CISSE Foundation Level
Information Systems Support and Integration flashcards
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Complete Flashcard Reference
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What does Ohm's Law state, and in what units are its three quantities measured?
V = I x R. Voltage (V) in volts, current (I) in amperes, resistance (R) in ohms. Example: 0.8 amperes through 15 ohms gives 0.8 x 15 = 12 volts.
How do the swap-test method and the minimal-configuration test differ?
Swap-test: replace one suspect component with a known-good one and see whether the fault follows the part or stays with the system. Minimal configuration: strip the system to what POST needs (motherboard, CPU, one RAM stick, PSU), then add components back one at a time. The swap-test isolates a suspected part; minimal configuration is used when there is no clear suspect yet.
What does each tier of a help desk handle?
Tier 1: first point of contact, common and well-documented issues (password reset, printer offline). Tier 2: issues Tier 1 cannot resolve, needing more technical diagnosis (a software conflict, a network configuration fault). Tier 3: specialist and vendor-level issues (a hardware fault needing the vendor, a systems-integration problem).
What single test separates a hardware fault from a software fault?
Ask when the symptom appears. Present on the BIOS/POST screen, before any operating system has loaded: hardware. Only once the operating system is running: software.
What do full, incremental and differential backups each copy, and how do they trade off?
Full: every selected file, every time. Slowest to run, simplest and fastest to restore. Incremental: only files changed since the last backup of any kind. Fastest to run, slowest to restore (the full backup plus every increment, in order). Differential: all files changed since the last full backup. A restore needs only the full backup and the latest differential.
What are the three properties of the CIA triad?
Confidentiality: information is accessible only to those authorised to see it. Integrity: information is accurate and has not been altered, accidentally or maliciously, without authorisation. Availability: information and systems are accessible to authorised users when needed.
How do point-to-point and hub-and-spoke (ESB) integration architectures compare?
Point-to-point: each system connects directly to every other system it exchanges data with. Simple for a handful of systems, but the connections grow unmanageably as systems are added. Hub-and-spoke / ESB: every system connects to one central integration layer that routes and translates data. Scales far better, but the hub becomes a critical dependency.
What is the difference between SOAP and WSDL in a web service?
SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol): the XML-based messaging format that carries the data. WSDL (Web Services Description Language): the document that formally states the operations the service offers and the data each expects and returns, the contract a caller is built against.
Which integration strategy suits which situation?
Point-to-point: a small number of systems, a simple one-off need. Middleware / ESB: many systems, or new systems to be added over time without rework. API-based: modern, actively maintained systems built with integration in mind. Batch / file-based: legacy systems with no live interface, or where real-time synchronisation is not required.
What is the 3-2-1 backup rule, and why does it need an off-site copy?
At least 3 copies of important data, on 2 different types of storage media, with at least 1 copy off-site. The off-site copy means no single disaster at one location (a fire, a theft, a failed drive) can destroy every copy at once. A backup is only as good as its last successful restore test.
What does each of these components do: resistor, capacitor, diode, transistor?
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Why does a computer need a power supply unit between the wall socket and its components?
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Which logic gates are universal, and what does each output?
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When is the output of an XOR gate 1, and what is it used for?
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What is electrostatic discharge (ESD), and how is it prevented?
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How does preventive maintenance differ from corrective maintenance?
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What should be used on an electrical fire, and what must never be?
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What must match when choosing components for a build?
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What is POST, and how does it report a failure?
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What hazards are specific to working inside laptops and laser printers?
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How should an upgrade be chosen, and which upgrade suits which problem?
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What is the e-waste disposal hierarchy, and who regulates e-waste in Kenya?
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What forms does online support take?
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What is the difference between a ticketing system and a Service Level Agreement?
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What are the five steps in planning staff ICT training?
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Which health and safety risks does a support desk role carry?
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In what order should a slow computer be diagnosed?
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What is the correct response to a malware infection, in order?
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How should a driver conflict be fixed?
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An operating system will not boot. What should be tried first, and what is the usual cause?
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What is the first response to overheating, no display, and a drive that is not detected?
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What is defence in depth, and what are the levels of security?
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Which Kenyan law governs personal data, who enforces it, and what does it require?
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What do encryption, access control and data classification each do?
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How does data recovery differ from backup, and what are its limits?
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What do a firewall and a VPN each do?
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What is the difference between an IDS and an IPS?
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What is the difference between the RTO and the RPO?
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How does a Disaster Recovery Plan relate to a Business Continuity Plan?
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How is a recovery arrangement justified on cost?
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What does Kenya's Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act, 2018 make of unauthorised access, and who coordinates national cyber response?
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What does operational security and end-user education involve?
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What are the five components of an information system?
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What are the six steps of the system integration process?
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What issues does a system integration project typically face?
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What is XML, and what role does it play in integration?
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What does an XML Schema (XSD) do?
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What does each of the WS-* specifications add to a web service?
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How is a legacy system usually integrated, and why not change it directly?
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How does application integration differ from enterprise integration, and where does an ERP fit?
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