SYSTEM BACKUP
1.1.11 Identify a range of causes of data loss.
1. Data loss due to malicious activities created by unauthorized people (hackers) gaining access into our computer system and stealing our data.
2. Data loss due to Malware / Viruses infiltrating our data and corrupting them or deleting them.
3. Data loss due to human errors mistakenly deleting or overwriting a file or data.
4. Data loss due to natural disasters like earthquakes / storms / power outage causing the system to crash or destroying our data.
5. Data loss during transmission from one source into another over the network.
6. Data loss due to Phyiscal Theft; Laptop or hard drive being stolen that contains our data.
7. Data loss due to a crashing hard disk drive or hard disk failure.
1.1.12 Consequences of data loss in a specified situation. (Company and client)
Situation 1: An insurance company holds a large database about its clients including the date and client's next payment. Outline the consequence of a data loss in the company.
Company could lose customer trust, ruin their reputation and lose their customers
Customers would not be reminded about their next payment, hence not be insured and may lose all data about their previous payments
NOTE: Discuss the consequence both for company and clients
Situation 2: A hospital holds a large database about its patients, their sickness, treatment, medicines taken and consultation schedules. Outline the consequence of a data loss in the hospital.
The hospital could lose patient trust, ruin their reputation and lose their patients
Patients would not know the schedule of their next medicine intake and their previous medication taken
Patients would lose their previous diagnosis and lab results that will make it more difficult for the doctors to treat them unless they take all lab text again
NOTE: Discuss the consequence both for company and clients
1.1.13 Describe a range of methods that can be used to prevent or limit data loss.
Use failover systems / mirrored disk; A duplicate copy to be used in the event the main system fails. Two copies of the system are run in parallel and if one fails, the mirrored system can continue running.
Use Cloud backup; Copies of backup could be kept off-site or on the cloud so in the even of natural disasters like earthquake, storms or power outage, the backup online can be reloaded or reinstalled into the system
Use incremental backup systems; Backup only data that has been changed so there will be less storage space used and can be done more quickly than backing up the whole database or system.
Prevent physical damage to the computers; Use UPS or Uninterrupted Power Systems so the computer will not switch off immediately due to power outage. UPS also protects equipment from sudden surge in electricity that could damage the computer system and erase data.
Use strong password and authentication; This will prevent hackers from deleting our data.
Use Anti-malware / anti-virus software; Install and regularly update your anti-malware / anti-virus software to prevent data infection/corruption and data loss.
Sample question from the past year paper.
2018 May, Question 10b (This question is about RESTORING DATA ONCE LOST)
A medical center uses a computer system to store both patient's data and appointments. This system, which is used by doctors, nurses, secretaries has two unordered files: a patient file and appointment file both of which can be accessed sequentially.
Question: Describe two different methods that the medical center could use that would allow data to be restored should it be lost for any reason. [4]
Answer:
Use backup files; backup stored on a regular basis with the latest data.
Use the printed copies; printouts can be kept for transactions details such as patient's data and appointments.
Use transaction log files; These files were written for each transaction made and can be used to restore from a data loss.
2016 May, Question 4 (This question is about Failover systems)
Question: Outline the use of failover systems. [2]
Answer:
A failover system is a secondary backup system or redundant system which is used to eliminate or reduce impact on the users by automatically taking over once the primary system becomes unavailable.
2015 May, Question 8d (One method to discuss but three [3] marks needed)
Question: Describe one method that an insurance company could use to prevent data loss. [3]
Answer: (1 mark for measure, 2 marks for description related to the question)
Use mirror systems/failover systems; All changes made to the primary system is recorded also into the failover systems or mirrored systems so if one fails, the other one still holds all the data. [This will get 3 marks]
Use cloud backup or off-site backup; In the case that there's a failure or data loss in one site, the other backup from another site can be used to restore the data to the insurance company. [This will get 3 marks]
SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT
1.1.14 Describe the strategies for managing releases and updates.
What is a product/software release?
A product release is the process of launching a NEW PRODUCT for a specific market or user base.
In software development, a product release is done with beta version so the intended users can give feedback to the programmers about the bugs / errors found on the software before official release.
What is a product/software update?
An update is a software file that contains fixes for bugs found by users or other developers and sometimes, it contains the new features or improved usability of the software.
Installing an update fixes the code and prevents the problems from happening in your computer.
Since updates fixes the problems with a program, they are almost always free and available through the program companies or website.
How to get a software update?
Manually; We download the update and install them ourselves. We check the software website for new updates and we download them so we can install in our computer.
Automatically; Software automatically alerts the users about the updates and users can have an option to automatically update the system or alert the user before installation. In most cases, automatic updates happened without user knowledge if automatic option is on.
Why do we need a software update?
To provide new functions or improve the features/usability of the software
To ensure compatibility with other (updated) technologies, hardware or software.
To patch any bugs / vulnerabilities or cyber threats.
To generate income to the software company or stay ahead of other software companies.
How can a software company ensures that their users/clients are aware that there is a software update available?
Send an email to the users with the link to the updates.
When the software is installed and registered, a cookie is placed on the machine and this communicates with the software developer automatically during start up so messages about the updates are sent back to the machines and alerts are given. (Pop-up window saying update is available through the use of cookies)
To patch any bugs / vulnerabilities or cyber threats.
To generate income to the software company or stay ahead of other software companies.
What is a product/software patch?
