customer satisfaction. They handle tasks like service catalog management, service level management, and tracking incidents or requests. Their tools help manage all service-related activities efficiently.

​The roles and responsibilities of a Help Desk or Service Desk can differ depending on the organization. Some companies use the terms interchangeably, while others combine elements of both into a hybrid model. Understanding an organization’s needs and context is key when talking about help desks and service desks.