IT management
Learn about the core elements of IT management, including operations, tech support and personal computing, as well as terms related to IT careers, certifications and project management.

Certifications
This glossary contains definitions related to IT Certifications.
-
cloud architect
A cloud architect is an IT professional who is responsible for overseeing a company's cloud computing strategy.
-
Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)
Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) is a certification and globally recognized standard for appraising an IT auditor's knowledge, expertise and skill in assessing vulnerabilities and instituting IT controls in an enterprise environment.
-
Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)
Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) is an advanced certification that indicates that an individual possesses the knowledge and experience required to develop and manage an enterprise information security (infosec) program.
IT career paths
-
chief transformation officer (CTO)
Chief transformation officer is an executive role, often in the C-suite, that focuses on bringing about change as well as growth in revenue and profit to an organization.
-
information technology (IT) director
An information technology (IT) director is the person in charge of technology within an organization. IT directors manage technology resources and employees to ensure that IT operations run smoothly.
-
nonprofit organization (NPO)
A nonprofit organization (NPO) is one that is not driven by profit but by dedication to a given cause that is the target of all income beyond what it takes to run the 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.
-
complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS)
A complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) is the semiconductor technology used in most of today's integrated circuits, also known as chips or microchips.
-
real user monitoring (RUM)
Real user monitoring (RUM) is a technology used by developers and network operators to gain real-world observability into web performance and service availability.
-
template
A template is a form, mold or pattern used as a guide to make something.
Personal computing
Terms related to personal computers, including definitions about computers sold as consumer products and words and phrases about laptops, tablets and smartphones.
-
Consensus Algorithm
A consensus algorithm is a process in computer science used to achieve agreement on a single data value among distributed processes or systems.
-
x and y coordinates
X and y coordinates are, respectively, the horizontal and vertical addresses of a point in any two-dimensional (2D) space, such as a sheet of paper or a computer display screen.
-
domain
Specific to the internet, the term domain can refer to how the internet is structured, and domain also refers to how an organization's network resources are organized.
Project management
Terms related to project management, including definitions about project management methodologies and tools.
-
OODA loop
The OODA loop (Observe, Orient, Decide, Act) is a four-step approach to decision-making that focuses on filtering available information, putting it in context and quickly making the most appropriate decision while also understanding that changes can be made as more data becomes available.
-
resource allocation
Resource allocation is the process of assigning and managing assets in a manner that supports an organization's strategic planning goals.
-
project charter
A project charter is a formal short document that states a project exists and provides project managers with written authority to begin work.
Technical support
Terms related to computer fundamentals, including computer hardware definitions and words and phrases about software, operating systems, peripherals and troubleshooting.
-
Stefan-Boltzmann constant
The Stefan-Boltzmann constant, symbolized by the lowercase Greek letter sigma (σ), is a physical constant expressing the relationship between the heat radiation emitted by a black body and its absolute temperature.
-
latitude and longitude
Latitude and longitude are parameters or coordinates that help determine the location of any place on Earth.
-
11th dimension
The 11th dimension is a characteristic of space-time that has been proposed as a possible answer to questions that arise in superstring theory.