(ISC)2 Certified in Cybersecurity Practice Exam

What is meant by fault tolerance in a system?

1. Backtracking capabilities

2. Resilience against technical failures

3. A process of upgrading equipment

4. Maximizing user access

The correct answer is: Resilience against technical failures

Fault tolerance in a system refers to its ability to remain operational even in the event of a failure within one or more of its components. This capability ensures that the system can continue to function without interruption, thereby maintaining reliability and availability. When a system is designed with fault tolerance in mind, it incorporates features such as redundant components, error checking, and the ability to switch to backup systems seamlessly when a failure occurs. In this context, resilience against technical failures is crucial for maintaining service levels, particularly in environments where downtime can have significant consequences. For instance, in critical systems such as those used in healthcare, finance, or utilities, fault tolerance is vital for performance continuity and disaster recovery. The other options do not capture the essence of fault tolerance as accurately. Backtracking capabilities might relate to error correction or data recovery processes, but it does not encompass the broader concept of a system's operational resilience. The process of upgrading equipment is focused on enhancing performance or replacing outdated systems rather than ensuring continued operation during failures. Maximizing user access pertains to the availability of resources to users but does not inherently reflect how a system manages failures.