TIM50 Final Review Winter 2025

Hosts

Devices (computers, smartphones, servers) that send and receive data over a network.

Routers

Network devices that forward data packets between computer networks.

Links

Physical or wireless connections that transmit data between hosts and network devices.

Packet

A small unit of data transmitted over a network, containing both the payload and control information (such as source and destination addresses).

Packet Switching

A method of data transmission where messages are divided into packets and sent independently over the network, then reassembled at the destination.

IP Address

A logical address assigned to a device on a network, used for identifying devices across different networks.

MAC Address

A physical, unique identifier assigned to a device's network interface card (NIC) that is used within a local network.

Routing Table

A routing table is a data structure in routers that stores paths to various network destinations. It helps determine the best route for forwarding data packets.

Hierarchical addressing

Hierarchical addressing structures network addresses in layers (e.g., country, state, city, street, house number), similar to how a post office sorts mail at multiple levels before final delivery.

Parity Bit, Why it might not work

An extra bit added to data to detect errors by ensuring the number of 1s in a data set is even (even parity) or odd (odd parity). If multiple errors occur, they may cancel each other out, making error detection ineffective.

Congestion in network

Network congestion occurs when too many data packets are sent at once, exceeding the network's capacity and causing delays or packet loss.

Flow Control

Flow control is a mechanism that regulates data transmission speed between sender and receiver to prevent overwhelming the receiving device.

DNS (Domain Name System)

Translates human-readable domain names (e.g., google.com) into IP addresses.

WWW (World Wide Web)

A system of interlinked web pages accessed via the internet using HTTP/HTTPS.

HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol)

A protocol used for transferring web pages between servers and browsers.

Layering of architecture

A design principle in networking where functions are divided into separate layers, each responsible for a specific aspect of communication, allowing modularity and interoperability,

Physical Layer

The lowest layer in the network stack responsible for transmitting raw bits over a physical medium such as cables, radio waves, or fiber optics,

Link Layer

The network layer responsible for local data transfer between directly connected devices, handling error detection, MAC addressing, and framing,

Ethernet

A widely used wired networking technology that defines standards for data transmission and frame formatting in local area networks (LANs),

MAC Addresses

Unique, hardware-embedded addresses assigned to network interface cards (NICs) for device identification within a local network,

Hubs/Switches

Network devices that connect multiple devices in a LAN; hubs broadcast data to all devices, while switches intelligently forward data to specific devices using MAC addresses,

Network Layer

The layer responsible for routing data between networks, determining the best path for packet delivery using IP addresses,

Routing Table

A data structure in routers that stores routes to various network destinations, used to determine the next hop for forwarding packets,

Packet Forwarding

The process of transmitting packets from one network device to another along the best available route toward the destination,

IP Address

Logical numerical addresses assigned to devices for identification and communication across different networks,

Transport Protocols - TCP/UDP

TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) ensures reliable, ordered data delivery with error checking, while UDP (User Datagram Protocol) provides fast, connectionless transmission with minimal overhead,

Statistical Multiplexing

A technique where multiple data streams share a communication channel dynamically based on demand, optimizing bandwidth usage,

Typical Network Topologies (home, ISP, small business, large e-biz)

Different network designs based on scale, including simple router-based networks for homes, more complex infrastructures for ISPs, structured setups for small businesses, and high-availability architectures for large enterprises,

Web Caching

A method of temporarily storing web content on servers or local devices to reduce load times and decrease bandwidth usage by serving previously accessed data instead of retrieving it from the original source,

Antivirus software

A program designed to detect, prevent, and remove malware, including viruses, worms, and other malicious software,

Acceptable use policy (AUP)

A set of rules and guidelines that define appropriate and prohibited behaviors for users of an organization's network and computing resources,

Public key encryption

A cryptographic method that uses a pair of keys (public and private) to secure communication, ensuring confidentiality and authentication,

Ransomware

A type of malware that encrypts a victim's files and demands payment for their decryption, often threatening data loss or exposure,

Risk assessment

The process of identifying, analyzing, and evaluating potential security threats and vulnerabilities to mitigate risks,

(Distributed) Denial-of-service (DoS) attack

A cyberattack that overwhelms a network, server, or website with excessive traffic, disrupting normal operations; in a distributed attack (DDoS), multiple systems are used,

