In evaluating a proposed IT project, which term is used to estimate the financial viability and benefits?

• A. Cost Analysis
• B. Cryptography
• C. Copyright
• D. Cyberwarfare

Answer: (A)

Estimating financial viability and benefits for an IT project centers on weighing costs against expected benefits over the project's life. Cost analysis is the process that collects all relevant costs (initial investment, ongoing operations, maintenance) and all expected benefits (savings, productivity gains, revenue increases) and compares them, often using metrics like ROI or net present value to determine whether proceeding makes financial sense. This directly targets whether the project yields value relative to its cost, which is why it’s the best fit.

Cryptography, meanwhile, deals with protecting information through encryption and related techniques, not evaluating financial viability. Copyright concerns the legal rights to use, modify, and distribute content, not financial analysis. Cyberwarfare refers to strategic or offensive cyber operations, not evaluating a project’s financial value.