IT management

IT career paths

• What is a cloud architect and how do you become one?

  A cloud architect is an IT professional who is responsible for overseeing a company's cloud computing strategy.

• What is a cloud engineer? Key skills and how to become one

  A cloud engineer is an IT professional responsible for any technological duties associated with cloud computing, including design, planning, management, maintenance and support.

• What is C-level (C-suite)?

  C-level, also called the C-suite, is a term used to describe high-ranking executive titles in an organization.

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 cloud application performance management (cloud APM)?

  Cloud application performance management (cloud APM) is the process of monitoring resources that support software application performance in public cloud, private cloud and hybrid cloud environments. It takes actions to resolve issues and maintain optimal performance.

• What is FinOps?

  FinOps -- a combination of the terms finance and DevOps -- is a framework for managing operational costs across an organization, often in conjunction with cloud computing.

• What is an organizational goal?

  Organizational goals are strategic objectives that a company's management establishes to outline expected outcomes and guide employees' efforts toward the achievement of those outcomes.

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 is a personal area network (PAN)?

  A personal area network (PAN) is a small network that interconnects technology devices within a limited range of just a few meters.

• What is Google Glass?

  Google Glass was a wearable, voice and motion-controlled Android device that resembled a pair of eyeglasses and displayed information directly in the user's field of vision. It was discontinued in March 2023.

• What is voice recognition and how does it work?

  Voice or speaker recognition is the ability of a machine or program to receive and interpret dictation or to understand and perform spoken commands.

Project management

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

• What is an organizational goal?

  Organizational goals are strategic objectives that a company's management establishes to outline expected outcomes and guide employees' efforts toward the achievement of those outcomes.

• What is project planning?

  Project planning is a project management discipline that addresses how to complete a project in a certain time frame, usually with clearly defined stages, milestones and designated resources.

• What is ROI? How to calculate return on investment

  Return on investment (ROI) is a crucial financial metric investors and businesses use to evaluate an investment's efficiency or compare the efficiencies of several different investments.

Technical support

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

• What is machine code (machine language)?

  Machine code, also known as ‘machine language’ or ‘native code,’ is the elemental language of computers. It is read by the computer’s central processing unit (CPU), is composed of digital binary numbers and looks like a very long sequence of zeros and ones.

• What is a cloud architect and how do you become one?

  A cloud architect is an IT professional who is responsible for overseeing a company's cloud computing strategy.

• What is a unique identifier (UID)?

  A unique identifier (UID) is a numeric or alphanumeric string that is associated with a single entity within a given system.