System Analysis

You must produce a report on two systems used by the company, a CAD system that runs on a PC and a system used within a CNC controller. The company currently have two systems, Siemens and Fanuc and you can choose to report on either. For each system your report must include the following:

$1)$ an analysis of the hardware internal and external components associated with the application and their role in the application with a justification of their use,

$2)$ an analysis of the operating, utility and application software used in each case including a justification for their use,

$3)$ an analysis of the security threats and the systems and protection employed to guard against security threats in each case and a justification for the use of the systems employed,

$4)$ an overall evaluation comparing the suitability of the technology and protection measures used in each and an indication of any improvements that would enhance the systems.

The report should be well written in clear, technical language throughout..For Distinction standard, learners will give a detailed and comprehensive evaluation of

the two contrasting systems and will demonstrate how the systems work and why the

hardware components and software are suitable for the application. For example, an

office computer would include a keyboard, mouse and monitor to input and output

data, whereas a CNC machine includes a touch screen input$/$output device. The office

computer contains sufficient RAM $($typically gigabytes $($Gb$)$ or terabytes $($Tb$)),$ to run

several applications concurrently, whereas the CNC machine runs a restricted set of

instructions that requires less memory $($around $1$ megabyte$).$ The office computer needs

to load an operating system on start$-$up$,$ such as Microsoft Windows$,$ before running

applications, while the CNC machine has an embedded control system, such as Siemens

or Fanuc. Other factors will be considered, such as the processor operating speed,

instruction set, hard disk size, and external storage.

A detailed analysis of the security threats and a justification of why the security

measures proposed are suitable will be given. For example, an office computer is likely

to have access to personal and financial details, and make extensive use of the internet,

therefore measures are required to prevent physical sabotage, hacking and malicious

attacks, whereas the CNC machine will access to industrially sensitive design data, but

may have limited connectivity. Learners will suggest how the systems could be improved,

for example to make them more secure or to better perform their intended purpose

such as using firewalls and anti$-$virus software, and limiting user privileges.

Overall, the evidence, such as a report, will be easy to read and understand by a third

party who may or may not be an engineer. It will be logically structured and use correct

technical engineering terms.