6f Security to Protect Data

Question 0

Describe one advantage and one disadvantage of encrypting data. (4 marks)

Answer 0

 prevents details from being understood by unauthorised
parties (1) by rendering the data unintelligible (1) Disadvantage
 lost decryption key/wrong decryption key (1) means
unscrambling the data is not possible and makes it unusable
(1) [4]

Question 1

State what is meant by authentication. (1 mark)

Answer 1

 ensures who sent and who received the data (1)
 ensures the person is who they say they are (during
transmission) (1)
 two parties need to know what authentication is
being used in order to access/unscramble the data (1)

Question 2

Explain one advantage and one disadvantage of the estate agency encrypting data. (4 marks)

Answer 2

advantage
 prevents details from being understood by unauthorised parties (1)
because it renders the data unintelligible (1)
 meets legal requirements (1) eg DPA and protecting personal
information (1)
disadvantage
 lost decryption key / wrong decryption key (1) means unscrambling
the data is not possible and makes it unusable (1)
 when sending to someone who is not technically minded (1) may not
be able to decrypt the data (1).