Information Security & Assurance

An Introduction to Information Systems

Basic Questions

• What is information?

• What is a system?

• What is an information system?

• What is it good for?

Data vs. Information

DATA

Raw Facts

•Hours Worked

•Pay Scale

•Overtime def

•Overtime Scale

INFO

Useful, valuable Facts:

•Total PaycheckApplying

Knowledge Base

Characteristics of Valuable Information

•Availability•Purpose •Mode or Format•Decay •Rate•Frequency•Accurate•Complete

•Economical•Flexible•Reliable•Relevant•Simple•Timely•Verifiable•Accessible•Secure

System

• A set of elements or components that interact to accomplish goals

Types of Systems

• We can distinguish system on the basis of the following parameters:– Elements– Interactive Behaviors– Degree of Human Intervention – Working / Output

Classification Chart Systems

Types of Systems

• According to Elements – Abstract Systems

• Also known as conceptual system or Model• An orderly arrangements of interdependent ideas or

constructs

– Physical Systems • Set of tangible elements which operate together to

accomplish an objectives

Examples of Physical Systems

Types of Systems

• According to Interactive Behavior – Open Systems

• A system that interacts freely with its environment by taking input and returning output is termed as ‘Open System’

– Closed Systems• A system that does not interact with the

environment nor changes with the change of environment is termed as ‘Close System’

Types of Systems

• According to the degree of Human Intervention – Manual Systems

• Where data collection, manipulation, maintenance and final reporting are carried out absolutely by human efforts

– Automated Systems• Where computers or microprocessors are used to carry

out all the tasks mentioned above.

Types of Systems

• According to working / Output – Deterministic System

• Operates in a predictable manner wherein the interaction among the parts is known with certainly.

– Probabilistic System• Can be described in terms of probable behavior, but

a certain degree of errors is always attached to the prediction of what the system will do

A general model of the system

Information System (IS)

• Information System– A set of interrelated elements or components

that • collect (input), • manipulate (process), and • disseminate (output) data and information • and provide a feedback mechanism to meet an objective.

Information System Components

Information System Components

Boundary

Input

Input: the activity of gathering and capturing raw data

Processing: converting or transforming data into useful outputs

Output

Output: production of useful information: documents and reports

Feedback

Feedback: output that is used to make changes to input or processing

Computer-Based Information Systems

CBIS: Composed of hardware, software, databases, telecommunications, people, and procedures that are configured to collect, manipulate, store, and process data into information.

CBIS Components

• Hardware– Computer equipment used to perform

input, processing, and output activities

• Software – Computer programs that govern the

operation of the computer

• Database– Organized collection of facts and

information

CBIS Components

• Telecommunications– Electronic transmission of signals for

communications; enables organizations to link computer systems into effective networks.

Network Connected computers and computer

equipment that enable electronic communications.

CBIS Components

Internet The world’s largest telecommunications

network consisting of thousands of interconnected networks

CBIS Components

• People– The most important elements in most CBIS

• Procedures– Strategies, policies, methods, and rules for

using CBIS (Process).

Types of IS at different Level

Types of IS at different Level

•Operation Support Systems•Transaction Processing System•Management Information Systems•Enterprise Resource Planning Systems

MIS: “An integrated user-machine system designed for providing information to support operational control, management control and decision making functions in an organization”.

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) is one of the latest high-end solut ions that seek to streamline and integrate operation processes and information flows in the company tosynergize the five major resources of an organization namely men, money, machine, materials and market.

Types of IS at different Level

•Management Support Systems•Decision Support System•Executive Information Systems•Expert Systems

Types of IS at different Level

TPS

MIS

DSS

ES

Information Systems

• Information Systems assist us in

1. Collecting and storing pertinent information about our business or organization.

2. Analyzing that information in order to judge the state of our business or organization.

3. Making difficult decisions regarding our business or organization.

4. Automating the knowledge and skills of experts.

The Formal Information Systems

• TPS: Transaction Processing System• MIS: Management Information System• DSS: Decision Support System• ES: Expert System– An artificial intelligence (AI) discipline.

Business Information Systems

• Transaction– Any business related exchange.

• Transaction processing system

–A CBIS used to record completed business transactions.

–Well suited for for basic business tasks such as customer billing

A Payroll Transaction Processing System

Management Information System

– A CBIS used to provide routine information to managers and decision makers.

Management Information System (MIS)(Help do things right)

Report on number of components produced

Report on number of components that need to be sold

Report on budget

Decision Support Systems

• CBIS used to support problem-specific decision making.

• Well suited to complex problems.

Essential DSS Elements

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Expert Systems

• Artificial Intelligence (AI)– A field that involves computer systems taking on

the characteristics of human intelligence• Expert Systems (ES)– Give the computer the ability to make

suggestions and act like an expert in a particular field.

– Expert’s knowledge and skill is embedded in system.

The Major Elements of Artificial Intelligence

Organizing the IT FunctionOrganizing the IT Function

• Hardware

• Software

• Data storage

• Networks

The information systems department is responsible for maintaining:

Information Technology ServicesInformation Technology Services

IncludesIncludes SpecialistsSpecialists::

• Programmers: Highly trained, writers of the ighly trained, writers of the software instructions for computerssoftware instructions for computers

• Systems analysts: Translate business problems Translate business problems into solutions, act as liaisons between the into solutions, act as liaisons between the information systems department and rest of the information systems department and rest of the organizationorganization

• Information system managers: Leaders of various Leaders of various specialistsspecialists

Information Technology ServicesInformation Technology Services

• Chief Information Officer (CIO): Senior manager in Senior manager in charge of information charge of information systemssystems function in the firm function in the firm

• End users: Department representatives outside the Department representatives outside the information system department for whom information system department for whom applications are developedapplications are developed

Includes Specialists: (Continued)Includes Specialists: (Continued)

Information Technology ServicesInformation Technology Services