IB Computer Science HL · Core — SL & HL
Networks
The OSI model, TCP/IP, network hardware and encryption are tested with precise, layer-specific vocabulary — the mark scheme distinguishes "encryption" from "authentication" from "integrity" even when a student's answer conflates them.
3.1 Networks
- Identify different types of networks.
- Outline the importance of standards in the construction of networks.
- Describe how communication over networks is broken down into different layers.
- Identify the technologies required to provide a VPN.
- Evaluate the use of a VPN.
- Define the terms: protocol, data packet.
- Explain why protocols are necessary.
- Explain why the speed of data transmission across a network can vary.
- Explain why compression of data is often necessary when transmitting across a network.
- Outline the characteristics of different transmission media.
- Explain how data is transmitted by packet switching.
- Outline the advantages and disadvantages of wireless networks.
- Describe the hardware and software components of a wireless network.
- Describe the characteristics of wireless networks.
- Describe the different methods of network security.
- Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of each method of network security.
Practice this topic
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