Digital certificates

Electronic credentials issued by a trusted authority to verify the authenticity of websites, organizations, or individuals in online communications,

Click fraud

A type of fraud where automated bots or individuals repeatedly click on online ads to generate illegitimate revenue or drain advertising budgets,

Botnet

A network of compromised computers controlled by a hacker to perform malicious activities such as spam distribution, DDoS attacks, and data theft,

Key loggers

Malicious software or hardware that records keystrokes to capture sensitive information, such as passwords and credit card numbers,

Information systems audit

An examination of an organization's IT infrastructure, policies, and practices to assess security, efficiency, and compliance with regulations,

Intrusion detection systems

Security tools that monitor network traffic for suspicious activities and potential cyber threats, alerting administrators to possible breaches,

Patches

Software updates that fix security vulnerabilities, bugs, or performance issues in an application or operating system,

Controls

Security measures implemented to protect systems, data, and networks from unauthorized access, attacks, and other threats,

Secure Hypertext Transfer Protocol (S-HTTP)

A protocol that enhances HTTP by providing encryption and security features for web communications,

Secure Sockets Layer (SSL)

A cryptographic protocol that secures data transmission over the internet by encrypting communication between web servers and browsers,

Computer virus

A type of malicious software that attaches itself to legitimate programs and spreads by infecting other files, often causing damage or disruption,

Malware

Malicious software designed to harm, exploit, or steal data from computer systems, including viruses, worms, ransomware, and spyware,

Computer worm

A self-replicating malware that spreads across networks by exploiting security vulnerabilities, often causing widespread damage,

Identity Theft

A crime in which someone unlawfully obtains and uses another person's personal information, such as social security numbers or credit card details, for fraudulent purposes,

Encryption

The process of converting data into a coded format to prevent unauthorized access, requiring a decryption key for retrieval,

Firewall

A security system that monitors and controls incoming and outgoing network traffic based on predetermined security rules, protecting against unauthorized access,

Spoofing

A cyberattack technique where an attacker disguises their identity by falsifying data, such as email addresses, IP addresses, or websites, to deceive victims,

Spyware

Malicious software that secretly collects a user's data, such as browsing habits, login credentials, and financial information, without their consent,

Token

A security device or digital key used for authentication, often as part of multi-factor authentication to enhance security,

Zero Day vulnerability

A security flaw in software or hardware that is unknown to the vendor and can be exploited by attackers before a patch is developed,

Departmental vs. enterprise

Departmental systems focus on specific functions within a single business unit, while enterprise systems integrate processes across the entire organization for better coordination and efficiency,

MRP

Material Requirements Planning (MRP) is a system for managing manufacturing processes by determining material needs based on production schedules,

Differences between early MRP and modern ERP

Early MRP systems focused solely on manufacturing and inventory control, while modern Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) integrates broader business functions, including finance, HR, and customer relationship management,

Key features of ERP

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems are multi-functional, integrated, and modular, allowing businesses to streamline operations across different departments,

Multi-functional, integrated, modular

ERP systems support multiple business functions, integrate data across departments, and allow modular implementation to meet specific organizational needs,

Design around key business processes

ERP systems are structured to optimize core business processes such as procurement, production, sales, and financial management,

Customizable options

ERP solutions can be tailored to fit an organization's unique needs by modifying modules, workflows, and reporting capabilities,

Bullwhip effect

A supply chain phenomenon where small demand fluctuations at the consumer level cause increasing variations in orders and inventory levels upstream, leading to inefficiencies,

Just-in-time

A strategy that minimizes inventory costs by receiving goods only as they are needed for production or sales, reducing waste and storage costs,

Supply Chain Planning Systems

Tools that help businesses optimize supply chain operations, including forecasting, production scheduling, and inventory management,

Push vs. Pull

Push models forecast demand and produce goods in advance, while pull models respond to actual customer demand, minimizing excess inventory,

Sales force automation vs. customer service vs. marketing roles

Sales force automation streamlines sales processes, customer service manages interactions and support, and marketing focuses on outreach and lead generation,

Operational vs. analytical CRM types

Operational CRM focuses on customer-facing processes such as sales and support, while analytical CRM uses data analysis to improve customer relationships and business strategies,

Importance of churn-rate

Churn rate measures the percentage of customers who stop doing business with a company, highlighting customer retention challenges and the need for loyalty strategies,

