BTec Digital Information Technology Level 2
(GCSE)- exam component questions and
answers 2025/2026
1.Ad hoc Networks - answer- type of wireless network
- does not depend on cables
- provides organisations employees with internet outside the workplace
2.Open Wi-Fi - answer- available in public places
- provide Wi-Fi access to anyone
- may need to register or some require a network key
- unsecure
3.Network Key - answer- code, provided only to authorised network users
4.Tethering - answer- share internet connectivity with a device that doesn't have internet access
5.Personal Hotspot - answer- simple to set up using smartphones tethering facility
- several devices can be tethered
- wireless, via bluetooth or USB cable
6.Benefits of Ad hoc Networks - answer- provide access to internet at all times in most locations
- simple to set up
- allow users to work in places other than workplace
- open wifi- users connect to internet without using data
- personal Hotspots- provide internet to one more devices
7.Security Issues - answer- open Wi-Fi- no encryption- data sent and received not secure so easily
intercepted, if encrypted it is normally weak so easily hacked
,- websites using https are normally secure but emails are sent in plain text so not secure.
- Ad hoc networks- secure enough to send emails and use internet, less vulnerable to eavesdropping,
secure encryption keys should be used
Performance Issues - answer- tethering or personal hotspots- internet connection is made via mobile
data network. If several devices are tethered data transfer will be slow.
- Public Wi-Fi- slow if lots of people are using it
- Ad hoc Network- limited range- any device using it needs to be close to Wi-Fi transmitters (signal
maybe weak, difficult to connect to or lose connection)
Network Availability Issues - answer- Blackspots- buildings, tunnels, geographic feature- cause areas
where network connection is poor or non-existent or block it all together
- Mobile Network coverage- high-speed networks are available in most cities but there are other
locations where signal doesn't reach. Differences between service providers.
- Available Infrastructure- streaming requires large amounts of data sent continuously over the network.
This places a strain on network infrastructure
- Developing countries- lack money to invest in network and difficulty managing resources to set up
advanced network
- Rural Areas- high cost to Install is coverage may be poor
Uses of cloud storage - answer- files, folders stored on remote servers (the cloud)
- upload files from any device
- access files- can be downloaded from the cloud to the device(s)
- give user access to other users so they can access them to
Access Rights - answer- files stored in the cloud can be shared by employees working in different
locations
- user who creates file will control access rights- allow others to edit or only have read-only access
- employees with access rights may require user name/password
Availability - answer- cloud storage accessed on any device, 24/7, any location (with internet)
- providers may synchronise files so data is available even when user has no internet
,Synchronisation - answer- store copies of files
- allows users to open files when internet is not available
- when user edits files system software synchronises files in the cloud to all devices ensuring content is
the same
- Organisations combine use of apps/files on their own systems/employees with apps/files being stored
on the cloud. Employees can work flexibly on different devices both in/out workplace. For cloud and
traditional systems to work smoothly apps/files need to be synchronised regularly.
Scalability - answer- different users require different amounts of cloud storage
- users can rent additional space or reduce capacity
-SCALABILITY
Benefits of Cloud Storage - answer- access through any device with internet connection
- some providers keep copies on users' device so accessible without internet
- 24/7/365
- access files wherever
- employees can work on files at the same time
- automatically synchronised across all devices
- store backups of a file so if device is damaged/lost, backups can be easily received from remote servers
- scalability- control costs, have the capacity which meets needs
- provider responsible for purchase, set up, maintenance of servers.
- users pay cost of storage space they rent
- providers may offer small amount of space for free
Drawbacks of Cloud Storage - answer- require you to have internet connection
- slow/poor internet connection- reduce speed of files being uploaded/downloaded
-delay in synchronisation if internet is slow/unavailable
- free amount of storage- often limited, more data stored more expensive
- users have no control over set up/management of servers their data is stored on.
, - potential security issues
Online applications - answer- only the user using this device can access these
- cloud computing- range of applications, alternative way to access
- online applications run on remote servers in the cloud
- users can access/share applications using web-based server
Benefits of using cloud computing applications - answer- provider maintains/updates- organisation not
responsible for updating/maintaining software
- installation not required- saves technician time, local computers require less processing/storage
capacity- organisation can buy/rent less expensive machines
- cost effective- pays for service it requires and can scale up, software licenses not required
- employees run the same version of software- consistency of file types/features, access/use files
created by others from any location with internet, less training/support.
File sharing - answer- online applications allow employees to work on a document at the same time.
