Thursday, February 5, 2026

Izabelle's IS101 Introduction Blog Post

Hello, my name is Izabelle Vison. I'm a student at the College of Southern Nevada, pursuing my Associates in Business, specifically for Accounting. This blog post is for my IS101 - Information Systems class. I hope by completing this class I can learn about how to navigate through the internet in a professional way, how to use excel, and pass my exams.

My first impression of my IS101 class was that it was overwhelming. This class presents many challenges that I have not faced in my schooling so far. The assignments are very intricate, personally they take me very long to finish. It's difficult to juggle this class with the job that I have, where I have to go to and from work and home during the day. I've also never had a professor that interacts with the students outside of class as much, which is something to be grateful for, but for me it's very nerve-racking. Maybe it's nerve-racking because I'm not used to it, I'm not sure. The class is generous with beneficial information for your future. So, even though this class doesn't function in a way I prefer, I'm stepping out of my comfort zone and finishing it to the end.

The skill I chose from Labsim is 1.4.12 - Encryption and Authentication Facts. From this section in Labsim I learned that you can tell if a URL is secure or not by looking at the HTTPS. HTTP means Hypertext Transfer Protocol, which is a protocol used to transfer data between the browser and the website itself. When the website has just HTTP, that mean the data is non-encrypted plain text, you should never enter your information on websites that just have HTTP in the URL. By using TLS or Transport Layer Security, the HTTP is now visibly HTTPS which means Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure. This means that the data is now both transmitted and encrypted. Encryption means that the data gets scrambled for people who don't have the correct key code, so it can keep your user specific information safe. For WIFI, the most secure encryption right now is WPA2 (WIFI Protected Access 2), be sure not to use the previous WPA and to keep the firmware up to date. Authentication is the process in which a computer asks the user to prove they are who they claim to be. While usernames and passwords are the most common form of authentication, there is also bio authentication. Bio authentication includes facial scans, finger print readers, vocal recognition, and more. One of the most important things you can have is a good password, some key aspects to having a good password is having 12 or more mixed characters including capitalized letters, numbers, and symbols. Make sure to keep the accurate password in a safe place to access later, and memorize it the best you can.

I'm still exploring other schooling options to see what I am proficient in so I can be successful and comfortable in the future. I hope people are able to be patient with me while I figure out how I would like my future to go.

16 comments:

  1. "Growth happens outside the comfort zone" is something I have heard in my past.

    Thank you for recognizing my above-and-beyond interactions with students and my assignments as very intricate ^_^

    It takes courage to admit feeling nerve-racking!

    You will finish IS101-3003, Spring 2026 to the end, Izabelle :-)

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  2. Hi Izabelle, I get what you mean about this class being overwhelming. When I open Canvas and see how many assignments are lined up, it honestly makes me anxious. I also struggle with juggling classes and everything else going on during the day, so I understand that pressure. The structure of this class is different, and it takes time to adjust to it. I also did not really understand the difference between HTTP and HTTPS before this. For me, as long as there was an H in front, I thought it was just a website. I did not realize that the S part actually means the data is secure and encrypted. Learning that small detail made me more careful about where I enter my information.

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  3. I am on the same boat as you when it comes to being overwhelmed by the class since I haven't got back to school in a while. More power to you though, I hope you go past that feeling and push through the course with flying colors!

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  4. Hi Izabelle! Being able to use Excel listed as one of your goals for this class is so funny but also very true. I took one look of it prior to getting to that part in LabSim and I had to inhale really deeply to brace for 'impact'. It may look very complicated, but I'm sure you got this. Especially with your amazing mindset; being able to push yourself to be out of your comfort zone for growth and learning! :)

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  5. Hi Izabelle, I like how honest you were about your experience in the class. Balancing school and work can definitely make things more challenging, so it’s great that you’re still pushing yourself to finish the course even when it feels overwhelming. I also noticed that we both are pursuing an Associate in Business, which is nice to see. The topic you chose about encryption and authentication was also very useful. Understanding the difference between HTTP and HTTPS and how encryption protects our information is something everyone should know when using the internet today.

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  6. Hi Izabelle,

    It sounds like this class has been pretty challenging so far, especially while balancing school and work at the same time. I think a lot of us feel the same way about IS101 being a bit overwhelming at first. It’s good that you’re still pushing through it and stepping out of your comfort zone.

    The section you chose about encryption and authentication is really interesting and important. I didn’t realize before how much of a difference HTTPS makes when it comes to protecting our information online. Learning about strong passwords and different types of authentication like fingerprints or facial recognition is also really useful for staying safe online.

    Good luck with the rest of the class and with figuring out what path you want to take in the future!

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  7. Hey Izabelle!
    I remember as a kid I would manually type up the "https://www.." not realizing what it actually meant, now in the greater context I'm grateful to the way our information is safeguarded using these protocols.
    Looking forward to continuing to work with you!
    Best,
    Rafa

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  8. Hi Izabelle! I’m sure this class will help you a lot with studying accounting, especially Excel. I really like that you have the courage to step out of your comfort zone. I also find it interesting how encryption and authentication work, and how we can tell if a URL is secure or not.

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  9. Hi Izabelle. I liked your explanation of how user information is encrypted within a website with HTTPS. I agree that this class is intense. There are a lot of assignments to do. However, these assignments help prepare you for many careers, especially those in tech.

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  10. Izabelle, your pursuit of an accounting degree at CSN is characterized by a resilient willingness to step outside your comfort zone, particularly as you balance a demanding work schedule with the intricate requirements of IS101 to master critical security protocols like TLS encryption, WPA2 standards, and multi-factor authentication.

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  11. Izabelle, it's very respectable that although you feel at an odd position with this class you still find a way to manage your time and place the effort required to succeed. That quality in it's sense is very valuable as I feel in life to be put in uncomfortable positions can be the best way to grow. Best of luck on your future endeavors!

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  12. Hello Izabelle, your introduction was thoughtful and sincere. I like how clearly you described your goals and the challenges you’re working through in IS101.
    Your explanation of encryption and authentication was very interesting, and it shows how seriously you take learning new concepts.

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  13. Hi Izabelle, I thought the same thing too, I thought this professor would just send an email, Nah fam. He rings your line, and hits you up and wants to see you on Webex. If he didn't do this, who knows how the class would've went. But at the same time he's keeping us accountable, I used to struggle juggling school and work when I had other jobs, but with this job I've been holding the hours get cut for over half the year, so picture me only working 10 hours a week, I'm glad I've got family and more but I'm glad to hear you've got hours at work and sorry to hear that it almost seems like it'll slip away or that it's almost unmanageable, I hope you can see the light at the end and gain much more than I can think of for you. Your description of encryption is a great refresher after I gained my Sec+ certification, I kinda forgot about it but hope all is well!

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  14. Hi Izabelle, I'm also pursuing an Accounting career. Hearing how much work we'd get weekly made me worry about my performance in this class. So far it's been manageable, as long as I don't miss weeks of work, it's easy to catch up. Good luck with your college journey!

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  15. Hello Izabelle, I'm also pursuing an accounting degree. Have you thought about what specialty you would like to focus on? There are so many different routes. Balancing school and work has been a challenge for me as well but in the end the extra work will all be worth it.

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  16. Hi Izabelle, yes I agree this class can be nerve-racking, I personally struggle with social anxiety sometimes so I know how it feels. This class however is perfect for accounting, because I'm currently taking an accounting class right now and it pretty much uses Excel for everything. Best of luck and hope you achieve your goals throughout your journey!

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