A patch is a software update and will be used to replace a particular part/section of the program. If the developer found a problem with a section/part of the program, instead of asking users to download the whole software and install again from beginning, we use the patch to fix that certain section/part only where it has problems.
Patches are temporary fixes between full release of a software package.
Patches may fix a software bug, add new security features, or may address software stability issues
SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT (SAD)
1.2.4 Identify the relevant stakeholders when planning a new system.
What is meant by the term "stakeholder"? (Define the term stakeholder)
Stakeholders are the people/entity/end-users involved in they system.
Stakeholders in a School:
Students
Teachers
Parents
School management (Principal)
School staff or School admin
Stakeholders in a Hospital:
Doctors
Patients
Nurses
Hospital staff
Stakeholders in a hardware shop supply:
Customers
Shop staff - Employees
Shop manager or Owner
ROLES of the stakeholders in the hardware shop supply:
All users must explain on how they use the system or their participation in the system.
All users must explain what are the problems in the existing system and what other functions they want to see in the proposed new system.
All users must participate in the testing of the system (prototype testing, beta testing).
All users must undergo training for the new system.
Managers/Owners are involved in the approval of the project/product or even budget.
1.2.5 Describe/Outline the methods of obtaining information or requirements from the stakeholders.
Interview - We ask specific questions to the stakeholders in an individual setting, face to face.
Surveys/Questionnaires - We ask questions to many stakeholders as a written or online document.
Direct Observations - We observe the stakeholders perform their task or how to use the system.
Advantages of Interview:
Immediate answers can be gathered from the stakeholders and response rate/validity is high as compared to Questionnaires/Survey
Follow-up questions can be asked to the stakeholders to further clarify an answer to a question
Unplanned questions can be asked to the stakeholders that will help create the solution to the problem
We can see the validity and truthfulness of the stakeholders answering the questions since in Questionnaires, some people might not answer fully or truthfully especially when it's a no-name survey
Disadvantages of Interview:
Interview is time consuming since we need to face the stakeholders one by one and we need to meet their availability
Some stakeholders are not used being interviewed so their answers could be incomplete and invalid
Interview is costly since it must be done on-site while Questionnaires can just be sent via email or fax
Interview can cause bias. For example, the respondents answers can be affected by the race of the one doing the interview
Advantages of Survey/Questionnaires:
Not time consuming since we can send them to the stakeholders and they can answer at the same time
It can reach a large number of respondents and they can be at a different location while answering
A systematic approach in data collection since the questions are planned in advance
Disadvantages of Survey/Questionnaires:
May be costly if we are going to print our survey form and mail through post
Large percentage of no response when the survey is anonymous
We cannot make follow up questions if the answer to a question is unclear
Advantages of Direct Observations:
Direct observation is a systematic and structed process to learn about the system and the stakeholders role in the system
Direct observation provides a better understanding on how the system works and stakeholders participation in the system
Direct observation allows us to study the system on its natural setting
Direct observation on the current system may provide information to help proposed a suitable new system
Disadvantages of Direct Observations:
Direct observation is a time consuming process
Direct observation can affect the behavior of users/people being observed
Direct observation is open to observer bias
2016 May, Question 11b
Question: Describe how direct observation can be used to help propose a suitable new system. [3]
Answer: (We must provide 3 sentences or ideas)
In direct observation, we can see first hand the problems, advantages and disadvantages of the current system (old system) and this will lead us to propose an improvement based from what we saw
In direct observation, we can see the positive results, efficient functions in the old system that can be maintained and negative or inefficient functions that needs to be removed or improved
We can see first hand and realistic data on the software, hardware and the procedures being followed in the current (old) system
2012 November, Question 13
Question: Outline one advantage of Interviews over Questionnaires and one advantage of Questionnaires over Interview. [4]
Answer:
Interview allows the system analyst to ask follow-up questions in response to vague answers or we can ask more clarification if the answer is unclear which we cannot do with Questionnaires
In an interview, we change the questions as needed depending on the conversation and ask more questions as needed even if we did not prepare for it which cannot be done in Questionnaires since questions has to be prepared in advance and it's fixed once set up
Questionnaires is better in the sense that it's a prepared format that allows a systematic way of getting answer from the stakeholders which in Interview, we might forget or miss out questions to ask
Questionnaires can be answered by many stakeholders at the same time so we can save time in data collection in which we cannot do in Interview since we have to meet them one by one
1.2. Describe/Outline the purpose of prototypes to demonstrate the proposed system to the client.
What is meant by a prototype?
In computer science terminology, a prototype is a rudimentary software/hardware product that is not complete but is representation of the final product. Prototypes are not complete products. Rather, they are basic versions of the envisioned product that can be used for validation, iteration and improvement of the product.
Describe the different purposes of a prototype.
Prototype ensures that all functions/operations of the system meets the user/client requirements
Prototype acts as a model to be followed and it will speed up the development process of the system
Prototypes can be tested by the users/clients and they can offer feedback to improve the prototype before making the actual system/product or software
Prototypes can demonstrate the functions/operations of the product/software to the clients before the final product
Outline (reasons) why a prototype would be used to demonstrate the proposed system into the client?
Clients can identify errors or omissions in the design
Clients can provide suggestions on the improvement on the functions or design of the system
To provide feedback on the efficiency or the design of the product
To give an idea or feel of the final product
Explain why it would be useful to produce more than one prototype.
Having two or more prototypes will allow the client/management to choose which one will suit their function requirements/needs
Having two or more prototypes will allow the client/management to choose which one will suit their budget