WGU D322 Introduction to IT

WGU D322 Introduction to IT Information Technology Correct Answer The technology used in creating, maintaining, and making information accessible. IT Professional Roles Correct Answer Administration and Support System Administrator Correct Answer Maintains all aspects of the system including hardware, software, and programming. Network Administrator Correct Answer In charge of all aspects of the computer network Database Administrator Correct Answer Focuses on the design, development, and support of database management systems (DBMSs). Security Administrator Correct Answer Installs, configures, and administers firewall security to protect systems and proactively work to stop intrusions. Web Administrator Correct Answer Installs, configures, maintains, secures, and troubleshoots web severs. Support IT Professionals Correct Answer Help desk and training. Information Correct Answer Processed data. DIKW Hierarchy Correct Answer Defines the transition of data to information from knowledge to wisdom. (Data Information Knowledge Wisdom) Data in DIKW Correct Answer 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 Correct Answer 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 Correct Answer 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 Correct Answer Provides a social setting to knowledge; an understanding of the "why". Can only come by having both knowledge and experience. Information Systems Correct Answer 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 Correct Answer 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 Correct Answer The Input-Procession-Output-Storage Cycle Input Correct Answer Raw data is entered by the user. Processing Correct Answer Raw data is organized or structured for usefulness. Output Correct Answer Information is output so user can see results. Storage Correct Answer Processed information is stored for permanent record. Computer System Correct Answer A collection of components that work together to meet the needs of the user; typically categorized as either hardware, software, networks, or users. Hardware Correct Answer Physical components of a computer system which include the system unit and its components and peripheral devices; tangible aspects of the computer. Software Correct Answer Computer programs that tell the computer what to do--how to execute commands and process information Network Correct Answer A collection of computers and resources connected by various media so that they can communicate with each other. User Correct Answer Those who use a computer. Software Categories Correct Answer Systems Software and Applications Software Evolution of Users Correct Answer 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 Correct Answer Rules provided by which networks communicate with each other. TCP/IP Correct Answer Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol. Most commonly used protocol; is required of all computers that communicate over the Internet. Protocol Stack Correct Answer A collection of protocols. TCP/IP is an example. Components of a Computer Correct Answer CPU, Memory and Storage, Peripheral Devices CPU Correct Answer Executes programs' instructions and commands various components in the computer. Referred to as the "chip". Memory Correct Answer Stores the programs being executed and the data they are using. I/O Subsystem Correct Answer All peripheral devices where long term storage devices are used. Bus Correct Answer Permits information to move between each component; electrical channels that enable communication among the electronic components System Unit Correct Answer 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 Correct Answer 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 Correct Answer 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 Correct Answer Controls the speed at which instructions are processed. RAM Correct Answer 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 Correct Answer Dynamic RAM (DRAM) - typically called main memory Static RAM (SRAM) - cache memory and registers BIOS ROM Correct Answer 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 Correct Answer Vacuum tubes, relay switches, the need to program in machine language 2nd Generation of Computers Correct Answer Transistor components, magnetic core memory, smaller size, easier to program, disk drives and drums, called mainframe computers 3rd Generation of Computers Correct Answer Silicon chips (known as ICs - integrated circuits), reduced cost, called mini computers, networks introduced via dumb terminals 4th Generation of Computers Correct Answer Single chip processor, called microcomputer, first personal computer, rudimentary computer graphics, home use Moore's Law Correct Answer Doubling of transistor count roughly every 18 - 24 months (exponential increase) Evolution of Storage Correct Answer Punch cards, magnetic tape, hard disks, floppy disks, optical discs, flash memory, cloud storage Machine/Low-level Language Correct Answer 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 Correct Answer Easier than machine but still required detailed, precise low level instructions Language Translator Programs Correct Answer 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 Compiler Correct Answer Improve language translator; requires that the components of the software all be defined before compilation can begin; code is more effcient Structured Programming Correct Answer 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 Correct Answer Characterized by the creation of windowed operating systems, easier real-world object modeling in programming code, and the application of