IT and Business Information System Tips

Short Answer

Q1. Database:

Relational Database

A relational database is a database that stores data in tables that consist of rows and columns. Each
row has a primary key and each column has a unique name. A file processing environment uses the
terms file, record, and field to represent data. A relational database uses terms different from a file
processing system. A developer of a relational database refers to a file as a relation, a record as a tuple,
and a field as an attribute. A user of a relational database, by contrast, refers to a file as a table, a record
as a row, and a field as a column.

In addition to storing data, a relational database also stores data relationships. A relationship is a link
within the data. In a relational database, you can set up a relationship between tables at any time. The
tables must have a common column (field). In a relational database, the only data redundancy
(duplication) exists in the common columns (fields). The database uses these common columns for
relationships. Many organizations use relational databases for payroll, accounts receivable, accounts
payable, general ledger, inventory, order entry, invoicing, and other business-related functions.

OODB

An object-oriented database (OODB) stores data in objects. An object is an item that contains data, as
well as the actions that read or process the data. A Student object, for example, might contain data
about a student such as Student ID, First Name, Last Name, Address, and so on. It also could contain
instructions about how to print a student transcript or the formula required to calculate a student’s
grade point average.

Object-oriented databases have several advantages compared with relational databases: they can store
more types of data, access this data faster, and allow programmers to reuse objects. An object-oriented
database stores unstructured data more efficiently than a relational database. Unstructured data
includes photos, video clips, audio clips, and documents. When users query an object-oriented
database, the results often are displayed more quickly than the same query of a relational database. If
an object already exists, programmers can reuse it instead of recreating a new object — saving on
program development time.

Multidimensional Database (MDB)

A multidimensional database uses the concept of a data cube (also referred to as a hypercube) to
represent the dimensions of data currently available to its user(s). The multidimensional database
concept is designed to assist with decision support systems. This detailed organization of the data allows
for advanced and complex query generation while providing outstanding performance in certain cases
when compared to traditional relational structures and databases. This type of database is usually
structured in an order that optimizes OLAP and data warehouse applications.
Q2. Utility software:

Software utilities can help to improve the performance of a computer system in a variety of ways,
without software utilities, a computers performance could be affected. For example, a computer
without security such as virus protects will be much more prone to getting attacked by viruses which
could corrupt data on the computer, and will defiantly decrease the speed of a computer system. In
some cases, it may be able to steal stored data and information; therefore, it is important to use as
many software utilities as possible to prevent these kinds of things from happening and to improve the
general performance of a computer system.

Q3. Cookie (Browser):

Definition-The cookie is a message that the web server passes to your web browser when you visit the
internet sites, your browser stores the message in a small file, when you request another page from the
server, your browser sends the cookie back to the server.

The cookie is a small file stored on the user’s computer, it is used by the websites to track the visitors to
keep the user information such as the username, interests, Password Remember Option, etc., If any web
application use cookies, the server send cookies & client browser will store it.

Cookie Cons-

Privacy: The main concern for most users is privacy. Cookie enabled web browsers keep track of all the
websites you have visited. This means that with permission (or not in Google’s case), third parties can
access the information stored by these cookies. These third parties can be advertisers, other users, or
even the government in some cases.

Security: Cookie security is a large problem. The concern is that many security holes have been found in
different browsers. Some of these holes were so serious that they allowed malicious webmasters to gain
access to users’ email, different passwords, and credit card information.

Secrecy: Although third party cookies can be blocked through your browser settings, most people don’t
have the technical expertise to do this. Most browsers purposely make it difficult to find this setting in
order to prevent you from turning them off. No cookies mean no data, which in turn means less money.
Q4. Network:

Advantage and benefits to individual-

The Internet provides opportunities galore, and can be used for a variety of things. Some of the things
that you can do via the Internet are:

 E-mail: E-mail is an online correspondence system. With e-mail you can send and receive instant
electronic messages, which works like writing letters. Your messages are delivered instantly to
people anywhere in the world, unlike traditional mail that takes a lot of time.

 Access Information: The Internet is a virtual treasure trove of information. Any kind of
information on any topic under the sun is available on the Internet. The ‘search engines’ on the
Internet can help you to find data on any subject that you need.

 Shopping: Along with getting information on the Internet, you can also shop online. There are
many online stores and sites that can be used to look for products as well as buy them using
your credit card. You do not need to leave your house and can do all your shopping from the
convenience of your home.

 Online Chat: There are many ‘chat rooms’ on the web that can be accessed to meet new people,
make new friends, as well as to stay in touch with old friends.

 Downloading Software: This is one of the most happening and fun things to do via the Internet.
You can download innumerable, games, music, videos, movies, and a host of other
entertainment software from the Internet, most of which are free

Advantage and benefits to business-

Globalization

While computers have been blamed for decreased activity and interaction in the local community, the
Internet has been credited with providing a window into the global world. It allows anyone with a
computer to think globally and has allowed the business world to forge international relationships with
new vendors (to lower costs) and new customers (to increase sales).

