WGU C182 Introduction to IT

WGU C182 Introduction to IT Information Technology ANS: The technology used in creating, maintaining, and making information accessible. IT Professional Roles ANS: Administration and Support System Administrator ANS: Maintains all aspects of the system including hardware, software, and programming. Network Administrator ANS: In charge of all aspects of the computer network Database Administrator ANS: Focuses on the design, development, and support of database management systems (DBMSs). Security Administrator ANS: Installs, configures, and administers firewall security to protect systems and proactively work to stop intrusions. Web Administrator ANS: Installs, configures, maintains, secures, and troubleshoots web severs. Support IT Professionals ANS: Help desk and training. Information ANS: Processed data. DIKW Hierarchy ANS: Defines the transition of data to information to knowledge to wisdom. (Data Information Knowledge Wisdom) Data in DIKW ANS: The input directly received by the user (or computer). It is generally not usable until it has been converted into a relevant form. Information in DIKW ANS: Having been inferred from data; one or more processes have been applied to the data to transform it into a more useful form. Knowledge in DIKW ANS: Information that has been put to use; information placed into a context. Refined information such that the user of the knowledge is able to call forth only relevant portions of information when needed. Wisdom in DIKW ANS: Provides a social setting to knowledge; an understanding of the "why". Can only come by having both knowledge and experience. Information Systems ANS: A collection of data and information used to support the management of an organization. Also refers to the technical components and human resources that enable the assembly, storage, and processing of data and the delivery of information. This has existed for a lot longer than computers. Characteristics of Quality Data ANS: Relevance - the data being used must apply directly to the decision being made Timely - data must be efficient and must be provided in a timely manner Thorough - the data must be complete Accurate - data should be captured only once, where possible and should be captured as close to the point of activity as possible. Reliable - data should reflect stable and consistent data collection processes across collections points and over time IPOS ANS: The Input-Procession-Output-Storage Cycle Input ANS: Raw data is entered by the user. Processing ANS: Raw data is organized or structured for usefulness. Output ANS: Information is output so user can see results. Storage ANS: Processed information is stored for permanent record. Computer System ANS: A collection of components that work together to meet the needs of the user; typically categorized as either hardware, software, networks, or users. Hardware ANS: Physical components of a computer system which include the system unit and its components and peripheral devices; tangible aspects of the computer. Software ANS: Computer programs that tell the computer what to do--how to execute commands and process information Network ANS: A collection of computers and resources connected by various media so that they can communicate with each other. User ANS: Those who use a computer. Software Categories ANS: Systems Software and Applications Software Evolution of Users ANS: First users were the engineers who built and programmed computers, then employees who had received specialized training were users, and now today, anyone and everyone can be a user. Protocol ANS: Rules provided by which networks communicate with each other. TCP/IP ANS: Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol. Most commonly used protocol; is required of all computers that communicate over the Internet. Protocol Stack ANS: A collection of protocols. TCP/IP is an example. Components of a Computer ANS: CPU, Memory and Storage, Peripheral Devices CPU ANS: Executes programs' instructions and commands various components in the computer. Referred to as the "chip". Memory ANS: Stores the programs being executed and the data they are using. I/O Subsystem ANS: All peripheral devices where long term storage devices are used. Bus ANS: Permits information to move between each component; electrical channels that enable communication among the electronic components System Unit ANS: Critical component of all computer based systems; consists of most of the hardware the computer needs in order to run; comes in a variety of shapes and sizes. Internal Components of the System Unit ANS: Case, Internal Bays, Buses, Ports, Hard Drive, Motherboard, CPU, CPU Cooler, Memory Module (RAM), Power Supply Unit (PSU), Expansion Slots/Cards Parts of the CPU ANS: Control Unit (CU) - retrieves the instructions and the raw data that is input and coordinates or controls the sending of those instructions and data to the ALU Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU) - does the actual processing of the data; completing mathematical calculations and logical operations to process the data and converting the input of the keyboard text entry to output displayed on the screen System Clock ANS: Controls the speed at which instructions are processed. RAM ANS: Stands for Random Access Memory. It temporarily stores data before it is processed and sent to your screen or printer. It is volatile (means data or information stored disappears when the computer is turned off or loses power). You can choose the amount of RAM your computer has. Types of RAM ANS: Dynamic RAM (DRAM) - typically called main memory Static RAM (SRAM) - cache memory and registers BIOS ROM ANS: BIOS stands for Basic Input Output System; ROM stands for Read Only Memory. Typically stored in ROM chip on the motherboard. Is software not hardware, ("basic" operating system that runs when the computer is first turned on). Runs tests of memory and the CPU and initializes hardware components so that the actual Operating System can be loaded from the hard disk. Can't choose the amount or contents. 