IT management

IT career paths

• What is an automation engineer and how do you become one?

  An automation engineer designs and develops autonomous systems to manage repetitive tasks and improve efficiency and productivity.

• What is emotional intelligence (EI)?

  Emotional intelligence (EI) is the area of cognitive ability that facilitates interpersonal behavior.

• What is an IT project manager?

  An IT project manager is a professional charged with overseeing the process of planning, executing and delegating responsibilities around an organization's information technology (IT) pursuits and goals.

IT Operations

Terms related to the processes and services implemented and managed by an organization’s information technology (IT) department. Topics covered include systems management, configuration management, API management and DevOps, as well as real-time performance monitoring and management.

• What is tool sprawl? Explaining how IT teams can avoid it

  Tool sprawl is the accumulation of many IT tools by an organization, leading to inefficiency and data siloing.

• What is quantum in physics and computing?

  A quantum, the singular form of quanta, is the smallest discrete unit of any physical entity. For example, a quantum of light is a photon, and a quantum of electricity is an electron.

• What is a domain controller?

  A domain controller is a server that processes requests for authentication from users and computers within a computer domain.

Personal computing

Terms related to personal computers, including definitions about computers sold as consumer products and words and phrases about laptops, tablets and smartphones.

• What are port numbers and how do they work?

  A port number is a way to identify a specific process to which an internet or other network message is to be forwarded when it arrives at a server.

• What is IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol)?

  IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol) is a standard retrieval protocol for receiving email.

• What is cyberstalking and how to prevent it?

  Cyberstalking is a crime in which someone harasses or stalks a victim using electronic or digital means, such as social media, email, instant messaging (IM) or messages posted to a discussion group or forum.

Project management

Terms related to project management, including definitions about project management methodologies and tools.

• What is a think tank?

  A think tank is an organization that gathers a group of interdisciplinary scholars to perform research around particular policies, issues or ideas.

• What is root cause analysis?

  Root cause analysis (RCA) is a method for understanding the underlying cause of an observed or experienced incident.

• What is cost management? Definition, steps and benefits

  Cost management is the process of planning and controlling a business budget. A good cost management system helps an organization estimate and allocate its budget.

Technical support

Terms related to computer fundamentals, including computer hardware definitions and words and phrases about software, operating systems, peripherals and troubleshooting.

• What is a disaster recovery plan (DRP)?

  A disaster recovery plan (DRP) is a documented, structured approach that describes how an organization can quickly resume operations after an unplanned incident.

• What is computer memory and what are the different types?

  Memory is the electronic holding place for the instructions and data a computer needs to reach quickly. It's where information is stored for immediate use.

• What is root cause analysis?

  Root cause analysis (RCA) is a method for understanding the underlying cause of an observed or experienced incident.