Communication

100 years ago it might have taken over a month to get a letter to a friend in another country. Today,
communication is as easy as a mouse click, and much cheaper too. Anyone in the world can
communicate with another person through text messages, emails, and even live video. For business, this
means higher efficiency and quicker processing of sales.

Cost Effectiveness

Perhaps the most obvious benefit of the Internet is cost savings. Information at faster speeds saves
time, which either saves or makes money. Many functions in the business process, i.e. bookkeeper, have
been automated, which has helped to streamline processes and reduce the cost of labor.
Assay Question

Q.1 Advantage and disadvantage of remote working (3 benefits to business, 3 for employee)

Advantage to Business-

Increased Flexibility
It’s no surprise that one of the biggest perks to working remotely is the flexibility to work wherever you
want. This makes it easier to juggle work, family, and other obligations. Work life balance can improve
greatly by working remotely – but be careful; without the right boundaries, the opposite can happen.

More Productivity
When done right, working remotely can lead to a more focused workday. Employers fear the
distractions of TV and household chores, but the office comes with noise, meetings, and many other
interruptions from colleagues. Many people work best in their own space, with peace and quiet.

Reduces Commuting Cost & Time

Working remotely allows employees to spend less time and money traveling to the office, which saves a
lot of money in the long haul. This also means more time in the day to be productive.

Disadvantage to business-

Less cohesiveness: When you allow a virtual team to mostly choose their own work hours, your
organization can be more fragmented. For example, if there’s an emergency, such as a major equipment
failure or serious IT issues, you can’t easily call a meeting of your entire organization to deal with these
crises.

Lack of camaraderie: Social interaction does help encourage more effective teamwork. In a virtual
environment, however, there isn’t much of an opportunity for employees to gather for impromptu
conversations that can often enhance collaboration.

Risk to reputation: If potential customers find out that you run a virtual office with remote employees,
they may not think of your firm as a “real” company

Advantage to Employee-

Work from anywhere and anytime. No longer are you limited by a geographic location or a clock.
Thanks to telecommuting, employees are now able to work from pretty much anywhere at any time of
day. The traditional 9-5 working day no longer applies.

No daily commute. Most people don’t enjoy their daily trek into an office. Working remote allows you
to avoid a lengthy commute by car, train, or bus which enables you to start your workday earlier and
calmer.
Flexibility. You would be in charge of your own schedule and possibly more efficient. Working from
home and the flexibility it offers, may also suit your family life. You would have the freedom to run
errands, take the kids to school, attend school or sports functions, etc. as long as you get the job done
and meet any pre-established deadlines.

Disadvantage to Employee-

Need for high self-discipline. It takes a lot of dedication and self-control to work at home and not
succumb to distractions. It’s easy to lose motivation and focus which are pitfalls to your success.
Therefore, it’s important to be intentional about how you’re using your time. You need to structure your
environment in such a way that keeps you engaged.

Lack of workplace social life. You can easily interact with co-workers and clients via technology but it’s
not the same as face-to-face meetings, lunching together or just everyday banter. Remote workers often
feel isolated. To counteract isolation, try going into the office now and then or schedule lunch dates
with bosses and colleagues.

Overlooked for promotions. There’s a danger of being overlooked for promotions or career
development opportunities when working remotely. Those visible employees in the office who are
aggressively campaigning for the position will probably have the edge. You can try and counter with
regular visits to the office and open lines of communication. You need to express your interest in the
upward mobility you want.

Q.2 How to prevent identity theft and internet fraud –

1. Check your bank statements

It’s easier than ever for fraudsters to go after bank details thanks to online banking; but it’s also easier
for users to check bank statements now that every detail is available at the touch of a button. Some
banks will alert you if they detect suspicious activity, but only you will really know where you’ve been
spending your money, so be sure to check your balance on a regular basis.

2. Be careful when opening attachments

Think carefully before opening email attachments, especially when these come from senders that you
don’t know. Some of the most destructive viruses are spread via attachments (see: I Love You, for
example) and while rigorous filters are applied to emails, it’s still important to make sure you know the
sender and that you have an idea of what should be in the file.

3. Keep your operating system (OS) and software up-to-date

Norton is fixing issues with your computer as soon as criminals are able to exploit them, so it’s essential
that you keep all software up-to-date if you’re going to avoid becoming a victim of online fraud. This
doesn’t just apply to your Internet protection software though; most software manufacturers, including
your OS provider, regularly release security patches that make it more difficult for fraudsters to get hold
of your details.
4. Disable file sharing on your computer

File sharing is enabled by default on most computers running certain versions of Windows, which means
that anyone in your workgroup is able to see your files. Choosing to disable file sharing doesn’t mean
that you can’t allow access to people; instead it just means that you’re able to choose who you show
your files to.

