ICASAS205A - Maintain IT system integrity

ICASAS205A
Maintain IT system integrity

This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to protect and secure stand-alone or client server environments.

Application

This unit applies to technical support personnel who are required to protect and secure equipment and software in a small or large office environment. Maintaining system integrity through backup and recovery procedures, virus security and implementing licensing and copyright requirements are key components of any information and communications technology (ICT) environment.

Prerequisites

Not applicable.

Elements and Performance Criteria

1. Carry out system backup	1.1 Create and review organisational backup schedule 1.2 Determine storage media and hardware for backups 1.3 Ensure backups are carried out according to the schedule 1.4 Label and store backups according to organisational standards 1.5 Maintain records of backups
2. Restore system backup	2.1 Determine and test restoration procedures according to organisational standards 2.2 Restore data under instruction from an appropriate person 2.3 Restore data according to organisational standards 2.4 Document and report on backup results
3. Maintain virus protection	3.1 Maintain and update virus protection software according to operating system in use 3.2 Carry out virus scanning and report detected viruses to appropriate person 3.3 Remove viruses and update scanning software
4. Follow copyright procedures and record software licences where appropriate	4.1 Identify licensed software used by the organisation 4.2 Maintain records of licence number and location 4.3 Monitor operation and use of licensed software where applicable 4.4 Check personal computers and networks to ensure software compliance 4.5 Report licensing anomalies related to software to an appropriate person

Required Skills

Required skills

communication skills to:

clarify instructions

communicate with peers and supervisors

present information

seek assistance and expert advice

literacy skills to:

interpret user manuals, technical documentation and help functions

read and write basic workplace documents

problem-solving skills to address common operational problems when carrying out system backup and recovery

technical skills to perform:

backup and recovery operations

basic diagnostic tests in system integrity.

Required knowledge

broad knowledge of:

organisational standards regarding:

backup and recovery procedures and operations

label and store backups

current industry-accepted hardware and software products

current viruses and protection methods

diagnostic tools

inventory procedures

maintenance procedures

storage and retrieval guidelines

system performance

software copyright and general public licence (GPL) or copyright responsibilities.

Evidence Required

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit	Evidence of the ability to: protect and secure stand-alone or networked client-server environments and operating systems according to system maintenance procedures undertake system and file backup, recovery delete and archive according to backup and recovery procedures check computers to ensure software compliance.
Context of and specific resources for assessment	Assessment must ensure access to: sites with a representative range of stand-alone and networked client-server environments and operating systems antivirus software technical records and documentation appropriate learning and assessment support when required. Where applicable, physical resources should include equipment modified for people with special needs.
Method of assessment	A range of assessment methods should be used to assess practical skills and knowledge. The following examples are appropriate for this unit: direct observation of candidate undertaking file backup and recovery direct observation of candidate performing virus scans and virus removal review of documented reports on backup results review organisational backup schedules review software licence records verbal or written questioning to assess candidate’s knowledge of maintaining and updating virus protection software and checking computers for software copyright compliance.
Guidance information for assessment	Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, where appropriate. Assessment processes and techniques must be culturally appropriate, and suitable to the communication skill level, language, literacy and numeracy capacity of the candidate and the work being performed. Indigenous people and other people from a non-English speaking background may need additional support. In cases where practical assessment is used it should be combined with targeted questioning to assess required knowledge.

Range Statement

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

Backup schedule may occur:	evenings weekdays weekends monthly yearly or a combination.
Storage media may include:	CD and DVD external storage devices, such as universal serial bus (USB) flash drive internal storage devices.
Hardware may include:	networked systems personal computers tools to perform tape backups.
Organisational standards may include:	backup procedures GPL and copyright licences reporting of non-compliant software restore and security procedures software licence documentation virus scanning and removal procedures.
Appropriate person may include:	authorised business representative client supervisor system administrator.
Virus protection may include:	freeware online open source proprietary software: BitDefender CA Vet Antivirus Kaspersky Antivirus McAfee VirusScan Panda Antivirus Symantec Norton Antivirus.
Operating system may include:	GNUs Not Unix (GNU) Linux Mac OS X Microsoft Windows Unix-like operating systems: HP-UX IBM AIX Silicon Graphics IRIX Sun Solaris.
Licensed software may include:	corporate licences educational licences freeware open source shareware licences single-user licences user-restrictive licences.
Software may include:	application: database internet browser spreadsheet word-processing commercial customised in-house programming: assembler compiler development tools system: computer security device drivers operating system.

Sectors

Systems administration and support

Employability Skills

This unit contains employability skills.

Licensing Information

No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of endorsement but users should confirm requirements with the relevant federal, state or territory authority.