Information Systems Cheat Sheet
The core ideas of Information Systems distilled into a single, scannable reference — perfect for review or quick lookup.
Quick Reference
Database Management System (DBMS)
Software that provides a systematic way to create, retrieve, update, and manage data in databases. A DBMS serves as an interface between end-users and the database, ensuring data integrity, security, and efficient access.
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)
An integrated software platform that unifies core business processes such as finance, human resources, manufacturing, supply chain, and customer relationship management into a single system with a shared database.
Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC)
A structured methodology for planning, creating, testing, and deploying information systems. The SDLC provides a series of phases including planning, analysis, design, implementation, and maintenance that guide the development process.
Business Intelligence (BI)
Technologies, practices, and strategies for collecting, integrating, analyzing, and presenting business data to support better decision-making. BI transforms raw data into meaningful insights through reports, dashboards, and data visualizations.
IT Governance
The framework of policies, processes, and organizational structures that ensure an organization's IT investments support its business objectives, manage risks, and comply with regulations.
Data Warehousing
The process of collecting and managing data from varied sources to provide meaningful business insights. A data warehouse is a centralized repository designed for query and analysis rather than transaction processing.
Cloud Computing
The delivery of computing services including servers, storage, databases, networking, software, and analytics over the internet ('the cloud'), offering flexible resources, rapid innovation, and economies of scale.
Information Security
The practice of protecting information and information systems from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification, or destruction. It encompasses confidentiality, integrity, and availability (the CIA triad).
Systems Integration
The process of linking together different computing systems and software applications physically or functionally to act as a coordinated whole. Integration enables data flow and process coordination across disparate systems.
Decision Support System (DSS)
An interactive computer-based system that supports business or organizational decision-making by analyzing large volumes of data. A DSS helps managers make semi-structured and unstructured decisions by providing models, data analysis, and what-if scenarios.
Key Terms at a Glance
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