inheritance in program code. Interpreted Code Correct Answer A type of programming language for which most of its implementations execute instructions directly and freely, without previously compiling a program into machine-language instructions. Shell Scripting Correct Answer Small programs that place Linux commands or DOS batch files into a file Local Computer Correct Answer The computer that the user is using; physically present with Remote Computer Correct Answer A computer being accessed over the network Network Hub Correct Answer Connects computers to each other with no real understanding of what is being transferred; used for private networks with local computers. Network Switch Correct Answer Like a hub, but this will only send data that is intended for a specific computer. Router Correct Answer 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 Correct Answer 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 Correct Answer Requires that a full pathway, or circuit, be est. before transmission can begin and maintained during the entire transmission; like calling someone on the phone Packet Switched Network Correct Answer 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 Correct Answer Creates and maintains client network connections to remote servers Virtual Machine (VM) Correct Answer 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 Correct Answer 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 Correct Answer 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 Correct Answer 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 Correct Answer Stores data files (web pages) and programs (scripts). Responds from anywhere on the Internet. Database Server Correct Answer Responds to queries by pulling from the database. Typically only to local clients. Print Server Correct Answer Monitors print jobs Mail Server Correct Answer Two email servers communicate with each other FTP Server Correct Answer Like web server or file server in that requests are for files and responses are the files; data delivered between client and server. Point-to-Point Network Correct Answer Link between two resources; links two routers without any host or network in between Bus Network Correct Answer Devices connected along a single cable. Size of network is restricted. Star Network Correct Answer Each device is connected to a central devices such as a hub or switch. Ring Network Correct Answer Each device is connected directly to its neighbors, and messages are forwarded from device to device until the proper destination is reached. Mesh Network Correct Answer Every device is connected directly to every other device in the network. Domain Name Server (DNS) Correct Answer Turns a user-friendly domain name, like G, into an Internet Protocol (IP) address like 70.42.251.42 that computers use to identify each other on the network. Parts of URL (Uniform Resource Locator) Correct Answer Protocol, Domain name, Resource/Filename Domain Name Correct Answer Identifies the server on which the web page can be found Domain Name Parts Correct Answer Top level domain (TLD) name and Host name Host Name Correct Answer 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 Correct Answer 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 Correct Answer Indicates the name of the file you are accessing, or the location of the document on the server CIA Correct Answer Confidentiality, Integrity, Availability Confidentiality Correct Answer Requires that data bet kept secure so that they are not accidentally provided or obtained by unauthorized users Integrity Correct Answer Requires that data is correct Availability Correct Answer Requires that information is available when needed Data Integrity Efforts Correct Answer 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 Correct Answer 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 Correct Answer 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 Correct Answer Protecting every layer that surrounds data Phishing Correct Answer 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 Correct Answer 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 Correct Answer 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 Correct Answer When an individual obtains unauthorized access to a host White Hat Hacker Correct Answer Informs companies of potential problems with software so companies can fix Black Hat Hacker Correct Answer Individuals with malicious intent who violate security in order to commit crimes or acts of terrorism Grey Hat Hacker Correct Answer Engage in both white and black hat types of hacking activities Packet Sniffing Correct Answer Allows you to obtain anything being sent over a network if the data being transmitted isn't encrypted Virus Correct Answer Software that attaches itself to another legitimate software application Worms Correct Answer Self contained programs that do not need other programs to propagate across computers and computer networks Trojan Horse Correct Answer Type of virus that completely replaces an existing application and takes the name of the taken over file Denial of Service (DOS) Correct Answer One or more attackers attempt to flood a server with so many incoming messages that the server is unable to handle legitimate business Firewalls Correct Answer Can be either software or hardware; hardware is a dedicated server; software contains a list of the rules that describe the types of messages that should either be permitted to make it through, or those that should be blocked Anti-virus Software Correct Answer Attempts to identify if a file contains a virus or some form of malware Redundancy Correct Answer Ensures