← VCE Cyber Security

Comparing communications technologies

The four criteria used to compare wired, wireless and mobile technologies: cost, data storage options, reliability and security.

Part of: VCE Applied Computing - U2O2 - Cyber Security — Module 17, QCE Digital Solutions Unit 2 — Data and Programming Techniques — Module 10

Understanding Comparing communications technologies in VCE Cyber Security

What it does: This describes exactly what reliability measures in a comparison. All three technologies are judged against cost, storage, reliability and security. Data storage options is one of the four recognised measures. Reliability measures how consistently a technology works. Security measures how well a technology protects data. The same four measures apply consistently across all three technologies. This is the core definition of comparing communications technologies. Colour is not part of the recognised comparison criteria.

Common mistakes: Colour is not one of the four measures - cost, storage, reliability and security are. Speed alone isn't the measure - four different measures are used together.

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This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 11–20) and word search (Modules 1–20).

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Learning
Duo
Are wired, wireless and mobile compared using the same four measures?
YesNo
Matches
Colour is used to compare these technologies
↓
Wrong - the four measures are cost, storage, reliability and security
Applying
Meanings
Term
Comparison measures
Meaning
The four criteria used to compare wired, wireless and mobile technologies: cost, data storage options, reliability and security.
Practice
Wired, wireless and mobile all send data.
Testing
Gaps
The first comparison measure is
Check Answer
Spots
1Colour is a measure used
2Cost is a measure used

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Quick Questions

1. Are wired, wireless and mobile compared using the same four measures?
A. Yes ✓
B. No
All three technologies are judged against cost, storage, reliability and security.
2. Is cost one of the four comparison measures?
A. Yes ✓
B. No
Cost is one of the four measures used in this comparison.
3. Is data storage options one of the four measures?
A. No
B. Yes ✓
Data storage options is one of the four recognised measures.
4. Is reliability one of the four measures?
A. Yes ✓
B. No
Reliability measures how consistently a technology works.
5. Is security one of the four measures?
A. No
B. Yes ✓
Security measures how well a technology protects data.

Match the Pairs

Comparing communications technologies → Wired, wireless and mobile compared using the same four measures
Cost → One of the four measures - the price to buy and run it
How consistently a technology works without failure → Reliability
How well a technology protects data from threats → Security
Colour is used to compare these technologies → Wrong - the four measures are cost, storage, reliability and security
Only one measure is used to compare technologies → Wrong - four measures are used together for a fair comparison

Key Term

Comparison measures
The four criteria used to compare wired, wireless and mobile technologies: cost, data storage options, reliability and security.

Fill in the Blanks

1. The first comparison measure is cost
Hint: Type the first comparison measure - the money to buy and run it.
2. Another measure is data storage options
Hint: Type the second measure - how data is kept.
3. A third measure is reliability
Hint: Type the third measure - how consistently it works.
4. The fourth measure is security
Hint: Type the fourth measure - how well it protects data.
5. The three technologies are compared
Hint: Type the word for weighing options against the same measures.

Spot the Error

Question 1
A Colour is a measure used
B Cost is a measure used
C Storage is a measure used
Line A — Colour is not one of the four measures - cost, storage, reliability and security are.
Question 2
A Cost is a measure used
B Speed is the only measure
C Storage is a measure used
Line B — Speed alone isn't the measure - four different measures are used together.
Question 3
A Cost is a measure used
B Storage is a measure used
C Five measures are compared
Line C — Only four measures are used, not five.
Question 4
A Cost is a measure used
B Storage is a measure used
C Reliability is a measure
D Only cost is ever compared
Line D — All four measures are compared together, not just cost.
Question 5
A Cost is a measure used
B Storage is a measure used
C Reliability is a measure
D Security is a measure
E Colour is a measure used
Line E — Colour is not one of the four recognised comparison measures.

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