CWISA-103 CWNP Certified Wireless IoT Solutions Administrator(2025 Edition) Free Practice Exam Questions (2025 Updated)

Firmware Definition: Firmware is a type of software embedded in hardware devices. It provides low-level instructions that control the basic operations and initialization of the device.

ROM Storage: Firmware is typically stored in Read-Only Memory (ROM) or other forms of non-volatile memory, meaning it persists even when the device is powered off.

Functions:

Booting: Initiates the hardware and loads the operating system.

Hardware Control: Provides an interface between the hardware and the operating system.

BIOS: The firmware on PCs is often referred to as BIOS (Basic Input/Output System).

References

Firmware Explanation: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firmware

ROM: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Read-only_memory

Smart City Focus: Smart city initiatives mainly address infrastructure, environmental monitoring, and optimization of public services.

Ride-sharing Context: While self-driving technology could contribute to future smart city transportation, it's primarily a private-sector innovation, not a core municipal service like the other options.

Typical Smart City Applications:

Wi-Fi: Provides public internet access, enabling data collection

Pollution Monitoring: Tracks air/water quality for environmental management.

Demand-based Tolling: Adjusts pricing for traffic management.

Privilege Creep Defined: Gradual accumulation of excessive permissions over time, often due to users changing roles or access needs not being adjusted accordingly.

Other Terms:

Privilege Escalation: A malicious act of obtaining higher-than-authorized access.

Improper Delegation/Grouping: Faulty permission assignment, but not the gradual accretion aspect.

LoRa Modulation: LoRa (Long Range) is a proprietary wireless technology that utilizes Chirp Spread Spectrum (CSS) modulation.

CSS Characteristics:

Spread spectrum technique for resilience against interference.

Chirps (frequency sweeps) enable operation below the noise floor for long range.

References

LoRa: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LoRa

Chirp Spread Spectrum (CSS): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chirp_spread_spectrum

Security by Design: Security should be a fundamental consideration from the initial planning stages of any wireless implementation. This ensures:

Risk Assessment: Identifying potential vulnerabilities early on.

Security Controls: Choosing appropriate encryption, authentication, and access control mechanisms.

Integration: Security measures are seamlessly woven into the system's architecture, not retrofitted later, which can be less effective.

Smart Building Core Benefit: Smart building technologies primarily aim to optimize a building's operational efficiency through automation and data-driven insights.

Efficiency Examples:

Energy Management: Automated lighting and HVAC control based on occupancy and environmental conditions.

Maintenance: Predictive maintenance through IoT sensors reduces downtime.

Space Utilization: Optimization of space allocation based on real-time usage patterns.

References

Smart Buildings: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smart_building

Articles on Benefits of Smart Buildings: A quick search will yield many resources detailing these advantages.

IEEE 802.15.4: The IEEE 802.15.4 standard is a fundamental specification for low-rate wireless personal area networks (LR-WPANs). It serves as the basis for many wireless IoT protocols.

IEEE's Role: The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) is the organization responsible for creating, maintaining, and publishing the 802.15.4 standard.

References

IEEE 802.15.4 Standard: https://standards.ieee.org/standard/802_15_4-2020.html

IEEE Website: https://www.ieee.org/

Browser Ubiquity: JavaScript has a native runtime environment within almost every modern web browser, making it the 'built-in' scripting language for web-based interfaces.

Node-RED: This IoT flow-based programming tool specifically uses JavaScript for its logic and automation functions.

Other Languages:

PHP: Primarily server-side for web applications

Python: Versatile language, used in some back-end IoT functions but not natively in browsers

R: Statistical and data analysis, not typically embedded in wireless solutions

Legacy Support: The primary reason to continue using older wireless technologies is the need to connect with devices that don't support newer standards (e.g., old sensors or equipment).

Other Reasons (Not as Strong):

Cost: Replacing legacy devices can be expensive.

Reliability: Some legacy technologies might be well-proven in specific settings.

