← VCE Data Analytics U4O2

Safeguarding business operations

Keeping systems and data working so daily business can carry on. Security limits downtime so services keep running when a threat or failure occurs.

Part of: VCE Data Analytics - U4O2 - Cyber Security: Data Security — Module 2

Understanding Safeguarding business operations in VCE Data Analytics U4O2

What it does: When the data and systems stay available, the orders can keep being processed and the business keeps running. Recovering quickly after a threat keeps service running, which is continuity of service. Continuity of service means customers can still be served during a failure or attack. Closing until repair is downtime. Organisations rely on data for sales, payroll, customer service and decisions. Losing access to it quickly halts operations. Security measures such as backups, firewalls and updates reduce the chance and length of downtime so services keep running. Accidental, deliberate and events-based threats can all cause downtime, so security protects operations from all of them.

Common mistakes: Lost sales are the hours of downtime multiplied by the sales lost per hour. The line should use * instead of +. An if statement must end with a colon. It should be if not server_up: so the business can switch to the backup system.

Class: _____________________  ·  Name: _____________________  ·  Date: _________

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This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 1–25) and word search (Modules 1–43).

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Learning
Duo
Why does an organisation use data and information security to safeguard its operations?
To make sure staff never need to use the dataTo keep systems and data working so daily business can continue
Matches
Security is only about stopping hackers, so it has no effect on daily operations
↓
Security also keeps systems and data working so daily business can continue, so it directly affects operations.
Applying
Meanings
Term
business continuity
Meaning
Keeping systems and data working so daily business can carry on. Security limits downtime so services keep running when a threat or failure occurs.
Practice
IF server_status = "down" THEN
Testing
Gaps
Systems working = business
Check Answer
Spots
2per_hour = 500
3loss = downtime + per_hour

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Quick Questions

1. Why does an organisation use data and information security to safeguard its operations?
A. To keep systems and data working so daily business can continue ✓
B. To make sure staff never need to use the data
Security protects the systems and data that daily business relies on, so the organisation can keep operating.
2. A school's student management system is offline for two days after a malware attack. This is an example of:
A. Continuity of service being maintained
B. Downtime that disrupts business operations ✓
Downtime is when systems or data are unavailable. Staff can't enrol, mark rolls or report, so daily operations are disrupted.
3. Which result shows good continuity of service?
A. An online shop closes until the failed server is repaired
B. An online shop keeps taking orders while a failed server is replaced by a backup ✓
Continuity of service means customers can still be served during a failure or attack. Closing until repair is downtime.
4. Which statement about dependence on data is correct?
A. Most modern organisations need their data to run daily tasks, so losing access stops work ✓
B. Organisations can run normally without access to their data
Organisations rely on data for sales, payroll, customer service and decisions. Losing access to it quickly halts operations.
5. What is the main aim of security measures when it comes to downtime?
A. Limit how long and how often systems are unavailable ✓
B. Allow systems to go offline whenever a threat appears
Security measures such as backups, firewalls and updates reduce the chance and length of downtime so services keep running.

Match the Pairs

business continuity → Keeping systems and data working so daily business can carry on, even when a threat or failure occurs
downtime → A period when systems or data are unavailable, so staff and customers cannot carry out normal business
Security protects an organisation's dependence on data, because daily tasks such as taking orders need data to be available → orders_system = "online" -> sales continue
Continuity of service means customers keep getting service even after a failure or attack, because systems recover quickly → if attack: recover() -> service = "running"
Security is only about stopping hackers, so it has no effect on daily operations → Security also keeps systems and data working so daily business can continue, so it directly affects operations.
If the database is offline for a day, the business can carry on as normal → Businesses depend on data, so downtime stops tasks like sales, payroll and customer service and harms continuity.

Key Term

business continuity
Keeping systems and data working so daily business can carry on. Security limits downtime so services keep running when a threat or failure occurs.

Fill in the Blanks

1. Systems working = business continuity
Hint: Type the term for keeping systems and data working so daily business carries on.
2. Time systems are unavailable = downtime
Hint: Type the word for the period when systems are not available for use.
3. IF server = "failed" THEN useBackupServer() END IF
Hint: Type the keyword that starts a condition so a backup can keep services running.
4. uptime = totalHours - downtime
Hint: Type the variable for the hours systems were unavailable, which is taken off the total hours.
5. running = dataOK AND systemsUp
Hint: Type the logical operator that needs both the data and the systems to be working.

Spot the Error

Question 1
A downtime = 4
B per_hour = 500
C loss = downtime + per_hour
D print(loss)
Line C — Lost sales are the hours of downtime multiplied by the sales lost per hour. The line should use * instead of +.
Question 2
A server_up = False
B if not server_up
C print("Switch to backup")
Line B — An if statement must end with a colon. It should be if not server_up: so the business can switch to the backup system.
Question 3
A uptime = 99.5
B downtime = 100 + uptime
C print("Downtime %:", downtime)
Line B — Downtime is the share of time the system was not working, so it is 100 minus uptime. The line should use - instead of +.
Question 4
A services = ["web", "pos", "email"]
B for s of services:
C print(s, "is running")
Line B — Python loops use the keyword in, not of. It should be for s in services: to check each service in turn.
Question 5
A data_ok = false
B if not data_ok:
C print("Operations stopped")
Line A — Python Boolean values are capitalised. It should be data_ok = False, otherwise Python treats false as an undefined name.

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