5. Use a strong password

Choosing a strong password for all services you use (preferably a different password for each service)
will make it harder for thieves to gain access to your details. When selecting a password use at least
eight characters, with a mixture of upper and lower case and both letters and numbers.

It’s also important to avoid using names or interests as passwords; this information is easy to get hold of
from your social media profiles, as well as being easy to guess.

6. Read the website’s privacy policy

Almost all websites display a privacy policy, which can usually be found in the footer but is occasionally
displayed more prominently. If you are asked to enter any confidential or personal data, take a look at
the site’s policy. If you do not trust the site, do not enter any details.

7. Don’t give away your PIN code

Your bank will never ask you for your PIN code – over the phone, via email or on the website. If you’re
being asked to disclose your PIN, the person you’re communicating with may not be a representative of
your bank: DON’T give it to them.

8. Open websites in new browser windows before entering personal details

Don’t enter any personal information if you’ve arrived on a website from an external link or pop-up ad,
even on a real site. Open a new browser window and type the URL directly into the address bar to
ensure the site is legitimate; as explained above, pharming schemes can cause genuine websites to
direct unsuspecting users to malicious pages, so ensure you’re on the correct page before inputting
information.

9. Try not to keep financial information on your laptop

Laptops are much more likely to be stolen than desktops: try not to store any financial information on
your laptop unless absolutely necessary. It’s also important to ensure that your computer is password
protected in case it is misplaced.
Q.3 AI, Expert System, Service Knowledge, Deep Knowledge

AI definition and examples:

Artificial intelligence (AI), the ability of a digital computer or computer-controlled robot to perform
tasks commonly associated with intelligent beings. The term is frequently applied to the project of
developing systems endowed with the intellectual processes characteristic of humans, such as the
ability to reason, discover meaning, generalize, or learn from past experience. Since the development
of the digital computer in the 1940s, it has been demonstrated that computers can be programmed to
carry out very complex tasks—as, for example, discovering proofs for mathematical theorems or playing
chess—with great proficiency. Still, despite continuing advances in computer processing speed and
memory capacity, there are as yet no programs that can match human flexibility over wider domains or
in tasks requiring much everyday knowledge. On the other hand, some programs have attained the
performance levels of human experts and professionals in performing certain specific tasks, so that
artificial intelligence in this limited sense is found in applications as diverse as medical diagnosis,
computer search engines (Google, Bing) and voice (Siri) or self-driving cars (Tesla).

Expert System definition and examples:

An expert system is a computer program that uses artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to simulate
the judgment and behavior of a human or an organization that has expert knowledge and experience
in a particular field. Typically, an expert system incorporates a knowledge base containing accumulated
experience and an inference or rules engine -- a set of rules for applying the knowledge base to each
particular situation that is described to the program. The system's capabilities can be enhanced with
additions to the knowledge base or to the set of rules. Current systems may include machine learning
capabilities that allow them to improve their performance based on experience, just as humans do.

Examples: IBM’s Watson cognitive computing system, SAINT, STEAMER

Service Knowledge Management System definition and examples:

A knowledge management system (KMS) is a system for applying and using knowledge management
principles. These include data-driven objectives around business productivity, a competitive business
model, business intelligence analysis and more.

There are often four stages to knowledge:

Data - from metrics are turned into quality information

Information - combining this with context, experience and interpretation becomes knowledge

Knowledge - having the above enables correct decisions to be made which in turn is perceived as
wisdom

Wisdom - the culmination of all of the above

A knowledge management system is made up of different software modules served by a central user
interface. Some of these features can allow for data mining on customer input and histories, along
with the provision or sharing of electronic documents. Knowledge management systems can help with
staff training and orientation, support better sales, or help business leaders to make critical decisions.
The SKMS contains all of the other data stores used by service management, including:

 Service portfolio

 CMS

 Supplier and contract management information system (SCMIS)

 Availability, capacity, and security management information systems (CMIS, AMIS, and ISMIS)

 CSI register

Deep knowledge/Deep Learning? (Not sure) definition and examples

Deep learning is a subset of machine learning. Usually, when people use the term deep learning, they
are referring to deep artificial neural networks, and somewhat less frequently to deep reinforcement
learning.

Deep artificial neural networks are a set of algorithms that have set new records in accuracy for many
important problems, such as image recognition, sound recognition, recommender systems, etc. For
example, deep learning is part of DeepMind’s well-known AlphaGo algorithm, which beat the former
world champion Lee Sedol at Go in early 2016, and the current world champion Ke Jie in early 2017.

Deep learning networks need to see large quantities of items in order to be trained. Instead of being
programmed with the edges that define items, the systems learn from exposure to millions of data
points. An early example of this is the Google Brain learning to recognize cats after being shown over
ten million images. Deep learning networks do not need to be programmed with the criteria that
define items; they are able to identify edges through being exposed to large amounts of data.