Chapter 10: Problem 12
Create a list of faults or a fault tree for an automatic teller machine. Include faults dealing with hardware component failure, communications failure, software failure, running out of supplies, user errors, and security attacks. How would you use tactics to accommodate these faults?
Short Answer
Expert verified
List faults in hardware, communications, software, supplies, user errors, and security, then use redundancy, monitoring, updates, and security measures to accommodate them.
Step by step solution
01
Identify Hardware Component Failures
List possible hardware component failures, such as screen failure, card reader failure, cash dispenser jam, receipt printer failure, power supply issues, and network interface failure.
02
Identify Communications Failures
Consider cases where the ATM fails to communicate with the bank's server. Possible issues include network outages, server downtimes, and corrupted data transmissions.
03
Identify Software Failures
List software-related faults, such as system crashes, bugs in transaction processing software, unexpected reboots, and issues in user interface software.
04
Running Out of Supplies
Identify cases where the ATM runs out of essential materials like cash, receipt paper, or ink for printing receipts.
05
Identify User Errors
Consider common user errors, such as incorrect PIN entry, forgotten cards, incorrect transaction amounts, and misinterpreted instructions.
06
Identify Security Attacks
List potential security attacks, including skimming devices, phishing, network attacks, malware infections, and physical tampering with the ATM.
07
Accommodate Hardware Faults with Tactics
Use redundant hardware components, regular maintenance schedules, quick-replacement modules, and real-time monitoring systems to handle hardware component failures.
08
Accommodate Communications Faults with Tactics
Utilize multiple communication channels, implement robust error-checking algorithms, and establish fallback protocols to handle server communication failures.
09
Accommodate Software Faults with Tactics
Deploy regular software updates, use fail-safe mechanisms, conduct thorough testing, and employ automated recovery processes for software failures.
10
Accommodate Running Out of Supplies with Tactics
Set up real-time supply level monitoring, automated notifications for replenishment, and implement backup supplies to prevent running out of essential materials.
11
Accommodate User Errors with Tactics
Provide clear instructions on-screen, implement confirmation steps for critical transactions, use user-friendly interfaces, and provide customer support through intercoms.
12
Accommodate Security Attacks with Tactics
Employ encryption for data transmissions, install security cameras, use tamper-evident seals, implement intrusion detection systems, and regularly update security software.
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Hardware Component Failure
Hardware component failure refers to malfunctions that occur in the physical parts of an ATM. This can include:
• Screen failure, where the display might go blank or show incorrect information.
• Card reader failures that can result in cards not being read or getting stuck.
• Cash dispenser jams, which prevent money from being dispensed.
• Receipt printer issues, causing no receipts to be printed.
• Power supply problems leading to the ATM shutting down.
• Network interface failures, disrupting communications.
To manage these faults, you can use several tactics:
• Redundant hardware components as backups.
• Regular maintenance schedules to inspect and replace faulty parts.
• Quick-replacement modules that can be swapped out easily.
• Real-time monitoring systems to detect faults early and alert maintenance personnel.
• Screen failure, where the display might go blank or show incorrect information.
• Card reader failures that can result in cards not being read or getting stuck.
• Cash dispenser jams, which prevent money from being dispensed.
• Receipt printer issues, causing no receipts to be printed.
• Power supply problems leading to the ATM shutting down.
• Network interface failures, disrupting communications.
To manage these faults, you can use several tactics:
• Redundant hardware components as backups.
• Regular maintenance schedules to inspect and replace faulty parts.
• Quick-replacement modules that can be swapped out easily.
• Real-time monitoring systems to detect faults early and alert maintenance personnel.
Communications Failure
Communication failures occur when the ATM cannot interact with the bank's server. This situation might arise from:
• Network outages that completely cut off connections.
• Server downtimes when the bank's server is unavailable.
• Corrupted data transmissions that interfere with transaction processing.
To handle these issues, some useful tactics are:
• Using multiple communication channels like wired, wireless, and satellite links.
• Implementing robust error-checking algorithms to ensure data integrity.
• Establishing fallback protocols that switch to backup systems if the primary ones fail.
By incorporating these tactics, ATMs can maintain operations during communication disruptions and minimize service interruptions.
• Network outages that completely cut off connections.
• Server downtimes when the bank's server is unavailable.
• Corrupted data transmissions that interfere with transaction processing.
To handle these issues, some useful tactics are:
• Using multiple communication channels like wired, wireless, and satellite links.
• Implementing robust error-checking algorithms to ensure data integrity.