proper storage of data by providing a means so that data is available even when storage devices are damaged or offline Encryption Correct Answer Idea of obfuscating the information that resides on a computer or sent over a network so that if it is intercepted the hacker will be unable to use the information Symmetric Key Encryption Correct Answer Uses the same key for performing the encryption and decryption Public Key Encryption Correct Answer Uses two keys, a public and private key for performing encryption and decryption Security Education Correct Answer Users learn how to protect their passwords and other security measures Authentication Correct Answer Proving you are who you say you are which can be done by: what you know, what you have (two factor authentication) Role-based Access Control Correct Answer Ensures that the user gains access only to the resources that the user should be able to access Computer Network Advantages Correct Answer 1. Cost savings benefits 2. Increased efficiency and productivity 3. Increased facilitation of communication Application Software Correct Answer Consists of programs that end users run to accomplish tasks System Software Correct Answer Consists of programs that make up the OS; software that directly supports the computer system itself Server Software Correct Answer Works with hardware to provide a network service Local Applications Correct Answer Software that is stored on an individual computer Intranet Correct Answer A LAN that uses the Internet Protocol Cloud Computing Correct Answer Offers, as a service, the ability to offload computation and storage from your local computer Operating Systems Correct Answer Primary task is to allow a computer user to easily access the hardware and software of a computer system Kernel Correct Answer Core components of the OS that is loaded when the computer is first booted. Device Drivers Correct Answer Provide specific interfaces between the OS running a computer and hardware devices. Shell Correct Answer An interface for the user, often personalized for that given user, that provides access to the kernel. Services Correct Answer OS programs that are usually started when the OS is loaded and initialized, but they run in the background. Also called daemons. Utility Programs Correct Answer Programs that allow the user to monitor and improve system performance. Proxy Server Correct Answer Acts as a giant cache of web pages that anyone in the organization has recently retrieved; can be used to block access to certain web pages Proprietary Software Correct Answer Software purchased from a vendor; also known as commercial Shareware Correct Answer Provides a trial version of the software. Freeware Correct Answer Usually software that has become obsolete; is free Public Domain Correct Answer Software that has been moved into the public domain; can be used however you feel Open Source Correct Answer Created in the Open Source Community and made freely available as source code Copyrights Correct Answer Protect an original work (in its tangible, expressed form), but not the ideas behind the work for the duration of the author's life plus 70 years; protects against duplication. Patents Correct Answer Protect the creation of inventive concepts as well as the tangible work product for 20 years from the filing date End User License Agreement (EULA) Correct Answer Gives the purchaser the right to use the software Decimal Correct Answer Uses base 10 to represent numbers (0 - 9) Binary Correct Answer Uses base 2 system (0 and 1) Byte Correct Answer 8 bits; a single character of text in a computer Octal Correct Answer Every value is represented with some combination of 8 digits (0 - 7) Hexadecimal Correct Answer Uses a base 16 Character Representation Correct Answer ASCII and Unicode Language Translators Correct Answer A program that takes one program, written in a high level language, and creates a machine language program as output Compiled Language Correct Answer Translates the entire program using a compiler, creating an executable program which can be run at a later time; the program can then be run as many times as one likes, without having to re-translate each time. Interpreted Language Correct Answer Takes the most recently entered instruction, translates it into machine language, and executes it; must be translated manually each time. Script Correct Answer A computer language with a series of commands within a file that is capable of being executed without being compiled. Algorithms Correct Answer A formula or procedure for solving a problem. Can also be described as a set of steps that are followed in order to complete a process Multi-tier Development Correct Answer Separation of different aspect of a system N-tier Development Correct Answer Often used to indicate that the number of tiers a system will be broken down into will vary between different software development projects Presentation Tier Correct Answer Tier where the user interface for the system is developed; shields the user from the underlying logic of the systems as well as the underlying data structures Logic Tier Correct Answer Tier that sits between the user interface and the data. Data Tier Correct Answer Tier where data is stored, retrieved and updated from database tables Model-View-Controller (MVC) Correct Answer A development technique used in the implementation of user interfaces The Model Correct Answer Can take on different forms depending on the complexity of the application; in certain instances, it is an actual object that is an actual implementation of the application The View Correct Answer The part of the application that represents the user