Page 20 - ITGC_Audit Guides

Application software is use-case specific software and usually performs a single function and
includes word processing programs, spreadsheets, and graphics processing software.

Storage and Databases
Repositories of an organization’s business information frequently managed by specialized
software allow users on the network to access, and where necessary, amend and append
enterprise information.

Network
A network is two or more IT hardware components connected for the purposes of sharing
information.
Servers

A server is a computer program or device that provides functionality for other programs or
devices, called clients. Different types of servers include web servers, database servers, file
servers, print servers, and application servers, among others. Also commonly referred to as a
server is the actual hardware (physical computer), which is generally a powerful computer with
the capabilities of processing large amounts of data and often dedicated to a specific business
function, such as the organization’s email, files, applications, and/or website. In the general
business context, a server may describe the software or the hardware, but more likely it describes
the combination of the two as both are needed to provide functionality.

Server Operating Systems
The most common servers today either run Microsoft’s proprietary Windows Operating System,
IBM AS/400, or Linux, a modifiable open source operating system. Figure 2 describes various
characteristics of the two operating systems.

Figure 2: Comparison of Windows and Linux Operating Systems
Windows OS Linux OS

Licensing All proprietary Windows operating systems Some Linux-based operating
instances are required to be licensed. systems sold by vendors may have
an associated license fee.
User Text user interfaces (TUI) and graphical user Text user interfaces (TUI) and
experience interfaces (GUI). graphical user interfaces (GUI).
Source code Microsoft Windows is a proprietary operating The Linux operating system is built
access system. This arrangement gives Microsoft a using open source technologies.
competitive advantage in the market. This means the source code can be
The general public does not have access to the inspected, studied, modified,
source code of the Microsoft operating system. enhanced, and distributed by
anyone.

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