1st Generation of Computers ANS: Vacuum tubes, relay switches, the need to program in machine language 2nd Generation of Computers ANS: Transistor components, magnetic core memory, smaller size, easier to program, disk drives and drums, called mainframe computers 3rd Generation of Computers ANS: Silicon chips (known as ICs - integrated circuits), reduced cost, called mini computers, networks introduced via dumb terminals 4th Generation of Computers ANS: Single chip processor, called microcomputer, first personal computer, rudimentary computer graphics, home use Moore's Law ANS: Doubling of transistor count roughly every 18 - 24 months (exponential increase); observation, not physical law Evolution of Storage ANS: Punch cards, magnetic tape, hard disks, floppy disks, optical discs, flash memory, cloud storage Machine/Low-level Language ANS: Written for a specific machine by the engineers who built and ran the computers; no need for OS since only one program could run at a time Assembly Language ANS: Easier than machine but still required detailed, precise low level instructions Language Translator Programs ANS: Function is to translate one program language into another; take source code and convert it to another form; source code by itself cannot be read by a computer Complier ANS: Improve language translator; requires that the components of the software all be defined before compilation can begin; code is more effcient Structured Programming ANS: Programmer is limited to high level control constructs such as while loops, for loops, and if/else statements and not allowed to use primitive GOTO statements Object Oriented Programming ANS: Initially introduced in Smalltalk in 1970's and early 80's Interpreted Code ANS: Runs inside a special environment; is better for testing Shell Scripting ANS: Small programs that place Linux commands or DOS batch files into a file Local Computer ANS: The computer that the user is using; physically present with Remote Computer ANS: A computer being accessed over the network Network Hub ANS: Connects multiple computers together; broadcasts the transmission, sending the data to every device in the network Network Switch ANS: More functional than a hub; records and recognizes the local network addresses (MAC or IP) or all computers connected to it Router ANS: Connects multiple networks together; can be used to directly connect computers to a network; will relay messages to computers with appropriate IP addresses Wireless Access Point ANS: Can be connected to hub, switch, or router; many routers now also act as a wireless access point; sends out a wireless signal so computers on the network can connect without a cable Circuit Switched Network ANS: Requires that a full pathway, or circuit, be est. before transmission can begin and maintained during the entire transmission Packet Switched Network ANS: A message's pathway is only est. as it is sent; the choice of pathway is based on availability and amount of message traffic Workstations ANS: Creates and maintains client network connections to remote servers Virtual Machine (VM) ANS: A software emulator program that permits a computer user to use multiple computers and multiple platforms without the expense of purchasing multiple computers; allows a user to run software for different OS platform in their computer that would not otherwise be able to run that software; this allows multiple users on a network to access the software to support collaboration. Server ANS: Computers that have greater hard disk storage, faster response time and are used to respond to request from other computers on the network Client-server Network ANS: Contains one or more servers; client is a computer that will request information from another computer; server is a computer that takes requests and responds with the requested information; the software used facilitates communication with remote servers File Server ANS: Sends files over the network at the request of clients. Responds over LAN, within one location/site. Support both application software and data files. Web Server ANS: Stores data files (web pages) and programs (scripts). Responds from anywhere on the Internet. Database Server ANS: Responds to queries by pulling from the database. Typically only to local clients. Print Server ANS: Monitors print jobs Mail Server ANS: Two email servers communicate with each other FTP Server ANS: Like web server or file server in that requests are for files and responses are the files Point-to-Point Network ANS: Link between two resources. Simplest for of a network. Limits how devices can communicate with each other Bus Network ANS: Devices connected along a single cable. Size of network is restricted. Star Network ANS: Each device is connected to a central devices such as a hub or switch. Ring Network ANS: Each device is connected directly to its neighbors, and messages are forwarded from device to device until the proper destination is reached. Mesh Network ANS: Every device is connected directly to every other device in the network. Domain Name Server (DNS) ANS: Used to translate from an IP alias to an IP address Parts of URL (Uniform Resource Locator) ANS: Protocol, Domain name, Resource/Filename Domain Name ANS: Identifies the server on which the web page can be found Domain Name Parts ANS: Top level domain (TLD) name and Host name Host Name ANS: Identifies the organization that is responsible for the information on the page or provides the server space where the information is stored TLD(Top Level Domain) Name ANS: Always ends with a period and a three or two letter extension which signifies the type of organization or country associated with the page Resource/Filename ID ANS: Indicates the name of the file you are accessing, or the location of the document on the server CIA ANS: Confidentiality, Integrity, Availability Confidentiality ANS: Requires that data bet kept secure so that they are not accidentally provided or obtained by unauthorized users Integrity ANS: Requires that data is correct Availability ANS: Requires that information is available when needed Data Integrity Efforts ANS: 1st - Must include a component that ensures the accuracy of the collected data 2nd - Must be entered into the system accurately 3rd - Data modification must be tracked Strategic Risk Analysis ANS: 1. Identify the organization's information assets 2. Identify vulnerabilities of each asset 3. Determine threats 4. Prioritizing risks 5. Develop and enact policies that will reduce threats Information Security Classifications ANS: Public - available through public sources; includes names and addresses Sensitive - not considered a threat to a person's privacy if others learn of it; include email addresses Private - information that could be a threat if disclosed to others; includes social security and credit card numbers Confidential - information that an organization will keep secret; includes patentable information and business plans Defense in Depth ANS: Protecting every layer that surrounds data Phishing ANS: Emails to people to redirect them to a website to perform some operation but the website is a fake and just takes the information SQL Injection ANS: An attacker issues a SQL command to a web server as part of the URL or as input to a form on a company's website; web server might pass the command onto the database which then allows potentially anything to be done to the database Buffer Overflow ANS: Placing malicious code into the buffer so that it can be executed once stored in memory; oldest and most well known software exploit; software engineers can protect against this when writing code Hacking ANS: When an individual obtains unauthorized access to a host White Hat Hacker ANS: Informs companies of potential problems with software so companies can fix Black Hat Hacker ANS: Individuals with malicious intent who violate security in order to commit crimes or acts of terrorism Grey Hat Hacker ANS: Engage in both white and black hat types of hacking activities Packet Sniffing ANS: Allows you to obtain anything being sent over a network if the data being transmitted isn't encrypted Virus ANS: Software that attaches its