INTRODUCTION-TO-IT Practice Questions

A computer network is a set of computers sharing resources located on or provided by network nodes. Exhibit A correctly illustrates the fundamental client-server network architecture. In this model, a central, powerful computer (the server) provides information and services to multiple less powerful client computers. This is a basic and widely used structure for organizing computer networks, enabling centralized data storage, management, and resource sharing among connected devices. The other diagrams represent different concepts within information technology.

B. Exhibit B: This diagram depicts a hierarchical structure, such as an organizational chart or a file system directory, not a network of communicating devices.

C. Exhibit C: This is a flowchart, which is used to represent a workflow, process, or algorithm with steps and decision points, not a computer network layout.

D. Exhibit D: This illustrates a relational database schema or an Entity-Relationship Diagram (ERD), showing tables and the relationships between them, not a network structure.

1. Kurose

J. F.

& Ross

K. W. (2017). Computer Networking: A Top-Down Approach (7th ed.). Pearson. In Chapter 2

"Application Layer

" Section 2.1

"Principles of Network Applications

" the client-server architecture is detailed as a primary network model where a central server services requests from multiple clients. Exhibit A is a standard representation of this model.

2. Saltzer

J. H.

& Kaashoek

M. F. (2009). Principles of Computer System Design: An Introduction. Morgan Kaufmann. Chapter 9

"Networking

" Section 9.2.1

"The Client-Server Model" (p. 394)

describes this structure as a common organization for network services.

3. Silberschatz

A.

Korth

H. F.

& Sudarshan

S. (2019). Database System Concepts (7th ed.). McGraw-Hill. Chapter 6

"Database Design and the E-R Model

" explains the use of entity-relationship diagrams

similar to Exhibit D

for modeling the logical structure of databases.

4. Gaddis

T. (2018). Starting Out with Programming Logic and Design (5th ed.). Pearson. Chapter 2

"Input

Processing

and Output

" introduces flowcharts (as seen in Exhibit C) as a tool for programmers to design the logical flow of a program.

The primary role of professional associations like the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) regarding ethics is to develop and promote codes of conduct. These codes are not legally binding statutes but serve as crucial guidelines to help IT professionals make sound ethical decisions in their work. They articulate the core principles and standards that the profession expects its members to uphold, thereby fostering a culture of ethical responsibility and providing a framework for navigating complex moral challenges inherent in the field of information technology.

B. The Association of IT Professionals (AITP) is one of many such organizations; it is not the single, overarching industry-wide association for all IT professionals.

C. This statement is too broad. While associations do engage in developing practices, their specific role regarding ethics is to provide guidelines, which is more accurately captured by option A.

D. Unlike professions such as law or medicine, most IT professional associations do not provide mandatory, government-recognized licensing. They may offer certifications, but this is different from licensure.

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1. Association for Computing Machinery (ACM). (2018). ACM Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct. Preamble. Retrieved from https://www.acm.org/code-of-ethics.

Reference Detail: The preamble explicitly states

"This Code...is designed to inspire and guide the ethical conduct of all computing professionals... The Code is not an algorithm for solving ethical problems; rather it serves as a basis for ethical decision making." This directly supports the role of providing guidelines.

2. Quinn

M. J. (2020). Ethics for the Information Age (8th ed.). Pearson.

Reference Detail: Chapter 8

"Work and Wealth

" discusses the role of professional organizations. It explains that codes of ethics from bodies like the ACM and IEEE "provide a valuable set of guidelines for professionals" and are a hallmark of a mature profession.

3. Gotterbarn

D.

Miller

K.

& Rogerson

S. (1997). Software Engineering Code of Ethics. Communications of the ACM

40(11)

110-118. https://doi.org/10.1145/265684.265699

Reference Detail: This foundational article on the development of the Software Engineering Code of Ethics highlights that the purpose of such codes is to act as a "guide to ethical conduct" and to state the "ethical obligations" of professionals

reinforcing their role as guidelines rather than enforceable laws.

A computer network is a system of interconnected computing devices that exchange data and share resources. This infrastructure is specifically designed to enable communication among a collection of computers, whether in a small local area or across the globe via the internet. The network consists of hardware components like routers, switches, and network interface cards, as well as software protocols that govern the transmission of data. The primary function of a network is to facilitate this inter-computer communication.

A. Hard drive: This is a local storage device for data and does not facilitate communication between different computers.