- colleagues can edit which can be seen (accepted/declined) by others
Collaboration tools - answer- comments- ask questions/make suggestions, others can see and reply
- version history- see changes, who made them, restore previous versions of a document
- chat (shared message boards/email)- allows chat in real time to discuss document
- suggested edits- show up as suggested changes rather than altering document, review changes before
agreeing and/or make further changes
- document sharing
- to-do lists- identify tasks, allocate them, scheduling software
- shared online calendar- arrange meetings, send email invitations
Access to cloud technologies - answerDifferent devices can all access cloud technologies but with
differing features will impact on:
- what cloud services able to access
(GCSE)- exam component questions and
answers 2025/2026
1.Ad hoc Networks - answer- type of wireless network
- does not depend on cables
- provides organisations employees with internet outside the workplace
2.Open Wi-Fi - answer- available in public places
- provide Wi-Fi access to anyone
- may need to register or some require a network key
- unsecure
3.Network Key - answer- code, provided only to authorised network users
4.Tethering - answer- share internet connectivity with a device that doesn't have internet access
5.Personal Hotspot - answer- simple to set up using smartphones tethering facility
- several devices can be tethered
- wireless, via bluetooth or USB cable
6.Benefits of Ad hoc Networks - answer- provide access to internet at all times in most locations
- simple to set up
- allow users to work in places other than workplace
- open wifi- users connect to internet without using data
- personal Hotspots- provide internet to one more devices
7.Security Issues - answer- open Wi-Fi- no encryption- data sent and received not secure so easily
intercepted, if encrypted it is normally weak so easily hacked
,- websites using https are normally secure but emails are sent in plain text so not secure.
- Ad hoc networks- secure enough to send emails and use internet, less vulnerable to eavesdropping,
secure encryption keys should be used
Performance Issues - answer- tethering or personal hotspots- internet connection is made via mobile
data network. If several devices are tethered data transfer will be slow.
- Public Wi-Fi- slow if lots of people are using it
- Ad hoc Network- limited range- any device using it needs to be close to Wi-Fi transmitters (signal
maybe weak, difficult to connect to or lose connection)
Network Availability Issues - answer- Blackspots- buildings, tunnels, geographic feature- cause areas
where network connection is poor or non-existent or block it all together
- Mobile Network coverage- high-speed networks are available in most cities but there are other
locations where signal doesn't reach. Differences between service providers.
- Available Infrastructure- streaming requires large amounts of data sent continuously over the network.
This places a strain on network infrastructure
- Developing countries- lack money to invest in network and difficulty managing resources to set up
advanced network
- Rural Areas- high cost to Install is coverage may be poor
Uses of cloud storage - answer- files, folders stored on remote servers (the cloud)
- upload files from any device
- access files- can be downloaded from the cloud to the device(s)
- give user access to other users so they can access them to
Access Rights - answer- files stored in the cloud can be shared by employees working in different
locations
- user who creates file will control access rights- allow others to edit or only have read-only access
- employees with access rights may require user name/password
Availability - answer- cloud storage accessed on any device, 24/7, any location (with internet)
- providers may synchronise files so data is available even when user has no internet
,Synchronisation - answer- store copies of files
- allows users to open files when internet is not available
- when user edits files system software synchronises files in the cloud to all devices ensuring content is
the same
- Organisations combine use of apps/files on their own systems/employees with apps/files being stored
on the cloud. Employees can work flexibly on different devices both in/out workplace. For cloud and
traditional systems to work smoothly apps/files need to be synchronised regularly.
Scalability - answer- different users require different amounts of cloud storage
- users can rent additional space or reduce capacity
-SCALABILITY
Benefits of Cloud Storage - answer- access through any device with internet connection
- some providers keep copies on users' device so accessible without internet
- 24/7/365
- access files wherever
- employees can work on files at the same time
- automatically synchronised across all devices
- store backups of a file so if device is damaged/lost, backups can be easily received from remote servers
- scalability- control costs, have the capacity which meets needs
- provider responsible for purchase, set up, maintenance of servers.
- users pay cost of storage space they rent
- providers may offer small amount of space for free
Drawbacks of Cloud Storage - answer- require you to have internet connection
- slow/poor internet connection- reduce speed of files being uploaded/downloaded
-delay in synchronisation if internet is slow/unavailable
- free amount of storage- often limited, more data stored more expensive
- users have no control over set up/management of servers their data is stored on.
, - potential security issues
Online applications - answer- only the user using this device can access these
- cloud computing- range of applications, alternative way to access
- online applications run on remote servers in the cloud
- users can access/share applications using web-based server
Benefits of using cloud computing applications - answer- provider maintains/updates- organisation not
responsible for updating/maintaining software
- installation not required- saves technician time, local computers require less processing/storage
capacity- organisation can buy/rent less expensive machines
- cost effective- pays for service it requires and can scale up, software licenses not required
- employees run the same version of software- consistency of file types/features, access/use files
created by others from any location with internet, less training/support.
File sharing - answer- online applications allow employees to work on a document at the same time.
- colleagues can edit which can be seen (accepted/declined) by others
Collaboration tools - answer- comments- ask questions/make suggestions, others can see and reply
- version history- see changes, who made them, restore previous versions of a document
- chat (shared message boards/email)- allows chat in real time to discuss document
- suggested edits- show up as suggested changes rather than altering document, review changes before
agreeing and/or make further changes
- document sharing
- to-do lists- identify tasks, allocate them, scheduling software
- shared online calendar- arrange meetings, send email invitations
Access to cloud technologies - answerDifferent devices can all access cloud technologies but with
differing features will impact on:
- what cloud services able to access
