CompTIA Cloud+ Practice Test

When Samantha notices CPU utilization consistently above the baseline, what is this an example of?

1. Deviation

2. Variance

3. Triggers

4. Baseline imbalance

The correct answer is: Variance

The situation where Samantha observes CPU utilization consistently above the baseline indicates that there is a significant difference between the actual performance and the expected performance based on the established baseline. This difference is referred to as variance. In a cloud or IT environment, a baseline is established to represent the normal operating conditions, including typical performance metrics. When there is a measurable deviation from this baseline, it manifests as a variance. Recognizing such a variance is critical for systems administrators, as it can signal performance issues, resource bottlenecks, or potential overload that need to be addressed for optimal system performance. While deviation may refer to occasional fluctuations that do not necessarily indicate a critical issue, variance specifically implies a more sustained and noticeable difference that requires attention. Other terms like triggers usually refer to events or conditions that initiate a response, whereas baseline imbalance is less commonly used in this context and does not specifically address the concept of identifying differences from established performance metrics. Thus, in this case, recognizing that CPU utilization is persistently above the baseline is indeed an example of variance.