ITIL4F ITIL Management Practices Practice Question
In ITIL 4, which practice is responsible for maintaining the Configuration Management Database (CMDB)?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many candidates confuse the practice that uses the CMDB (Change Enablement or IT Asset Management) with the practice that is responsible for maintaining it, but ITIL 4 explicitly assigns CMDB maintenance to Service Configuration Management.
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
✓
Service Configuration Management
Service Configuration Management (D) is the ITIL 4 practice responsible for maintaining the Configuration Management Database (CMDB). It ensures that accurate and reliable information about configuration items (CIs) and their relationships is available when and where needed, supporting all other service management practices.
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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Change Enablement
Why it's wrong here
Change Enablement focuses on maximizing the number of successful service and product changes by balancing risk and speed. While it certainly uses configuration information from the CMDB to assess the impact of proposed changes and ensure proper authorization, its core responsibility does not involve the ongoing population, updating, or verification of the CMDB's contents. That data management function belongs to a different practice.
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IT Asset Management
Why it's wrong here
IT Asset Management is responsible for planning and managing the full lifecycle of all IT assets, from acquisition through disposal, to maximize value and control costs. This practice primarily focuses on the financial, contractual, and inventory aspects of hardware, software, and network components. While information about assets may be recorded within a Configuration Management Database (CMDB), IT Asset Management does not hold the accountability for the overall structure, integrity, or maintenance of the CMDB itself.
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Deployment Management
Why it's wrong here
Deployment Management is the practice responsible for moving new or changed hardware, software, documentation, processes, or any other component to live environments. Its primary objective is to ensure that these components are deployed successfully and efficiently, making them available for use. While a successful deployment event will necessitate updates to the CMDB to reflect the new state of configuration items, the ongoing maintenance, verification, and overall governance of the CMDB's data integrity are not within the scope of Deployment Management's core activities.
- ✓
Service Configuration Management
Why this is correct
Service Configuration Management is the dedicated practice responsible for maintaining accurate and reliable information about the services and the configuration items (CIs) that support them. This includes planning, identifying, controlling, monitoring, and verifying the versions, baselines, and relationships of all CIs throughout their lifecycle. Its core function is to ensure the integrity of the Configuration Management System (CMS) and the Configuration Management Database (CMDB), providing a foundational understanding of the service landscape for other practices.
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