Security

This cyber security glossary explains the meaning of terms about different types of computer security threats as well as words about application security, access control, network intrusion detection, security awareness training and computer forensics.

Authentication and access control

Terms related to authentication, including security definitions about passwords and words and phrases about proving identity.

  • What is Pretty Good Privacy and how does it work?

    Pretty Good Privacy, or PGP, was a popular program used to encrypt and decrypt email over the internet, as well as authenticate messages with digital signatures and encrypted stored files.

  • What is cloud security?

    Cloud security, or cloud computing security, is a set of policies, practices and controls deployed to protect cloud-based data, applications and infrastructure from cyberattacks and cyberthreats.

  • What is Active Directory (AD)?

    Active Directory (AD) is Microsoft's proprietary directory service that enables network admins to manage users, permissions and their access to networking resources.

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Compliance, risk and governance

This glossary contains definitions related to compliance. Some definitions explain the meaning of words used in compliance regulations. Other definitions are related to the strategies that compliance officers use to mitigate risk and create a manageable compliance infrastructure.

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Network security

Terms related to network security, including definitions about intrusion prevention and words and phrases about VPNs and firewalls.

  • What is Pretty Good Privacy and how does it work?

    Pretty Good Privacy, or PGP, was a popular program used to encrypt and decrypt email over the internet, as well as authenticate messages with digital signatures and encrypted stored files.

  • What is cloud security?

    Cloud security, or cloud computing security, is a set of policies, practices and controls deployed to protect cloud-based data, applications and infrastructure from cyberattacks and cyberthreats.

  • What is an initialization vector?

    An initialization vector (IV) is an arbitrary number that can be used with a secret key for data encryption to foil cyber attacks.

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Security Admin

Terms related to security management, including definitions about intrusion detection systems (IDS) and words and phrases about asset management, security policies, security monitoring, authorization and authentication.

  • What is Pretty Good Privacy and how does it work?

    Pretty Good Privacy, or PGP, was a popular program used to encrypt and decrypt email over the internet, as well as authenticate messages with digital signatures and encrypted stored files.

  • What is cloud security?

    Cloud security, or cloud computing security, is a set of policies, practices and controls deployed to protect cloud-based data, applications and infrastructure from cyberattacks and cyberthreats.

  • What is a remote desktop and how does it work?

    A remote desktop is a program or an operating system feature that allows a user to connect to a computer in another location, see that computer's desktop and interact with it as if it were local.

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Threat management

Terms related to security threats, including definitions about anti-virus programs or firewalls and words and phrases about malware, viruses, Trojans and other security attacks.

  • What is Pretty Good Privacy and how does it work?

    Pretty Good Privacy, or PGP, was a popular program used to encrypt and decrypt email over the internet, as well as authenticate messages with digital signatures and encrypted stored files.

  • What is cloud security?

    Cloud security, or cloud computing security, is a set of policies, practices and controls deployed to protect cloud-based data, applications and infrastructure from cyberattacks and cyberthreats.

  • What is an executable file (EXE file)?

    An executable file (EXE file) is a computer file that contains an encoded sequence of instructions the system executes when the user clicks the file icon.

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