ITIL4F ITIL Management Practices Practice Question
What type of change is pre-authorized and has a defined procedure?
⚠ Common exam trap
Watch out — candidates often confuse 'pre-authorized' with 'emergency' changes, thinking emergency changes bypass approval, but in reality emergency changes still require expedited authorization, while only standard changes are truly pre-approved with a fixed procedure.
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
✓
Standard change
A standard change is pre-authorized by change management and follows a defined, low-risk procedure that does not require additional approval each time it is executed. This aligns with the ITIL 4 definition of a standard change as a change that is well-understood, fully documented, and can be implemented without a formal change advisory board (CAB) meeting.
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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Optional change
Why it's wrong here
ITIL 4 defines specific change types to manage the risk and authorization of changes effectively. "Optional change" is not a recognized category within the ITIL framework for managing changes to products or services. Instead, ITIL categorizes changes primarily into Standard, Normal, and Emergency, each with distinct authorization and procedural requirements.
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Normal change
Why it's wrong here
Normal changes are non-standard service changes that require assessment, authorization, and scheduling by a change authority, typically following a defined workflow. These changes are not pre-authorized because their potential impact and risk vary, necessitating individual evaluation before implementation. They often involve significant modifications or new service components, distinguishing them from routine, pre-approved activities.
- ✗
Emergency change
Why it's wrong here
Emergency changes are implemented to resolve incidents or implement critical security patches with extreme urgency, bypassing some normal assessment and authorization steps. While they have a fast-track authorization, often after implementation, they are not "pre-authorized" in the sense of having a routine, established procedure for every instance. Their primary characteristic is speed and necessity to restore service or mitigate severe risk.
- ✓
Standard change
Why this is correct
Standard changes are low-risk, pre-authorized changes that are well-understood and have a fully documented, repeatable procedure. These changes are typically initiated as service requests and do not require additional authorization each time they are implemented, as the risk has been assessed and approved in advance. Their predictable nature allows for efficient, routine execution without the need for a change authority's individual approval.
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Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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