INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY & DIGITAL BANKING MODULE A QUIZ 1

IT is not merely a cost centre: when aligned with business goals, it can improve customer experience, operational efficiency, decision-making and competitive differentiation. Technology investments should therefore be evaluated against business outcomes and risk, not just hardware cost.

A sound appraisal considers strategic fit, total cost of ownership, expected benefits, implementation and migration risks, security, regulatory obligations, scalability and vendor dependence. A low purchase price alone does not establish value.

Data are raw facts, such as individual transaction records. Information is data processed, organised or summarised so that it is meaningful for a decision. The branch-level monthly trend report is information.

A common model is input, processing, output and storage, with control/feedback as supporting activities. Input captures facts; processing transforms them; output presents results; storage retains them for future use.

Batch processing accumulates transactions or jobs and processes them together at a scheduled time. It is suitable for recurring high-volume work where immediate individual response is not required, such as periodic statement generation.

Real-time processing handles data and produces a response within the required time constraints. Authorising a card transaction requires a timely decision at the point of sale; overnight payroll or statement production can usually be batched.

Speed and diligence are standard computer characteristics. Computers can execute repeated instructions consistently at high speed, but their results still depend on the correctness of input, programs and system design.

The CPU, particularly its arithmetic logic unit (ALU) and control unit, executes instructions and coordinates processing. RAM temporarily holds active data and instructions; storage retains data persistently.

RAM is primary, volatile memory used to hold programs and data currently being worked on. Its contents are generally lost when power is removed. SSDs and hard disks are non-volatile secondary storage.

A scanner captures information into a computer and is an input device. A printer presents processed information on paper and is an output device.

Distributed computing uses multiple networked computers to share processing or services. It differs from relying on a single standalone computer, though distributed systems introduce coordination, availability and security considerations.

A server provides shared resources or services—such as authentication, files, databases or applications—to client devices over a network. Clients request and use those services.

Server virtualisation abstracts physical computing resources so multiple virtual machines can run on the same physical hardware. A hypervisor manages the virtual machines and allocates resources, improving utilisation while requiring appropriate isolation and resilience controls.

A virtual machine typically virtualises hardware and runs its own guest operating system. Containers generally share the host operating-system kernel while isolating applications and their dependencies. The exact security and deployment properties depend on implementation.

An operating system manages hardware resources and provides services for applications. A word processor is application software designed for an end-user task.

Open-source software makes source code available under a licence that grants specified rights to inspect, use, modify and redistribute it. It is not necessarily free of cost, and organisations must still assess support, security, licence compliance and maintenance.

A browser requests and renders web resources, interpreting HTML, CSS and JavaScript as appropriate. A search engine helps users discover information; it is not the same thing as the browser itself.

HTTPS is HTTP carried over TLS, providing encryption in transit and integrity protection, with server authentication through certificates. It does not by itself prove that a website is trustworthy or protect a user from every form of fraud.

A WAN (wide area network) spans large geographical areas and can connect branch LANs across cities or regions. A LAN typically covers a limited area such as an office or building.

IP provides addressing and routing of packets between networks. TCP provides a reliable, ordered byte stream between endpoints, using mechanisms such as sequencing and retransmission. Not all Internet traffic uses TCP; UDP is another transport protocol.