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 identity and access management? Guide to IAM

    No longer just a good idea, IAM is a crucial piece of the cybersecurity puzzle. It's how an organization regulates access to information and meets its compliance obligations.

  • What is user authentication?

    User authentication refers to the process of verifying the identity of a user attempting to gain access to a computer network, system or device. This process runs in the background and can be done through different means, such as asking the user to enter a password, provide a PIN or provide a fingerprint.

  • What is Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP)?

    Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP) is a protocol for wireless networks that expands the authentication methods used by Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP), a protocol often used when connecting a computer to the internet.

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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.

  • What is augmented intelligence?

    Augmented intelligence is the use of technology to enhance a human's ability to execute tasks, perform analysis and make decisions.

  • What is compliance risk?

    Compliance risk is an organization's potential exposure to legal penalties, financial forfeiture and material loss, resulting from its failure to act in accordance with industry laws and regulations, internal policies or prescribed best practices.

  • What is records management?

    Records management is the supervision and administration of digital or paper records, regardless of format.

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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 a block cipher?

    A block cipher is a method of encrypting data in blocks to produce ciphertext using a cryptographic key and algorithm.

  • What is a stream cipher?

    A stream cipher is an encryption method in which data is encrypted one byte at a time.

  • What is a session key?

    A session key is an encryption and decryption key that is randomly generated to ensure the security of a communications session between a user and another computer or between two computers.

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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.

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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 a block cipher?

    A block cipher is a method of encrypting data in blocks to produce ciphertext using a cryptographic key and algorithm.

  • What is a stream cipher?

    A stream cipher is an encryption method in which data is encrypted one byte at a time.

  • What is a session key?

    A session key is an encryption and decryption key that is randomly generated to ensure the security of a communications session between a user and another computer or between two computers.

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