ITIL 4 Foundation Practice Exam

What is the role of a configuration management database (CMDB)?

1. To monitor network traffic

2. To store configuration records and their relationships

3. To track software usage across the organization

4. To provide incident management support

The correct answer is: To store configuration records and their relationships

The role of a configuration management database (CMDB) is essential within the ITIL framework as it serves as a repository that stores configuration records and their relationships. This database enables organizations to maintain up-to-date information about the IT infrastructure, including hardware, software, network components, and documentation related to these assets. By effectively capturing and managing this data, a CMDB allows organizations to understand the configuration of their services and the relationships between various components. This understanding is crucial for change management, impact analysis, and compliance, as it helps teams assess how changes to one asset could affect others and the overall IT environment. Additionally, having this information easily accessible supports better decision-making when it comes to service management activities, including incident and problem management. The other options, such as monitoring network traffic, tracking software usage, or providing direct support for incident management, do not accurately reflect the primary purpose of a CMDB, which is focused on configuration management rather than monitoring or incident response activities.