• Establishing fallback protocols that switch to backup systems if the primary ones fail.
By incorporating these tactics, ATMs can maintain operations during communication disruptions and minimize service interruptions.
Software Failure
Software failures in ATMs can lead to various operational issues. Common software problems include:
• System crashes due to bugs or overload.
• Issues in transaction processing software causing incorrect transactions.
• Unexpected reboots that interrupt services.
• Problems in user interface software making the ATM difficult to use.
To mitigate these faults, consider these tactics:
• Regular software updates to fix bugs and improve performance.
• Fail-safe mechanisms that revert to a stable state in case of failure.
• Thorough testing before deployment to catch and rectify potential issues.
• Automated recovery processes to restart services swiftly after a crash.
These solutions help ensure consistent and reliable ATM software operations.
• System crashes due to bugs or overload.
• Issues in transaction processing software causing incorrect transactions.
• Unexpected reboots that interrupt services.
• Problems in user interface software making the ATM difficult to use.
To mitigate these faults, consider these tactics:
• Regular software updates to fix bugs and improve performance.
• Fail-safe mechanisms that revert to a stable state in case of failure.
• Thorough testing before deployment to catch and rectify potential issues.
• Automated recovery processes to restart services swiftly after a crash.
These solutions help ensure consistent and reliable ATM software operations.
User Errors
User errors are mistakes made by ATM users. Common user errors include:
• Incorrect PIN entry, leading to transaction denials.
• Forgotten cards left in the ATM.
• Entering incorrect transaction amounts.
• Misinterpreted instructions confusing the user.
Mitigating these errors involves tactics like:
• Providing clear, concise on-screen instructions.
• Implementing confirmation steps for critical transactions to avoid mistakes.
• Using a user-friendly interface that is easy to navigate.
• Offering customer support via intercoms for immediate assistance.
These approaches reduce errors and enhance the user experience.
• Incorrect PIN entry, leading to transaction denials.
• Forgotten cards left in the ATM.
• Entering incorrect transaction amounts.
• Misinterpreted instructions confusing the user.
Mitigating these errors involves tactics like:
• Providing clear, concise on-screen instructions.
• Implementing confirmation steps for critical transactions to avoid mistakes.
• Using a user-friendly interface that is easy to navigate.
• Offering customer support via intercoms for immediate assistance.
These approaches reduce errors and enhance the user experience.
Security Attacks
ATMs are targets for various security attacks. Potential threats include:
• Skimming devices that steal card information.
• Phishing attacks that trick users into providing sensitive information.
• Network attacks that compromise data integrity.
• Malware infections causing unauthorized operations.
• Physical tampering with the ATM to gain access.
Effective tactics against these threats include:
• Employing encryption to secure data transmissions.
• Installing security cameras to monitor activities.
• Using tamper-evident seals that show if the ATM has been interfered with.
• Implementing intrusion detection systems to identify and respond to threats.
• Regularly updating security software to guard against new threats.
These measures enhance transaction security and protect user information.
• Skimming devices that steal card information.
• Phishing attacks that trick users into providing sensitive information.
• Network attacks that compromise data integrity.
• Malware infections causing unauthorized operations.
• Physical tampering with the ATM to gain access.
Effective tactics against these threats include:
• Employing encryption to secure data transmissions.
• Installing security cameras to monitor activities.
• Using tamper-evident seals that show if the ATM has been interfered with.
• Implementing intrusion detection systems to identify and respond to threats.
• Regularly updating security software to guard against new threats.
These measures enhance transaction security and protect user information.
Redundancy Tactics
Redundancy tactics involve creating backup systems to ensure continued ATM operations. Key tactics include:
• Utilizing redundant hardware components to replace faulty ones seamlessly.
• Setting up multiple communication channels to maintain connectivity even if one fails.
• Implementing fail-over software that switches to a backup system in case of a crash.
• Maintaining backup supplies for essentials like cash and receipt paper to avoid running out.
By using redundancy tactics, ATM systems can achieve high reliability and minimize downtime, ensuring they remain operational under various fault conditions.
• Utilizing redundant hardware components to replace faulty ones seamlessly.
• Setting up multiple communication channels to maintain connectivity even if one fails.
• Implementing fail-over software that switches to a backup system in case of a crash.
• Maintaining backup supplies for essentials like cash and receipt paper to avoid running out.
By using redundancy tactics, ATM systems can achieve high reliability and minimize downtime, ensuring they remain operational under various fault conditions.