Learn: INFO Exam 2

Supercomputer

Performs extremely complex calculations, such as hurricane modeling.

Mainframe

Processes huge volumes of transactions, such as airline reservations and payments.

Grid Computing

Combines the processing power of many connected computers.

Two-Tier Client/Server

Client computers send requests to a server.

Multi-Tier (N-Tier) Client/Server

Requests move through web servers, application servers, and databases.

Virtualization

One physical server runs multiple separate operating-system instances.

Software-Defined Storage (SDS)

Software pools different physical storage devices for centralized management.

IaaS

Infrastructure as a Service; rent computing power, storage, and networking.

PaaS

Platform as a Service; use cloud tools and infrastructure to build applications.

SaaS

Software as a Service; use provider-hosted software over the Internet.

Ubiquitous Network Access

Cloud services are accessible from phones, tablets, laptops, and other devices.

Rapid Elasticity

Cloud capacity expands or shrinks quickly as demand changes.

Measured Service / Utility Computing

Customers pay according to usage.

Public Cloud

Cloud services offered to the general public by a provider.

Hybrid Cloud

Combines private systems with public-cloud services.

Edge Computing

Processes data close to where it is generated to reduce delay.

Green Computing

Reduces technology's environmental impact through efficiency and recycling.

Spreadsheet Software

Uses rows, columns, and formulas for tasks such as budgeting.

HTML5

Allows web pages to play video directly in a browser without a separate plug-in.

Web Services

Loosely coupled software components exchange data using web standards.

SOA (Service-Oriented Architecture)

Builds applications from reusable, self-contained services.

Mashup

Combines data or functions from different sources into a new tool.

Open-Source Software

Software whose source code can be viewed and modified.

Capacity Planning

Forecasts future computing needs and capacity requirements.

Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)

Calculates the full cost of technology including support, utilities, and downtime.

Outsourcing

Paying an outside vendor to provide IT services or develop systems.

Service Level Agreement (SLA)

Contract specifying service commitments such as uptime and response times.

Mobile Device Management (MDM)

Manages employee devices, app updates, and remote data removal.

Software Localization

Adapts software language and content to a local market.

Entity

A thing represented in a database, such as PATIENT.

Attribute

A characteristic of an entity, such as birth date or blood type.

File

A collection of records of the same type.

Primary Key

Uniquely identifies each row in a table.

Foreign Key

Links a record to a key in another table.

One-to-One Relationship

Each item in one entity corresponds to exactly one item in another entity.

One-to-Many Relationship

One item can relate to many items.

Many-to-Many Relationship

Both entities can relate to many items; often requires a join table.

Normalization

Organizes tables to reduce redundant data.

Referential Integrity

Prevents references to records that do not exist.

Select

Chooses rows that meet a condition.

Project

Chooses columns to include in a result.

Join

Combines related tables.

Data Dictionary

Describes fields, formats, sizes, and key status.

DML (Data Manipulation Language)

Commands used to add, change, delete, or retrieve records.

NoSQL Database

Handles data that does not fit neatly into rows and columns.

Cloud Database

Database service hosted by a cloud provider.

Blockchain

Records transactions in a tamper-resistant chain of blocks.

Volume

The amount of data; often measured in petabytes.

Data Warehouse

Repository combining data from multiple systems for analysis.

Data Mart

Smaller repository focused on a specific area or department.

Data Lake

Stores raw data that may not yet have been analyzed.

Hadoop

Framework that distributes big-data tasks across many computers.

In-Memory Computing

Keeps data in RAM to speed up analysis.

OLAP

Multidimensional analysis often visualized as a data cube.

Associations

Finds items or events that occur together.

Sequences

Finds patterns where one event tends to follow another.

Classification

Uses labeled data to predict categories.

Clustering

Finds natural groups without predefined labels.

Forecasting

Uses historical data to predict future values.

Text Mining / Sentiment Analysis

Analyzes text for opinions or sentiment.

Web Usage Mining

Analyzes web logs, clicks, and time spent on pages.

Data Governance

Establishes rules for sharing, securing, and managing data.

Data Quality Audit

Examines data to assess quality and accuracy.

Data Cleansing

Corrects inaccurate or duplicate records.

Security

Policies, procedures, and technologies that protect systems from unauthorized access.

Computer Virus

Malware attached to a file that spreads when executed.

Trojan Horse

Malware disguised as legitimate software; does not self-replicate.

SQL Injection

Attack that inserts malicious SQL into a website input field.

Ransomware

Locks systems or data and demands payment.

Spyware

Secretly monitors and tracks user activity.

Spoofing

Forges identifying information, such as email sender addresses.

Sniffer

Captures network packets and potentially reveals unencrypted information.

DDoS / Botnet

Many compromised computers flood a target with traffic.

Credential Stuffing

Uses stolen username/password pairs on multiple sites.

Phishing

Deceptive messages designed to steal information.

Spear Phishing

Targeted phishing against a specific person or organization.

Evil Twin

Fake Wi‑Fi network that imitates a legitimate network.

Pharming

Redirects users to fraudulent websites.

Social Engineering

Manipulating people into revealing information or granting access.

Zero-Day Vulnerability

A software flaw unknown to the vendor or lacking a fix.

HIPAA

Law protecting patient medical-record privacy.

Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act

Law protecting the security and confidentiality of financial data.

Sarbanes-Oxley Act

Law requiring executive responsibility for public-company financial reporting.

Computer Forensics

Collects, preserves, and analyzes electronic evidence for legal use.

Application/Input Control

Validates entered data, such as requiring a five-digit ZIP code.

Acceptable Use Policy (AUP)

Defines acceptable use of company technology resources.

Disaster Recovery Planning

Focuses on restoring computing and communications services.

Business Continuity Planning

Focuses on restoring overall business operations.

Risk Assessment

Estimates threat probability and potential loss.

Zero Trust

Requires verification of every user, device, and request.

Least Privilege

Gives users only the access needed to perform their jobs.

Biometric Authentication

Uses physical characteristics such as fingerprints to verify identity.

Packet Filtering

Examines packet headers without tracking the entire conversation.

Network Address Translation (NAT)

Hides internal IP addresses from outside networks.

Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems (IDPS)

Monitor networks for attacks and help stop them.

Unified Threat Management (UTM)

Combines firewall, VPN, intrusion detection, filtering, and anti-spam tools.

Symmetric Key Encryption

Uses the same key for encryption and decryption.

Public Key Encryption

Uses a public key to encrypt and a private key to decrypt.

Digital Certificate

CA-issued file containing identity information and a public key.

Public Key Infrastructure (PKI)

System that manages certificates and public-key trust.