GNVQ ICT - Intermediate

Unit 10 - Networks and Communications

Hyperlinks on the level above: [Home Page for Unit 10] [ Stand-alone computers ] [ LANs ] [ WANs ] [ Standard ways of working ] [ Electronic communications ] [ Advantages and Disadvantages ] [ Using a network ]

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On this level:

Network Hardware
Network Software
Network Security
Other Security Issues
Network Manager

On the level below:

Network security:

In a large school or college such as Hyde Tech or Longdendale, the number of users can be well over 1000 – and the number of workstations may be over 400.   It is important that users have access to their own work – but not to the work of others.  In addition teachers must be able to place materials in areas of the network where students can open the files – but not change them before others have used them.  In such a large network some security measures are needed to make sure that users have the correct kind of access.  This is usually done using a system of usernames and passwords to log onto any workstation.  New systems are being developed which use fingerprint ID or retina scans to identify the user!  The server computer checks that the username exists – and that the password entered is correct – and then allows the user the correct level of rights to use the network.  This means – for example – that a “standard” user can open files on drive Y: but cannot save files on drive Y:  A teacher, on the other hand, may have access rights to save work on drive Y:  

Read this article on the BBC News website (25 January 2003) about the problems faced by companies which are regularly being attacked by computer hackers.

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