New
New
Year 11
AQA

The impact of network failure

I can explain the effects of network failure and describe methods used to reduce its impact.

New
New
Year 11
AQA

The impact of network failure

I can explain the effects of network failure and describe methods used to reduce its impact.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Network failure causes data loss, communication issues, financial loss and damages reputation.
  2. Redundancy, maintenance and disaster recovery reduce the impact of network failure.

Keywords

  • Resilience - the ability of a network to recover quickly from problems like failures or attacks, so services can continue with little or no disruption

  • Redundancy - having backup parts such as servers or power supplies in a network so it can keep working even if something breaks

Common misconception

Network failure just means the internet stops working for a bit; it’s annoying but not serious.

Network failure can lead to data loss, financial damage and safety risks in sectors like healthcare. It is more than just an inconvenience and can impact lives and businesses.


To help you plan your year 11 computer science lesson on: The impact of network failure, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Use relatable examples, such as losing access to cloud-stored homework, before scaling up to real-world cases like hospitals or online retailers.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Prior knowledge starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which factor is most likely to slow down a network when too many devices are connected?

Correct Answer: bandwidth

Q2.
What does latency measure in a network?

number of users
file size
Correct answer: delay in data transfer
device temperature

Q3.
If a file is very large, what will happen to the transmission time compared to a transmitting small file?

Correct answer: It will increase.
It will decrease.
It will stay the same.

Q4.
Which device is responsible for choosing the best route for data in a network?

Correct Answer: router

Q5.
Complete the formula for calculating how long it takes to transmit a file: time = size of file (in bits) ÷ (in bits per second).

Correct Answer: network speed

Q6.
Match each network issue to its effect:

Correct Answer:high latency,causes delays in communication

causes delays in communication

Correct Answer:low bandwidth,slows down data movement

slows down data movement

Correct Answer:too many devices,leads to congestion

leads to congestion

Correct Answer:efficient routing,reduces bottlenecks

reduces bottlenecks

Assessment exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What is a possible consequence of network failure in a hospital?

operating theatres are opened
more visitors
cheaper medicine
Correct answer: delayed patient care

Q2.
Which term describes a network’s ability to recover quickly from problems?

redundancy
Correct answer: resilience
bandwidth
congestion

Q3.
What is the term for having backup parts or systems in a network to keep it running if something fails?

Correct Answer: redundancy

Q4.
Match each term to its description:

Correct Answer:resilience,ability to recover quickly from issues

ability to recover quickly from issues

Correct Answer:redundancy,having backups to keep services running

having backups to keep services running

Correct Answer:maintenance,regular checks to prevent problems

regular checks to prevent problems

Correct Answer:disaster recovery,plan to restore services after a major problem

plan to restore services after a major problem

Q5.
Which of the following best explains why network failure is more serious than just being inconvenient?

It only affects internet speed.
It encourages people to work from home.
It leads to higher job satisfaction.
Correct answer: It can cause data loss and financial damage.

Q6.
Put these actions in order for responding to a network failure:

1 - detect the problem
2 - use backup systems
3 - restore normal service
4 - review and improve processes