ITIL 4 Foundation Practice Exam

What defines a disaster in an organizational context?

1. An unplanned event causing minor interruptions

2. A sudden event causing significant damage or loss

3. A scheduled maintenance outage

4. A routine service disruption

The correct answer is: A sudden event causing significant damage or loss

In an organizational context, a disaster is identified as a sudden event that results in significant damage or loss, which aligns perfectly with the given correct answer. This definition encompasses a wide range of scenarios, such as natural disasters (like earthquakes or floods), major system failures, or significant breaches of security that disrupt normal operations. A disaster typically impacts critical assets, services, or processes, leading to substantial recovery efforts and potential long-term effects on the organization. Understanding this definition helps organizations to prepare effectively for potential disruptions by implementing disaster recovery and business continuity plans. It emphasizes the need for resilience and the importance of minimizing the impact such events may have on the organization’s ability to operate. In contrast, the other options describe scenarios that do not fit the intensity or impact associated with a disaster. Minor interruptions or routine disruptions do not have lasting effects on an organization's operations and can often be resolved quickly without extensive recovery plans. Similarly, scheduled maintenance outages are planned activities, not unexpected events that would cause significant damage or loss.