In your last module, you learned all about hardware. You studied how motherboards, hard disks, power supplies and other components work together to create a basic computer. However, a computer is a lot more than a series of wires and circuits. In order for a computer to function, it needs to communicate with its user and be told what to do. In this module, you will learn all about operating systems and other types of software that make it possible for a user to communicate with a computer and give it commands that make it a fully functional machine. This module will prepare you for your final module, in which students are asked to use software to design a network security system.

In your last module, you learned about software, how to communicate with a computer, and give it demands that transform it into a fully functional productivity tool. In this course's final module, you will learn how computers can communicate with each other on the internet. You will learn about basic network addressing, the domain system, and fundamental internet protocols. You will also learn some basic history about the creation of the internet. Upon completion of this module, you will have the foundational knowledge of computing and information systems needed to proceed to the next course in this specialization.