Quick Answer
The answer is hardware acquisition costs, software costs, and personnel costs. These are examples of costs that a service consumer may transfer to a service provider under the ITIL 4 service value system, specifically when adopting an outsourcing or cloud-based model. The technical concept here is that the consumer shifts capital expenditure (CAPEX) for physical assets and operational responsibility for managing them to the provider, thereby converting fixed costs into variable, usage-based operational expenditure (OPEX). On the ITIL 4 Foundation exam, this question tests your understanding of the service consumer’s ability to offload ownership burdens, and a common trap is confusing ongoing utility costs—like electricity for running the consumer’s own devices—with transferable costs, which remain the consumer’s responsibility. To remember this, think of the “three H’s” of transfer: hardware, human resources (personnel), and hosted software, while noting that utilities and facilities are never handed over.
This ITIL4F practice question tests your understanding of key concepts of itil 4. 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.
Which THREE of the following are examples of costs that a service consumer may transfer to a service provider?
Software licensing fees
The provider may manage software licenses.
Electricity for consumer's own devices
Why wrong: This cost remains with the consumer.
Staff training on the service
The provider may offer training.
Hardware acquisition costs
The provider may supply hardware.
Marketing of the consumer's products
Why wrong: This is not related to the service consumption.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Software licensing fees
When outsourcing, the consumer can transfer costs related to hardware, software, and personnel. Electricity cost for running the consumer's own devices is still borne by the consumer.
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.
Software licensing fees
Why this is correct
The provider may manage software licenses.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Electricity for consumer's own devices
Why it's wrong here
This cost remains with the consumer.
Staff training on the service
Why this is correct
The provider may offer training.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Hardware acquisition costs
Why this is correct
The provider may supply hardware.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Marketing of the consumer's products
Why it's wrong here
This is not related to the service consumption.
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
Key Concepts of ITIL 4 — This question tests Key Concepts of ITIL 4 — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Software licensing fees — When outsourcing, the consumer can transfer costs related to hardware, software, and personnel. Electricity cost for running the consumer's own devices is still borne by the consumer.
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
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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. Which TWO of the following are examples of costs that a service consumer may transfer to a service provider?
mediumWhy C: In a service relationship, the consumer can transfer direct costs (like hardware procurement) and personnel costs (like hiring IT staff) to the provider. Licensing costs are often part of the service. Office rent is typically not transferred.
Variation 2. An organization decides to outsource its IT support to reduce operational costs. Which ITIL 4 concept best describes the costs that the organization transfers to the service provider?
mediumWhy B: When using a service, the consumer may transfer certain costs (like IT infrastructure costs) to the provider. These are costs removed from the consumer. The option that says 'costs removed from the consumer' correctly reflects this transfer.
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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