GCSE

• Stores the start-up instructions / bootstrap loader [1]
• It is non-volatile so the instructions are not lost when power is turned off [1]

• Washing machine [1]
• Microwave [1]
• Traffic lights [1]
• Engine management system [1]

• 40,000 × 16 × 10 = 6,400,000 bits [1]
• 6,400,000 / 8 = 800,000 bytes [1]
• 800,000 / 1000 = 800 [1]
• KB [1]

• ASCII uses 7 or 8 bits per character whereas Unicode uses 16 or 32 bits [1]
• ASCII can only represent a limited number of characters (e.g. 256) whereas Unicode can represent millions of characters [1]
• Unicode can represent characters from many different languages/alphabets whereas ASCII is mainly for the English alphabet [1]
• Unicode requires more storage space per character than ASCII [1]

• Optical storage is cheap to produce in bulk [1], making it cost-effective for mass distribution of software [1]
• It is read-only (CD-ROM), so the software cannot be accidentally overwritten or infected by viruses [1]
• It is highly portable and lightweight for shipping [1]
• It has high compatibility with older/legacy computer systems [1]

• Files on a hard disk become split up/fragmented over time as they are saved and deleted [1]
• A defragmentation utility reorganises the files on the disk [1]
• so that all the parts of a single file are stored contiguously/together [1]
• It also groups all the free space together into one block [1]
• This reduces the physical movement of the read/write head [1]
• meaning files can be read more quickly, improving performance [1]

• High reliability [1] because if one node fails, data can take an alternative route [1]
• Can handle high volumes of traffic [1] as data is distributed across multiple connections [1]

• Fibre optic cables transmit data using pulses of light, whereas copper uses electrical signals [1]
• Fibre optic provides much higher bandwidth/faster transmission speeds than copper [1]
• Fibre optic can transmit data over much longer distances without signal degradation [1]
• Fibre optic is less susceptible to electromagnetic interference than copper [1]
• Fibre optic is more expensive to purchase [1]
• Fibre optic is more difficult/fragile to install than copper [1]

• The attacker floods the school's server/network with a massive volume of useless traffic or requests [1]
• The server becomes overwhelmed and unable to respond to legitimate requests [1]
• This prevents students and teachers from accessing the network or educational resources [1]

• An automated software program systematically tries every possible combination of passwords/characters [1]
• It continues until the correct password is found [1]
• The aim is to gain unauthorised access to a user's account [1]

• They restrict users so they can only access the files and areas necessary for their role [1]
• For example, students cannot access or view staff grading files [1]
• This prevents accidental or malicious modification or deletion of sensitive data [1]

• It scrambles data into an unreadable format called ciphertext [1]
• using an encryption algorithm and a key [1]
• If the data is intercepted by a hacker, it cannot be understood without the decryption key [1]

• Data must be kept secure [1] against unauthorised access [1]
• Data must be kept accurate [1] and up to date [1]
• Data must be processed lawfully [1], fairly and transparently [1]
• Data must not be kept longer [1] than necessary [1]

• It makes it illegal to copy or distribute the school's resources without permission [1]
• It protects the intellectual property of the teachers who created the resources [1]
• It prevents others from selling the resources for their own profit [1]
• The school can take legal action if their copyright is breached [1]

• Companies rent out space on their servers to store the school's website files [1]
• They provide high bandwidth and 24/7 uptime so the site is always available [1]
• They manage server maintenance, backups, and security [1]
• They serve the web pages to clients upon request [1]

• The client sends a request for data or services to the server [1]
• The server processes the client's request [1]
• The server provides the requested data or services back to the client [1]
• The client then displays the received data to the user [1]

Indicative Content:

• Ethical: Speeds up lunch queues and attendance, giving more learning time. Forces a normalisation of surveillance on children. Social exclusion for those who opt out.
• Legal (DPA 2018): Biometric data is highly sensitive personal data. School must obtain explicit consent from parents before capturing facial data. Data must be stored securely (encrypted) to prevent identity theft.
• Stakeholders: Students (faster service but privacy loss), Parents (concerns over data security/consent), School Management (efficiency, cost savings), IT Staff (burden of securing the biometric database).