Viren works for a mobile medical screening unit. Fig. 1 shows the rugged laptop, a solid-state drive cartridge and a secure card reader used after each clin...
Question 1 Report
Viren works for a mobile medical screening unit. Fig. 1 shows the rugged laptop, a solid-state drive cartridge and a secure card reader used after each clinic. The laptop software encrypts patient scan files before they are copied to the removable solid-state drive. At the end of the day, Viren takes the drive to the hospital, where authorised staff transfer the information to secure network storage. The unit travels on rough roads and cannot rely on an online connection at every location.
(a) Which feature of the solid-state drive makes it more suitable than a hard disk drive for use in the moving vehicle? State why this feature is useful. [3]
(b) State two ways in which the solid-state drive differs from an optical disc. Explain one difference in terms of access to data. [4]
(c) Explain three risks if the removable drive is lost before it reaches the hospital. Give three controls that reduce these risks. [6]
(d) Give a recommendation for the storage process used by the screening unit. Your answer should consider reliability, security, capacity and the lack of internet access. [8]
Answer Details
(a) The SSD has no moving parts because it uses solid-state memory. It resists shock and vibration, so it is less likely than a hard disk drive to be damaged or lose data while the vehicle travels. [3]
(b) An SSD uses electronic flash memory, whereas an optical disc uses laser-readable optical storage. An SSD is rewritable many times and has no moving parts, while a disc spins in an optical drive and may be write-once. The SSD accesses data electronically without spinning or seeking across a disc, so access is faster. [4]
(c) If lost, an unauthorised person might view patient data, copy/change/delete it, delay treatment, and cause a confidentiality or data-protection breach. Reduce these risks by encrypting files or the whole drive, requiring a strong password, PIN or biometric check, keeping it in a locked case with a handover record, making an additional encrypted backup, and restricting access to authorised staff. [6]
(d) Use an encrypted SSD for daily transfers because it is robust in travel and does not rely on internet access. Select enough capacity for a whole day's scans and check free capacity before each clinic. Use secure authentication and permissions. Retain an encrypted local copy until hospital transfer is confirmed, then copy to secure hospital network storage and make a separate backup. Verify copied files before deleting the source. Do not depend on cloud upload where mobile internet may be unavailable; securely erase the removable drive only after successful transfer and backup. [8]
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