RFID for Livestock: Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags are the most widely used technology for livestock tracking and individual identification on large farms.

Benefits:

Unique ID: Each RFID tag has a unique code.

Data Storage: Some tags store information about the animal.

Durability: Tags withstand outdoor conditions.

Automated Reading: Tags can be scanned quickly.

References

RFID (General): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radio-frequency_identification

Customization and Integrations: The presence of APIs often suggests a system is integrated with other platforms or has custom-built elements.

Understanding Dependencies: Documenting used APIs helps clarify how different parts of the system interact and where potential issues might arise.

Troubleshooting Efficiency: Detailed API documentation aids in resolving problems, allowing staff to assess interconnected systems effectively.

Knowledge transfer: Future support teams won't have to reverse-engineer the system; documentation ensures smooth handover and understanding.

Signal Strength and Data Rate: In wireless links, weaker signal strength often directly correlates to reduced transmission speeds. Modern wireless technologies use adaptive modulation and coding, sacrificing speed for reliability when signals become weaker.

Noise and Interference: While these can impact performance, they don't inherently decrease simply because signal strength drops.

Latency: Latency can be affected by poor signal, but its primary drivers are distance and network congestion.

JSON Fundamentals: JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) is a text-based format for representing data in a structured, yet flexible way. Its key features are:

Key-Value Pairs: Information is organized as "key":"value" pairs, making it human-readable.

Plaintext: JSON is not encrypted, ensuring easy parsing across different systems.

JSON vs. Other Options

Not Encrypted: Security must be handled at a higher layer if needed.

Not Optimized for Databases: While JSON can be stored in databases, it's designed for data exchange, not database structure.

Not Inherently Compressed: Compression can be used with JSON, but it's not a core feature.

HTTP's Popularity: HTTP is the foundation of the web, making it widely known and supported. Developers have extensive familiarity with its concepts (methods, headers, status codes, etc.).

REST APIs and Webhooks: These often leverage HTTP for communication, building upon existing knowledge and tools.

Tradeoffs:

Security: HTTP itself is not inherently secure; HTTPS or additional layers address this.

Speed: Protocols optimized for IoT may have lower overhead, but HTTP's simplicity often outweighs minor performance differences.

Overlay vs. Integrated Monitoring:

Overlay: A separate monitoring system independent of the primary wireless infrastructure.

Integrated: Monitoring functions built into wireless access points or controllers.

Overlay Advantage: Since the overlay system is separate, it doesn't add overhead or complexity to the core network, avoiding potential disruption of wireless services.

Coexistence Priority: Frequency coordination is the most critical aspect in ensuring that multiple wireless solutions function without significant interference.

Impact of Interference: Uncoordinated frequencies lead to:

Signal degradation: Reduced network performance and reliability.

Data errors and retransmissions: Inefficient operation and higher battery drain on devices.

Purpose of POC: A proof-of-concept (POC) validates the feasibility and potential value of a solution within its intended operational environment.

Scaling: POCs are small-scale, allowing for quicker and less costly testing before committing to a full-scale deployment.

Real-world Evaluation: Unlike manufacturer demos, a POC exposes the system to the unique variables (e.g., interference, usage patterns) present in the user's specific setting.

Most Vulnerable In Transit: Sensitive data (passwords, health information, etc.) is most susceptible to interception while being sent over a wireless network. Encryption is crucial at this stage.

Encryption at Rest and in Memory: While also important, these are often handled with different cryptographic techniques depending on the system.

Requirements Drive Decisions: The decision between wired or wireless must align with the solution's overall purpose, performance targets, and operational constraints.

Key Considerations:

Reliability: Does the application require guaranteed connectivity? (Wired may be favored).

Installation Cost: Can extensive cabling be done, or is it prohibitively expensive? (Wireless may be favored).

Flexibility and Scalability: Is node placement likely to change in the future? (Wireless may be favored).

Other Factors are Important, But Secondary: Distance, PoE availability, specific applications all matter, but they are assessed within the context of the overarching business needs.