ITIL 4 Foundation Practice Exam

What does a production environment refer to in ITIL 4?

1. A controlled setting for testing new systems

2. The live environment

3. A development stage prior to deployment

4. A backup system for data

The correct answer is: The live environment

The concept of a production environment in ITIL 4 specifically refers to the live environment where IT services are delivered to end-users. This is the setting where applications, systems, and services are fully operational, actively processing transactions, and providing the functionalities promised to users. In this environment, any failures or issues can directly impact business operations and customer satisfaction, making it vital to maintain stability and performance. A production environment is distinct from other environments such as testing or development. Testing environments are specifically designed to evaluate new systems or features without affecting the live environment. Similarly, the development stage is where new software or systems are created and refined before they can be released to production. Backup systems pertain to data recovery processes and do not designate a production environment. Thus, the correct understanding aligns directly with the definition of a production environment in ITIL 4 as the one that is actively supporting business functions.