TEST 5 ANSWERS

ANALYZING & MANAGING INFORMATION

TEST 5                                                                                 MARKS

1.   What are the 5 subsystems of a computer system?          2

Input system
Output system
Communication subsystem
Storage subsystem
Processing subsystem

2.   Explain how computer functionality differs between           4
standalone and time-sharing computer systems

With a standalone system all the functionality is
contained in the user’s PC whereas with a client system,
the functionality is managed and distributed, to varying
degrees (Thin, Three and Fat) by a server

3.   What is the Interface layer?                                               1

The part of the ICT system concerned with managing
needs of the user with the resources of the ICT system 

4.   Explain the difference between an Intranet and an            2
Extranet

An Intranet is a private internet used by employees
of an organization for internal communications
whereas an extranet is an extension of an intranet to
external partners, such as suppliers, to allow them to
have access to selected information files on the intranet
for the purposes of business between the companies.

5.   What function does a firewall perform?                              2

A firewall is a network security device (hardware
and software) that monitors communications entering
the company and blocks unauthorised messages and
malware

6.   What functions does the Business layer perform               1

The Business layer is the part of the ICT system that
manages up-dates, transactions and business rules

7.   Describe what is meant by ‘transactions’                           2

A transaction consists of formative acts that change
the structure of data in one of the following ways:
creation, deletion, up-date and retrieval

8.   Define the meaning of ‘business rules’ and give                2
an example

The program instructions in the management
subsystem that ensure that the data in the system
has integrity, ie is accurate and reliable

9.   What is the Data layer?                                                     1

The part of the ICT system concerned with managing
the provision of data from the back-end to front-end of
the ICT system

10.                What are the functions of a DBM System?                2

An organization of facilities for accessing and maintain
a database, including the following functions:

·      Structural maintenance, ie adding and deleting data

·      Transaction processing, ie inserting and up-dating

·      Information retrieval, ie extracting and presenting data

·      Database administration, ie monitoring and managing
use of the database by users, including providing
access and denying access

11.                How does a Relational DBM system work?               3
        What are other types of DBM systems are there?
        And what is SQL?

A Relational Database is one that organises data into
data fields and can be configured and reconfigured to
show relationships between those fields

Other types of databases include: Hierarchical,
Network and Object Orientated Relation

SQL means Standard Query Language
It is the standard (computer) language for writing
programs for relational databases. It offers the
functions of: insert, search, up-date and deletion.

12.                Explain the advantages and the risk of                      3
        Cloud computing         

·      Scalable storage and speed capacity on demand

·      Avoids cost of dedicated server and to provide
functionality and storage

·      Security risk of hosted storage

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Total                                                                                  25