Service platforms

Integrated technology solutions that support multiple business functions, such as customer relationship management, enterprise resource planning, and e-commerce,

Push vs Pull based Model

A supply chain strategy where push models produce goods based on forecasts, while pull models manufacture or deliver products in response to actual demand,

Bullwhip effect

Demand fluctuations that cause inefficiencies in the supply chain, leading to overproduction or shortages,

Just-in-time strategy

A lean manufacturing approach that reduces inventory waste by receiving supplies only when needed,

Supply chain management

The process of planning, coordinating, and optimizing the flow of goods, services, and information across the supply chain,

Churn rate

The percentage of customers who stop using a company's product or service over a given period, often used to measure customer retention,

Customer lifetime value (CLTV)

A metric that estimates the total revenue a business can expect from a single customer throughout their relationship with the company,

E-Commerce

The buying and selling of goods and services over the internet, using digital technologies for transactions, payments, and marketing,

Differences with traditional commerce

E-commerce operates online with lower overhead costs, broader reach, and faster transactions, while traditional commerce relies on physical stores and face-to-face interactions,

Digital markets

Online platforms that facilitate the exchange of goods and services, reducing inefficiencies in transactions and increasing accessibility,

Reduce

information asymmetry, search costs, transaction costs: Digital markets lower barriers by providing transparent pricing, easier product discovery, and streamlined transactions,

Why is information asymmetry important in markets?

It affects pricing and decision-making; reducing it helps consumers and businesses make better-informed choices, leading to fairer markets,

Enable

dynamic pricing, disintermediation: Digital markets allow real-time price adjustments based on demand (dynamic pricing) and reduce reliance on middlemen (disintermediation),

Digital goods

Products such as software, music, and e-books that can be distributed electronically,

0 or nearly 0 marginal cost

Digital goods can be replicated and delivered at almost no additional cost, unlike physical goods,

Consumer Commerce (B2C)

Business-to-consumer transactions where companies sell products or services directly to end users online,

Business to Business (B2B)

Online transactions between businesses, such as wholesale suppliers selling to retailers,

Interconsumer Commerce (C2C)

Consumer-to-consumer transactions where individuals sell directly to other individuals through platforms like eBay or Facebook Marketplace,

Popular business model categories

Various approaches to e-commerce, including portal/search engine (Google), e-tailer (Amazon), content provider (Netflix), market creator (eBay), transaction broker (PayPal), service provider (Dropbox), and community provider (Facebook),

Revenue models

Different ways e-commerce businesses generate income, including advertising (Google Ads), sales (Amazon), subscriptions (Netflix), free/freemium (Spotify), transaction fees (PayPal), and affiliate marketing (Amazon Associates),

Wisdom of Crowds

The idea that collective decision-making, such as user reviews and ratings, can be more reliable than individual expert opinions,

E-commerce marketing

Strategies used to attract and retain customers in online markets,

Long-tail marketing vs. mass marketing

Long-tail marketing focuses on niche products with lower demand but a broad audience, while mass marketing targets high-demand, mainstream products,

Behavioral targeting

An online advertising strategy that uses consumer data, such as browsing history and purchase behavior, to personalize marketing efforts,

EDI (Electronic Data Interchange)

A system for exchanging business documents electronically in a standardized format, improving efficiency and reducing errors in transactions,

Knowledge management

The process of capturing, organizing, sharing, and applying knowledge within an organization to improve decision-making and efficiency,

CKO and COPs

The Chief Knowledge Officer (CKO) is responsible for managing knowledge resources, while Communities of Practice (COPs) are groups that share expertise and best practices within an organization,

Knowledge Management Value Chain

A framework that describes how knowledge is acquired, stored, disseminated, and applied to create business value,

IS Activities

Acquire, Store, Disseminate, Apply: The core activities of knowledge management, where organizations gather information, store it in databases, share it with relevant users, and apply it to business processes,

Tacit vs. Explicit Knowledge

Tacit knowledge is personal, experience-based, and difficult to document, while explicit knowledge is codified, structured, and easily shared,

Structured, unstructured, and semistructured data

Structured data is organized in databases (e.g., spreadsheets), unstructured data lacks a fixed format (e.g., emails, videos), and semistructured data has some organization but is not strictly formatted (e.g., JSON, XML),