ITIL4F ITIL Management Practices Practice Question
An event monitoring system detects that a server's disk usage has reached 85%. Which type of event is this?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap is that candidates may assume any threshold-based alert is 'informational,' but ITIL 4 distinguishes informational events as purely awareness without action, whereas warning events indicate a potential problem that should be monitored or addressed.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
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Warning event
An event that indicates a threshold has been reached and may require attention or monitoring is classified as a Warning event in ITIL 4. Here, 85% disk usage exceeds typical warning thresholds (e.g., 80%), suggesting potential future risk if usage continues to grow, but does not yet constitute a critical failure. ITIL 4 defines Warning events as those that signify a situation that is not normal but not yet critical, often prompting proactive review or preventive action.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
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Exception event
Why it's wrong here
An exception event typically indicates a system error, component failure, or a severe deviation that prevents normal operation, often requiring immediate technical intervention to restore functionality. While 85% disk usage is high, it does not represent a system failure or an unexpected operational error that halts processes; the server is still functioning, albeit with reduced capacity. Therefore, classifying it as an exception event would be inaccurate as it doesn't signify a breakdown.
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Critical event
Why it's wrong here
A critical event denotes an immediate and severe impact on service delivery, often leading to a service outage, significant performance degradation, or data loss, demanding urgent resolution. While 85% disk usage is concerning, it does not inherently signify a current service outage or an immediate, severe impact that has already occurred. It represents a potential future problem rather than an existing critical failure requiring emergency response.
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Warning event
Why this is correct
A warning event is correctly identified when a predefined threshold, such as 85% disk usage, has been exceeded, indicating a potential issue that could escalate if not addressed. This type of event serves as an early alert, prompting investigation or proactive action to prevent a more severe incident, without necessarily signifying an immediate failure or critical impact. It allows for timely intervention before service quality is significantly affected.
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Informational event
Why it's wrong here
An informational event provides routine data about normal system operations, such as successful process completions, user logins, or routine system checks, which do not require immediate action. 85% disk usage, however, significantly exceeds typical operational norms and indicates a developing situation that warrants attention and potential intervention. It is not merely providing awareness of a healthy, expected state but rather flagging a condition that deviates from optimal performance.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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