Quick Answer
The answer is a warning event. In ITIL 4, event types are categorized into informational, warning, and exception, and a server’s disk usage reaching 85% is classified as a warning because it signals a potential problem that requires attention before it becomes critical. Informational events are routine notifications like a successful backup, while exception events indicate a breach of a defined threshold, such as disk usage hitting 100%. On the ITIL 4 Foundation exam, this question tests your ability to distinguish between these three event categories, often using a sliding scale of severity. A common trap is confusing a warning with an exception—remember that a warning is a pre-threshold alert, not a breach. For a memory tip, think of a traffic light: informational is green (all clear), warning is yellow (caution needed), and exception is red (stop, action required).
This ITIL4F practice question tests your understanding of itil management practices. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
An event indicating that a server's disk usage has reached 85% is detected. According to ITIL 4, what type of event is this?
Exception
Why wrong: Exception events indicate a breach of threshold, e.g., disk full.
Warning
Warnings indicate a condition that may become a problem.
Alert
Why wrong: Alert is not a standard ITIL event category.
Informational
Why wrong: Informational events are routine notifications.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Warning
Events indicating a potential problem are classified as warnings. Option B is correct. Option A is informational events are routine. Option C is exception events indicate a breach of threshold. Option D is not an ITIL event category.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Exception
Why it's wrong here
Exception events indicate a breach of threshold, e.g., disk full.
Warning
Why this is correct
Warnings indicate a condition that may become a problem.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Alert
Why it's wrong here
Alert is not a standard ITIL event category.
Informational
Why it's wrong here
Informational events are routine notifications.
Common exam traps
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A practitioner preparing for the ITIL4F exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
What to study next
Identify which ITIL4F exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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FAQ
ITIL Management Practices — This question tests ITIL Management Practices — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Warning — Events indicating a potential problem are classified as warnings. Option B is correct. Option A is informational events are routine. Option C is exception events indicate a breach of threshold. Option D is not an ITIL event category.
Identify which ITIL4F exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Same concept, more angles
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. An organization monitors IT systems and detects an event indicating that a disk is 80% full. According to ITIL 4, what type of event is this?
mediumWhy B: Events are categorized as informational, warning, or exception. A disk at 80% capacity is a warning that may require attention, not yet an exception. Option B is correct. Option A (informational) is for routine notifications. Option C (exception) is for abnormal conditions. Option D (error) is not a standard event category.
Last reviewed: Jun 21, 2026
This ITIL4F practice question is part of Courseiva's free PeopleCert certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the ITIL4F exam.
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