Threats, damage and contingency planning

Overview

Four potential threats to a computer system, difference between malicious and accidental damage and accidental damage to data.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

1. 1

   Name four potential threats to a computer system.

   Model answer

   Fire, flood and theft all threaten a computer system. Deliberate attack across a network is a fourth threat.

2. 2

   Explain the difference between malicious and accidental damage.

   Model answer

   Malicious damage is caused deliberately by somebody who intends harm. Accidental damage results from a mistake, a fault or a natural event.

3. 3

   Give two examples of accidental damage to data.

   Model answer

   A user may delete the wrong file or save over a newer version. A power cut during a write can leave a file corrupt.

4. 4

   Give two examples of malicious damage to data.

   Model answer

   A dismissed employee may delete records deliberately before leaving. An attacker may encrypt an organisation's files and demand payment to release them.

5. 5

   In what situation is accidental damage most likely to occur?

   Model answer

   Accidental damage is most likely where untrained staff work directly on a live system. Poorly designed screens that make two options look alike add to the risk.

6. 6

   Why is an employee inside an organisation a serious threat to data?

   Model answer

   An employee already holds valid access rights and knows where the data is kept. The activity of an insider looks entirely normal to the security software.

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