Data Analysis, SQL, Cloud Computing, and AI: Key Concepts for Students

What is a Pivot Table?

A tool that quickly summarizes large data.

What is the main purpose of a Pivot Table?

To organize and summarize data into useful information.

What does XLOOKUP do?

Finds data in a table and returns a value.

Why is XLOOKUP better than VLOOKUP?

It can search left or right and handle errors better.

What does VLOOKUP stand for?

Vertical Lookup.

What connects two tables in Excel or databases?

A shared column.

In a dataset, what is a row?

One record or observation.

In a dataset, what is a column?

One variable or attribute.

What does GROUP BY do in SQL?

Groups data into categories.

What does a SELECT statement do in SQL?

Retrieves data from a database.

What is a DBMS?

Software that stores and manages data.

What is an ERP system?

Software that manages an entire company.

What is a CRM system?

Software that manages customer relationships.

What does middleware do?

Connects different software systems.

What is a legacy system?

An old system still being used.

What is an LMS?

Software used for learning and training.

What is SaaS?

Software accessed online through subscription.

Give an example of SaaS.

Google Docs, Zoom, Salesforce.

What is PaaS?

A platform used to build applications.

What is IaaS?

Renting computing infrastructure online.

What is a major advantage of cloud computing?

Scalability.

What is another major advantage of cloud computing?

Cost savings.

What does LaaS stand for?

Logging as a Service.

What is Agile?

A method that builds software in small steps.

What is Waterfall?

A method that builds software step-by-step.

What is scope creep?

When a project keeps getting bigger without control.

What is the sunk cost fallacy?

Continuing a project because money was already spent.

What is Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)?

The full cost of a system over time.

What three things must project managers balance?

Scope, resources, schedule.

What is a DDoS attack?

Many computers overwhelm a server.

What is social engineering?

Tricking people into giving information.

What is endpoint security?

Protecting devices connected to a network.

What is a security breach?

Unauthorized access to data.

What is a freemium model?

Basic product is free, premium features cost money.

What is open-source software?

Software anyone can modify.

What is proprietary software?

Software owned and controlled by a company.

What is competitive advantage?

Doing something better than competitors.

What is business process re-engineering?

Redesigning workflows to improve efficiency.

What is the difference between licensed software and SaaS?

License = buy once; SaaS = pay subscription.

What is generative AI?

AI that creates content.

What is agentic AI?

AI that makes decisions and takes actions.

What is AI bias?

AI reflecting unfair patterns in data.

What is a corpus in AI?

The dataset used to train an AI model.

Why can AI increase bias?

Because it learns from biased data.

What does a CPU do?

Handles general processing tasks.

What does a GPU do?

Handles many calculations at once.

When are GPUs especially useful?

AI and graphics processing.

What is an embedded system?

A computer inside a device.

Give an example of an embedded system.

Microwave or car.

What is the Third Party Doctrine?

Data shared with companies has less privacy protection.

Why is global data privacy regulation difficult?

Countries have different laws.

What is fair use in AI training?

Using copyrighted data for learning purposes.