Data Storage and Management Quiz

Which of the following is an example of data capture through manual entry?

• Barcode scanning at a store checkout

• Survey responses filled out by hand and entered into a system by an operator

• Sensors collecting temperature data from a smart thermostat

• Web scraping data from an online store's website

Answer explanation

The correct choice is 'Survey responses filled out by hand and entered into a system by an operator' because it involves manual data entry, unlike the other options which use automated methods.

What is the primary function of a database in data storage?

• Organizing and structuring data for efficient retrieval and use

• Capturing data directly from users through a user interface

• Backing up data to prevent data loss in case of a system failure

• Encrypting data for security purposes

Answer explanation

The primary function of a database is to organize and structure data, allowing for efficient retrieval and use. This ensures that users can access the information they need quickly and effectively.

Which type of database is designed for managing structured data in tables with rows and columns?

• Document Database

• Relational Database

• Graph Database

• Key-Value Store

Answer explanation

A Relational Database is specifically designed to manage structured data organized in tables with rows and columns, making it the correct choice for this question. Other options serve different data structures.

Which of the following best describes a Data Lake?

• A system used to store highly structured and cleaned data for reporting and analysis

• A repository used to store large volumes of raw data in its native format

• A database optimized for transaction processing (OLTP)

• A cloud service that handles data backup and disaster recovery

Answer explanation

A Data Lake is best described as a repository used to store large volumes of raw data in its native format, allowing for flexible data storage and analysis, unlike structured systems or databases optimized for transactions.

Which of the following is a key disadvantage of traditional on-premises data storage solutions?

• Lack of control over data security

• Higher costs associated with hardware, maintenance, and scaling

• Unreliable data access due to limited internet connectivity

• Slow response times for data retrieval

Answer explanation

A key disadvantage of traditional on-premises data storage is the higher costs associated with hardware, maintenance, and scaling, making it less economical compared to cloud solutions.

A Data Lake is typically used to store large amounts of raw, unstructured data.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

True. A Data Lake is designed to store vast amounts of raw, unstructured data, allowing for flexible data processing and analysis.

One advantage of distributed file systems is that they allow data to be stored across multiple machines, improving both scalability and fault tolerance.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

True. Distributed file systems enhance scalability by allowing data storage across multiple machines, and they improve fault tolerance by ensuring that data remains accessible even if some machines fail.

The primary goal of data capture is to ensure data is collected efficiently and accurately for future analysis.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

True. The primary goal of data capture is indeed to ensure that data is collected efficiently and accurately, which is essential for effective future analysis.

Transactional relational databases are optimized for analytical queries that involve large amounts of historical data.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

False is correct because transactional relational databases are designed for handling transactions efficiently, not for optimizing analytical queries on large historical data, which is the focus of data warehouses.

Cloud-based data storage is less secure than on-premises storage due to its remote nature.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

Cloud-based storage often employs advanced security measures, such as encryption and regular updates, making it potentially more secure than on-premises storage, which can be vulnerable to local threats. Therefore, the statement is false.