ITIL4F ITIL Management Practices Practice Question
Which TWO of the following are examples of warranty?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many candidates confuse utility (what the service does) with warranty (how well it is delivered). While functional features like 'generates reports' are utility, performance metrics such as 'performs transactions within 2 seconds' are aspects of warranty, not utility.
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
✓
The system performs transactions within 2 seconds
In IT service and requirements terminology, a warranty is a measurable, testable statement about how well a service or system performs its function — its non-functional, operational characteristics — rather than what it does. Option A is correct because "the system performs transactions within 2 seconds" is a quantified performance (response-time) commitment, which is a classic warranty attribute. Option B is correct because "the system is available 99.9% of the time" is a quantified availability commitment, another classic warranty attribute. Options C, D, and E are not warranties but rather functional requirements (fitness for purpose): C describes required functionality, D describes a security function (encryption at rest), and E describes a reporting capability — each states what the system does, not how well it performs.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
The system performs transactions within 2 seconds
Why this is correct
This statement describes a performance characteristic, specifically the speed at which a core function (transaction processing) is executed. Performance, while crucial for user satisfaction, falls under the utility aspect of a service. Utility defines what the service does and whether it is fit for purpose, meaning it delivers the specific functionality required to support the customer's desired outcomes.
- ✓
The system is available 99.9% of the time
Why this is correct
This statement directly addresses the availability of the service, which is a key aspect of warranty. Warranty describes how the service performs and whether it is fit for use, encompassing non-functional requirements such as availability, capacity, security, and continuity. A 99.9% availability ensures that the service can be accessed and utilized reliably when needed, providing assurance to the customer.
- ✗
The system provides the required functionality
Why it's wrong here
This statement explicitly refers to the core functionality provided by the system, which is a quintessential example of utility. Utility describes what the service does and whether it is fit for purpose, meaning it delivers the specific features and capabilities that enable the customer to achieve their desired outcomes. Without the required functionality, the service would lack its primary value proposition.
- ✗
The system encrypts all data at rest
Why it's wrong here
This statement describes a security control, ensuring the protection of data, which is a critical aspect of warranty. Warranty defines how the service performs and whether it is fit for use, covering non-functional requirements like security, availability, and capacity. Encrypting data at rest provides assurance that the service is delivered safely and securely, protecting sensitive information from unauthorized access.
- ✗
The system allows users to generate reports
Why it's wrong here
This statement describes a specific feature or capability that the system offers to its users, which is a clear example of utility. Utility defines what the service does and whether it is fit for purpose, meaning it provides the specific functions that enable customers to achieve their desired outcomes. The ability to generate reports is a functional requirement that directly supports user activities and decision-making.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.