interface; used to capture input from the user to be passed on via the controller to the model The Controller Correct Answer The part of an application that interacts with the user and passes the user requests to the model Data Validation Correct Answer Ensuring that users enter the correct data type String Data Correct Answer Alphanumeric or text character Floating-point Correct Answer Number with a decimal point Boolean/Logical Correct Answer True/False; applying AND/OR when searching for data. Flat File Database Correct Answer One large single table; used if the amount of data that is being recorded is fairly minimal Relational Database Correct Answer Has multiple tables (relations) with interrelated fields; most common structure for databases Hierarchical Database Correct Answer Organizes data using a tree like or organizational chart type structure Database Management System (DBMS) Correct Answer Used to create, manipulate, and access the data in a database Relation Correct Answer Often presented as a table; for example: name and phone number Tuples Correct Answer Rows of a relation in a database Attributes Correct Answer Columns of the relation Field Correct Answer Contains the data of an attribute for a record within a relation Query Correct Answer A search of data in the relation or relations that fit specific parameters Projection Correct Answer A query that returns all of the records from the relation, but only select attributes or fields Sort Correct Answer Sorting records based on some field(s) such as ascending order by last name Join Correct Answer Withdraws information from multiple relations and combines them. Primary Key Correct Answer A field in the relations that contains a unique value, such as a license plate, phone number, or Social Security Number. Business Intelligence Correct Answer A specific information system to help an organization reach its strategic goals Data Warehouse Correct Answer A collection of organized databases Database Information Processing (OLAP) Correct Answer Online Analytical Processing; a computer-based technique of analyzing data to look for insights Slicing Correct Answer Creates a subset of the data by reducing the data from multiple dimensions to one dimension Dicing Correct Answer Creates a subset of the data that can still be in multiple dimensions Drilling up and down Correct Answer Shifts the view of the data; down provides more detail, up provides summarized data Rolling up Correct Answer Similar to drilling up but it collapses the data from multiple items into a single value Pivot Correct Answer Rotates data to view the data from a different perspective (being able to compare different sets of facts) Online Data Processing (OLDP) Correct Answer Deals with data in real time Event-driven Processing Correct Answer Uses business event to trigger messages to be sent by middleware between software modules that are completely independent of one another Batch Processing Correct Answer Processing large amounts of data all in one batch when the computer system is not busy ODBC (Open Database Connectivity) Correct Answer An interface for accessing database management systems that can be ported to other systems by using a driver. Database Interacting Format Correct Answer SELECT fields FROM tables WHERE fields from tables match criteria SELECT Correct Answer Used to inform the DBMS what fields or attributes are of interest FROM Correct Answer Used to inform the DBMS what tables are to be interrogated by the query and if more than one table, how they are to be combined or joined WHERE Correct Answer Used to inform the DBMS of the specific criteria the data should match to be returned as the output of the query Project phases Correct Answer Initiation, planning, executing and controlling, and closing Project Initiation Correct Answer Problem definition, resource allocation, risk assessment Project Planning Correct Answer Organize activities, time estimation, cost estimation Project Executing and Controlling Reports Correct Answer Variance reports, Status reports, Resource Allocation reports Scope Creep Correct Answer Adding to the scope of the project; can impact the allocation of resources. Unnecessary Requirements Correct Answer Requirements that are not actually needed but are "nice to have" System Development Life Cycle (SDLC) Correct Answer A process for planning, creating, testing, and deploying information systems, including hardware and software Common Steps in SDLC Correct Answer Preliminary investigation, Analysis, Logical design, Physical design, Implementation, Maintenance Preliminary investigation Correct Answer Assesses the feasibility of the proposed project and selects a development methodology Analysis Correct Answer Determines the user requirements for the new system and develops logical models of the system Logical design Correct Answer Logical models are revised to ensure that the new system will meet the user requirements identified in the first step Physical design Correct Answer Logical models are converted into physical models Implementation Correct Answer Begin converting the models from the previous steps into the actual system; this step also includes installing hardware, testing the system, and training the end users Maintenance Correct Answer Modifications or corrections to the system are made Alpha Testing Correct Answer System developers assist end users as they interact with new system; simulated data is used Beta Testing Correct Answer Performed by the end user without any assistance from the system developers; live data in a real working environment is used. User Acceptance Testing Correct Answer Employed to