How can a system be protected against attack, and how should data be backed up and managed?
The methods used to protect a system (firewalls, encryption, passwords and biometrics), and data management including the need for and types of backup.
An Eduqas GCSE Computer Science answer on the methods used to protect a system (firewalls, encryption, passwords, biometrics) and on data management, including why backups matter and full versus incremental backup.
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What this dot point is asking
Eduqas wants you to explain the methods used to protect a system against the threats in the previous topic: firewalls, encryption, passwords and biometrics, and to cover data management, especially why backups matter and the difference between full and incremental backups. The firewall-versus-encryption distinction and the backup contrast are the recurring marks.
Firewalls and encryption
Passwords and biometrics
Data management and backups
Try this
Q1. State the purpose of a firewall. [1 mark]
- Cue. To monitor and control the traffic in and out of a network, blocking unauthorised connections.
Q2. Explain how encryption protects data. [2 marks]
- Cue. It scrambles the data into ciphertext using a key, so it cannot be read without the key if intercepted.
Q3. State one difference between a full backup and an incremental backup. [1 mark]
- Cue. A full backup copies all the data; an incremental backup copies only the data that has changed since the last backup.
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of WJEC Eduqas exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
Eduqas Component 1, 20224 marksExplain how a firewall and encryption each help to protect a computer system.Show worked answer →
Firewall (up to 2 marks): monitors and controls the traffic entering and leaving a network against a set of rules, blocking unauthorised or suspicious connections so attackers cannot get in and malware cannot communicate out.
Encryption (up to 2 marks): scrambles data into ciphertext using a key, so that if it is intercepted or stolen it cannot be read without the key; it protects data both in transit (over a network) and at rest (stored).
Markers reward "controls/filters network traffic" for the firewall and "scrambles data so it is unreadable without the key" for encryption. Saying encryption "stops hackers getting in" confuses it with a firewall.
Eduqas Component 1, 20234 marksA business wants to protect against data loss. Explain why backups are needed and describe the difference between a full backup and an incremental backup.Show worked answer →
Why backups (up to 2 marks): they keep a separate copy of data so it can be restored if the original is lost through hardware failure, accidental deletion, malware (such as ransomware) or disaster. Keeping a copy off site protects against fire or theft.
Full versus incremental (up to 2 marks): a full backup copies all the data every time, which is slower and uses more storage but restores quickly from one copy; an incremental backup copies only the data that has changed since the last backup, which is faster and smaller but needs the last full backup plus all increments to restore.
Markers reward a clear reason for backups and an accurate full-versus-incremental contrast (all data versus only changes).
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Sources & how we know this
- WJEC Eduqas GCSE Computer Science specification (from 2016) — Eduqas (2020)