C. Mouse: This is an input peripheral used for user interaction with a single computer's graphical interface.

D. USB connector: This is a standard for connecting peripherals to a single computer, not for networking a collection of them.

1. Kurose

J. F.

& Ross

K. W. (2017). Computer Networking: A Top-Down Approach (7th ed.). Pearson. In Chapter 1

Section 1.1

a computer network is defined as a system that connects a multitude of computing devices

enabling them to communicate.

2. Tanenbaum

A. S.

& Wetherall

D. J. (2011). Computer Networks (5th ed.). Prentice Hall. Chapter 1

Section 1.1.1

"Uses of Computer Networks

" explicitly states that the fundamental goal of a computer network is to allow remote information sharing and communication between users on different machines.

3. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. (2011). 6.02 Introduction to EECS II: Digital Communication Systems

Fall 2011. MIT OpenCourseWare. Lecture 1

"Introduction and The Channel

" introduces a communication system (the basis of a network) as consisting of a source

a transmitter

a channel

a receiver

and a destination

designed to move information between two or more points. Available at: https://ocw.mit.edu

The hierarchical database model organizes data in a tree-like structure. In this model, data is stored as records which are connected to one another through links. Each record is a collection of fields, with each field containing only one value. A record in the hierarchy is referred to as a node or a segment. The top-most node is the root, and every other node has exactly one parent, while a parent can have multiple children. This one-to-many relationship from parent to child is the defining characteristic of the hierarchical model.

A. Embedded: This term describes how a database is deployed (integrated within an application), not the logical data model or structure it uses.

B. Flat file: A flat file database stores data in a single table with no structured, hierarchical relationships between records.

C. Family file: This is not a standard, recognized term for a type of database model in information technology.

1. Elmasri

R.

& Navathe

S. B. (2017). Fundamentals of Database Systems (7th ed.). Pearson. In Chapter 1

Section 1.5

the text describes the hierarchical model: "In the hierarchical model

data are organized into a tree-like structure. The model represents a one-to-many relationship between a parent and its children segments."

2. Silberschatz

A.

Korth

H. F.

& Sudarshan

S. (2010). Database System Concepts (6th ed.). McGraw-Hill. Appendix E (Legacy Database Systems) discusses the hierarchical model

stating

"A hierarchical database consists of a collection of records that are connected to one another through links. Each record is a collection of fields... The records are organized as a collection of trees."

3. University of Washington

CSE 444: Database Management Systems. (Winter 2015). Lecture 1: Introduction to DBMS. Slide 23. The lecture notes explicitly categorize data models

identifying the Hierarchical Model as a precursor to the Relational Model

characterized by its tree-like structure. Available via UW CSE course archives.

Data is defined as raw, unprocessed facts and figures. In this scenario, the grade assigned to each individual quiz (e.g., 85, 92, 78) represents the initial, raw facts that are collected. All other values mentioned—the minimum, maximum, average grade, and average differential—are derived through processing and calculation. These processed values are considered information, as they are organized and contextualized to provide meaning, whereas the individual grades are the fundamental data points from which this information is created.

B. The average differential for each quiz: This is a calculated value (individual grade minus the average grade), which is the result of processing raw data, making it information, not data.

C. The minimum and maximum grade for all quizzes: These values are derived by analyzing the entire collection of individual grades. This analysis is a form of processing, which converts data into information.

D. The average grade for all quizzes: This is a statistical summary calculated by summing all individual grades and dividing by the count. It is a classic example of processed data, or information.

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1. Bourgeois

D. T. (2014). Information Systems for Business and Beyond. The Saylor Foundation.

Chapter 1

Section "What Is an Information System?": This chapter distinguishes between data and information. It states

"Data are the raw bits and pieces of information with no context... By itself

data is not very useful. To be useful

data must be given context." The text uses the example of a list of numbers (data) being processed to find an average (information)

directly supporting the logic that individual grades are data and the average is information.

2. The Open University. (n.d.). Data

information

knowledge and wisdom.

Section "Data": This university resource defines data as "a collection of facts in a raw or unorganised form

such as numbers or characters." This aligns with the individual quiz grades being the raw facts in the scenario. The resource further defines information as "data that has been processed... in a way that it has context and is useful

" which describes the calculated values in options B

C

and D.

3. Rowley

J. (2007). The wisdom hierarchy: representations of the DIKW hierarchy. Journal of Information Science

33(2)

163–180.