assess whether the system does what the user expects and to ensure that it functions in a way that is useful to the user System Deployment Correct Answer 1. System Conversion 2. Final Documentation 3. End User Training Direct Conversion Correct Answer Old system is turned off and the new system is turned on at a specific data and time Parallel Conversion Correct Answer There is a period of time in which both systems are operating concurrently Pilot Conversion Correct Answer Involves starting the conversation with a portion of end users Phased Conversion Correct Answer Deploys a subset of the system first, rather than deploying the whole system at once Business Continuity Correct Answer The activity performed by an organization to ensure that critical business functions will be available to customer, suppliers, regulators, and other entities that must have access to those functions. Image backups Correct Answer Create a copy of everything that is on a hard drive Full backup Correct Answer Everything on the hard drive is copied each and every time a backup is performed Incremental backup Correct Answer An initial full backup is completed and then subsequent backups only capture the changes since the last backup Data mirroring Correct Answer The OS writes data (and changes to data) to multiple hard drives at the same time. Off-Site Storage Correct Answer A secure location for storing backup media Hot Site Correct Answer Physical location where an organization can move its operations that includes everything for normal business operations; quickest return to business but very expensive. Cold Site Correct Answer Physical location like a shell that can be used for operations should the need arise; not equipped with hardware, servers, etc.; cheaper to have Site Sharing Correct Answer Having multiple data centers located in disparate regions; typically used by large organizations. The Internet of Things (IoT) Correct Answer Refers to the myriad types of devices that can and will be connected to the Internet in the next few years. Big Data Correct Answer Refers to data sets that are so large and complex that they will require more advanced database management/processing tools. SaaS Correct Answer Software as a Service. Can access and use software through the Internet. PaaS Correct Answer Platform as a Service. Intention is to be able to quickly and reliably develop and deliver applications. LaaS Correct Answer Logging as a Service. All resources an IT dept. needs are located outside of the organization and are accessible by anyone, anywhere. Ethics Correct Answer A code of moral conduct or a set of principles that govern behavior. Administrator Ethics Correct Answer Privacy, Ownership, Control, Accuracy, Security Transistor Correct Answer A device used to amplify or switch electronic signals and electrical power. Loops Correct Answer Instructions that continually repeat until a certain condition is reached. White Loop Correct Answer Used when we do not know how many a loop needs to be executed beforehand. For Loop Correct Answer Used when we already know how many times a loop needs to be executed. IP Aliasing Correct Answer Associating more than one IP address to a network interface. IP Address Correct Answer A code that identifies each computer using the Internet Protocol to communicate over a network. SQL Correct Answer Programming language for managing data in a database management system. Buffer Correct Answer Physical memory storage used to temporarily store data while being moved from one place to another; can read faster than RAM but cannot store as much. LAN Correct Answer Local Area Network; connects computers within a limited area such as a school or business. Database Driver Correct Answer A program that implements a protocol for connecting to a database, Dumb Terminal Correct Answer A display monitor that has no processing capabilities. ASCII Correct Answer The first character encoding standard; represents English characters as numbers, with each letter assigned a number from 0 to 127. Unicode Correct Answer Defines the internal text coding system in nearly all operating systems; assigns each character a unique number. Motherboard Correct Answer The main circuit board of a computer; it holds and allows communication between many electronic system components, such as the CPU and memory, and provides connectors for other peripherals. Non-Volatile Memory Correct Answer Memory that retains contents when power is turned off, such as ROM; RAM is volatile. Telnet Correct Answer Allows a user to communicate with a remote device; does not use encryption. SSH (Secure Shell) Correct Answer Allows a user to communicate with a remote device; does use encryption. Integer Correct Answer A whole number (non-fraction) that can be positive, negative, or zero, but it cannot have decimal places. ETL Correct Answer Extract Transform, Load; process of extracting data, transforming it for purposes of analysis, and loading it into the final target database. Variance Report Correct Answer Used to identify the difference between the planned outcomes and the actual outcomes. Waterfall Model Correct Answer Used during the system development life cycle (SDLC) to denote the fact that each step should be completed one at a time. HIPAA Correct Answer The safeguard of medical information. FERPA Correct Answer Protects student education records. SEAL Correct Answer The Digital Signature and Electronic Authentication Law (SEAL) of 1998. Brute Force Correct Answer The process of using all possible combinations of letters and numbers to crack a password. Programming languages used for automation Correct Answer TCL and Python