The answer is to implement synchronous replication to the secondary data center and update the disaster recovery plan. This is correct because synchronous replication writes data to both sites simultaneously, achieving a recovery point objective (RPO) of zero—far better than the required 15 minutes—and enables near-instant failover, which can meet the 2-hour recovery time objective (RTO) that the current 3-hour restore from backups fails. On the ITIL 4 Foundation exam, this scenario tests your understanding of ITIL service continuity and disaster recovery trade-offs: while the 10-millisecond latency may slightly impact performance, it is a manageable trade-off for critical trading applications where meeting RTO and RPO is non-negotiable. A common trap is assuming any latency automatically disqualifies replication, but the exam emphasizes that recovery objectives take precedence over minor performance hits. Memory tip: think “Sync for zero RPO, async for distance” — synchronous replication is your go-to when RPO must be near zero.
ITIL4F ITIL Management Practices Practice Question
This ITIL4F practice question tests your understanding of itil management practices. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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.
You are the IT service continuity manager for a financial services firm. The firm has a critical trading application that must be available during market hours. A recent risk assessment identified that the application's primary data center is in a flood-prone area. The recovery time objective (RTO) is 2 hours, and the recovery point objective (RPO) is 15 minutes. The current disaster recovery plan involves restoring the application from backups stored in a different region, which takes approximately 3 hours. The backup frequency is hourly. The firm is considering implementing a synchronous replication to a secondary data center to improve recovery times. However, the network latency between the two data centers is 10 milliseconds, which may impact application performance. What is the MOST appropriate action to ensure compliance with the RTO and RPO?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "primary"
Why it matters: Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Implement synchronous replication to the secondary data center and update the disaster recovery plan
The current recovery plan fails to meet the RTO of 2 hours (restore takes 3 hours) and the RPO of 15 minutes (hourly backups). Synchronous replication writes data to both data centers simultaneously, ensuring zero data loss (RPO=0) and enabling near-instant failover, which can achieve the 2-hour RTO. The 10 ms latency is acceptable for most trading applications and is a trade-off for meeting the critical recovery objectives.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
Accept the current recovery plan as the risk is low and focus on improving the backup process
Why it's wrong here
The current plan does not meet RTO or RPO, so acceptance is not appropriate.
✓
Implement synchronous replication to the secondary data center and update the disaster recovery plan
Why this is correct
Synchronous replication can achieve low RPO and fast recovery, meeting both targets.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "primary" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Implement asynchronous replication with a 5-minute lag and test if the RPO can be met
Why it's wrong here
Asynchronous replication may not guarantee 15-minute RPO due to lag.
✗
Increase the backup frequency to every 5 minutes and test the restore process to ensure it meets the RTO
Why it's wrong here
This may meet RPO but not RTO since restore still takes 3 hours.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may overestimate the impact of network latency on synchronous replication, leading them to choose asynchronous replication or backup improvements, while failing to recognize that the current plan already violates both RTO and RPO and that synchronous replication is the only option that can achieve near-zero RPO and fast RTO.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Synchronous replication typically uses protocols like SCSI-3 Persistent Reservations or Fibre Channel to ensure write-order consistency across sites. The 10 ms latency adds to each write transaction's response time, which can degrade application performance if the application is write-intensive; however, for a trading application with moderate write loads, this is often acceptable. Real-world implementations often combine synchronous replication with automated failover orchestration (e.g., using VMware Site Recovery Manager or Azure Site Recovery) to meet strict RTOs.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
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
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
ITIL Management Practices — This question tests ITIL Management Practices — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Implement synchronous replication to the secondary data center and update the disaster recovery plan — The current recovery plan fails to meet the RTO of 2 hours (restore takes 3 hours) and the RPO of 15 minutes (hourly backups). Synchronous replication writes data to both data centers simultaneously, ensuring zero data loss (RPO=0) and enabling near-instant failover, which can achieve the 2-hour RTO. The 10 ms latency is acceptable for most trading applications and is a trade-off for meeting the critical recovery objectives.
What should I do if I get this ITIL4F question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "primary". Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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