Page 165

Section "Defining data

information

knowledge and wisdom": This peer-reviewed article

a foundational text on the DIKW (Data

Information

Knowledge

Wisdom) model

defines data as "raw" and representing "symbols or facts out of context." This academic definition confirms that the unprocessed individual grades are data

while the contextualized and calculated results are information. (DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0165551506070706)

A cold site is a type of disaster recovery facility that provides the basic infrastructure required for operations, such as physical space, power, and environmental controls (HVAC), but does not contain any pre-installed IT equipment like servers, computers, or networking hardware. It is referred to as an "empty shell" because an organization must bring in and install all its own equipment following a disaster. While it is the least expensive off-site option, it results in the longest recovery time compared to warm or hot sites.

A. Icy site: This is not a recognized or standard industry term for a type of disaster recovery site.

B. Warm site: A warm site is partially equipped with some hardware and network infrastructure, but not the complete set of systems, making it more than an empty shell.

D. Hot site: A hot site is a fully equipped and operational duplicate of the primary site, ready for immediate failover; it is the opposite of an empty shell.

1. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). (2010). Special Publication 800-34 Rev. 1

Contingency Planning Guide for Federal Information Systems. Section 4.3.1

"Alternate Site

" Page 36.

This document defines a cold site as "a facility with adequate space and infrastructure (electric power

telecommunications connections

and environmental controls) to support the IT system. The site does not contain IT equipment..." This directly supports the "empty shell" concept.

2. Whitman

M. E.

& Mattord

H. J. (2019). Management of Information Security (6th ed.). Cengage Learning.

In the chapter on Contingency Planning

the text describes a cold site as "a rudimentary facility that provides only rudimentary services and facilities... a shell of a facility with only the basic utilities." This aligns with the question's description.

3. George Mason University. (n.d.). IT 463/563 Information Security - Lecture 10: Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery Planning. Volgenau School of Engineering.

Course lecture materials define a cold site as having "power and cooling" but requiring the "installation of equipment

" contrasting it with warm sites (partially equipped) and hot sites (fully equipped).

A System Administrator is responsible for the installation, configuration, and maintenance of computer systems, particularly servers. This role's core duties include managing the entire lifecycle of hardware, from initial setup and installation of new equipment to ongoing support, performance tuning, and troubleshooting of existing hardware components like CPUs, memory, and storage. Their primary goal is to ensure the reliability and availability of the computer systems that support an organization's operations, making hardware management a fundamental aspect of their job.

A. Web administrator: This role focuses on managing web server software (e.g., Apache, IIS), applications, and website content, not the physical server hardware itself.

B. Network administrator: This role manages network infrastructure such as routers, switches, and firewalls, focusing on connectivity rather than general computer or server hardware.

C. Security administrator: This role is responsible for implementing and managing security policies, tools, and controls to protect systems, not for physical hardware installation or repair.

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1. Limoncelli

T. A.

Hogan

C. J.

& Chalup

S. R. (2017). The Practice of System and Network Administration (3rd ed.). Addison-Wesley Professional. In Chapter 1

"What Is System Administration?"

the authors define the role as encompassing the management of computer systems

including "hardware and software installation and upgrades" and "troubleshooting."

2. University of Washington. (n.d.). What is system administration? IT Connect. Retrieved from https://itconnect.uw.edu/learn/workshops/online-tutorials/system-administration-basics/what-is-system-administration/. The document states

"System administrators (or sysadmins) are the people who are responsible for the upkeep

configuration

and reliable operation of computer systems... This includes installing and configuring new hardware and software."

3. Jones

K.

& Morris

S. (2016). IT Support Career Framework. University of California

Berkeley. In the "System Administrator" role description

key responsibilities listed include "Installs

configures

maintains

and troubleshoots complex server and storage hardware." (p. 12).

Integrity is the component of the CIA Triad that ensures data is accurate, trustworthy, and has not been altered in an unauthorized manner. This principle guarantees the correctness and completeness of data throughout its entire lifecycle. It involves protecting data from both intentional (malicious) and unintentional (accidental) modification. Measures like hashing, digital signatures, and access controls are used to maintain data integrity, ensuring that what is stored or transmitted is the same as what was originally intended.

A. Stability: This is not a component of the CIA Triad. It refers to the reliability and consistency of a system's performance over time.

C. Confidentiality: This principle focuses on preventing the unauthorized disclosure of information, ensuring that data is accessible only to authorized individuals. It is about secrecy, not correctness.

D. Availability: This principle ensures that information and systems are accessible and usable upon demand by an authorized user. It concerns uptime and access, not the accuracy of the data.

1. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). (2017). An Introduction to Information Security (NIST Special Publication 800-12 Rev. 1). U.S. Department of Commerce. In Section 2.2

"The 'Big Three' Security Concepts

" integrity is defined as guarding against improper information modification or destruction

which includes ensuring information non-repudiation and authenticity. This directly relates to the correctness of data. (Page 5).

2. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Computer Security Resource Center (CSRC) Glossary. Retrieved from https://csrc.nist.gov/glossary. The glossary defines Integrity as "The property that data or information have not been altered or destroyed in an unauthorized manner." This definition is central to the concept of data correctness.

3. Cornell University. Information Technology at Cornell. "The CIA Triad: Confidentiality

Integrity

and Availability." This university resource states

"Integrity is the 'I' in the CIA triad. It is the assurance that the information is trustworthy and accurate." This explicitly links integrity with the correctness and accuracy of data.

A primary function of a proxy server is to act as an intermediary that can improve performance and reduce bandwidth consumption through caching. When a user within an organization requests a web page, the proxy server retrieves it from the internet and delivers it to the user. The proxy then stores a copy of this page in its local cache. If another user requests the same page, the proxy can serve it directly from its cache, which is much faster than fetching it from the origin server again. This process effectively creates a shared cache of recently accessed web content for the entire organization.

A. This describes the function of a web server or an application server, which hosts websites and executes server-side scripts to generate dynamic content.

B. This describes a database server, which manages and provides access to a database system in response to client queries (e.g., SQL queries).

D. This describes a file server, a centralized server in a computer network that provides storage space for files accessible by clients on the network.

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1. Kurose

J. F.

& Ross

K. W. (2017). Computer Networking: A Top-Down Approach (7th ed.). Pearson. In Section 2.2.4

"Web Caching

" the text states

"A Web cache—also called a proxy server—is a network entity that satisfies HTTP requests on the behalf of an origin Web server. The Web cache has its own disk storage and keeps copies of recently requested objects... in this storage." (p. 107).

2. Saltzer

J. H.

& Kaashoek

M. F. (2009). Principles of Computer System Design: An Introduction. Morgan Kaufmann. Chapter 8

"Performance

" discusses the use of caching to improve system performance. Section 8.2.1 explains

"A proxy may be able to satisfy the request from its own cache of recently fetched Web pages

thus avoiding a network round-trip to the server." (p. 388).

3. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. (2018). 6.033 Computer System Engineering

Spring 2018. MIT OpenCourseWare. In Lecture 15 notes on "The Web

" the role of proxies is discussed

highlighting their function as caches to reduce latency for clients by storing copies of web objects. (Section 15.3.1

"Proxies").

IT infrastructure comprises the core technological components required for the operation and management of enterprise IT services. These components are typically categorized into hardware, software, and networking. Networks are a fundamental element, providing the essential connectivity between computers, servers, storage systems, and other devices. This connectivity enables the communication, data sharing, and resource access that are vital for any organization's IT environment. The network acts as the backbone that integrates all other hardware and software components into a cohesive, functional system.

B. Printer: A printer is a peripheral device. It connects to and is supported by the IT infrastructure but is not considered a core, foundational component of the infrastructure itself.

C. People: People are the users, operators, and managers of the IT system. They are a critical part of the overall information system but are distinct from the technical infrastructure.

D. Data: Data is the information that is stored, processed, and transmitted by the IT infrastructure. It is the asset being managed, not a component of the infrastructure itself.

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1. Laudon

K. C.

& Laudon

J. P. (2020). Management Information Systems: Managing the Digital Firm (16th ed.). Pearson. In Chapter 5

"IT Infrastructure and Emerging Technologies

" the authors explicitly list "Networking/telecommunications platforms" as one of the seven major components of IT infrastructure (pp. 188-191).

2. IBM Technology. (n.d.). What is IT infrastructure? IBM. Retrieved from https://www.ibm.com/topics/it-infrastructure. This official vendor documentation states

"The 3 main categories of IT infrastructure components are hardware

software

and networking." It specifies that networking components include switches

routers

and hubs.

3. Gartner

Inc. (n.d.). Gartner Glossary: IT Infrastructure. Retrieved from https://www.gartner.com/en/information-technology/glossary/it-infrastructure. Gartner defines IT infrastructure as the system of hardware

software

facilities

and service components. Networking is a primary and essential element within the hardware and service component categories.