IT Glossary
Key Terms To Know In The IT Industry

Automated Reasoning

Automated Reasoning is the area of computer science that is concerned with applying reasoning in the form of logic and mathematics by computers, enabling the solving of complex problems and proving theorems automatically.

You will find this term commonly used in AI, Computer Science

Automated Software Testing

Automated Software Testing involves using software tools to run tests on the software being developed automatically, without manual intervention, to improve efficiency and coverage of the test process.

You will find this term commonly used in Software Development, QA

Automated Software Testing Framework

A set of guidelines, tools, and practices for automating the process of software testing, aiming to reduce manual testing efforts, improve accuracy and consistency, and speed up the testing process.

You will find this term commonly used in Software Testing, DevOps

Automated System Recovery

A feature or process that automatically restores a system to a previous state or configuration after a failure or crash, minimizing downtime and data loss.

You will find this term commonly used in IT Operations, Disaster Recovery

Automated Threat Intelligence

The use of software tools and algorithms to collect, analyze, and manage data about potential security threats, helping organizations to proactively defend against cyber attacks.

You will find this term commonly used in Cybersecurity, Threat Intelligence

Autonomous Control Systems

Systems capable of operating independently of human control, often using AI and machine learning to make decisions and perform tasks based on environmental inputs.

You will find this term commonly used in Robotics, AI

Autonomous Data Platforms

Data management platforms that use AI and machine learning to automate data curation, integration, optimization, and governance, aiming to reduce manual data management tasks and improve data quality and accessibility.

You will find this term commonly used in Data Management, AI

Autonomous Database

An Autonomous Database is a cloud database that uses machine learning to automate database tuning, security, backups, updates, and other routine management tasks, significantly reducing the need for manual database administration.

You will find this term commonly used in Cloud Computing, Databases

Autonomous Decision-Making Systems

Systems capable of making independent decisions based on data analysis and predefined criteria without human intervention, often used in contexts such as autonomous vehicles, trading systems, and smart grid management.

You will find this term commonly used in AI, Decision Support Systems

Autonomous IT Operations

The use of artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies to automate the monitoring, management, and maintenance of IT infrastructure and operations, aiming to improve efficiency, reduce downtime, and predict issues before they impact services.

You will find this term commonly used in IT Management, AI

Autonomous Networking

Autonomous Networking refers to the use of AI and machine learning in network management, allowing networks to automatically configure, optimize, and repair themselves without human intervention.

You will find this term commonly used in Networking, AI

Autonomous Robotic Systems

Robots that can perform desired tasks in unstructured environments without continuous human guidance.

You will find this term commonly used in Robotics, AI

Autonomous System (AS)

An Autonomous System is a collection of connected Internet Protocol (IP) routing prefixes under the control of one or more network operators that presents a common, clearly defined routing policy to the Internet.

You will find this term commonly used in Networking

Autonomous Systems (AS)

An Autonomous System (AS) is a collection of connected IP routing prefixes under the control of one or more network operators that presents a common routing policy to the internet, crucial for the global routing system.

You will find this term commonly used in Networking, Internet Technology

Availability

In IT, availability refers to the degree to which a system, component, or service is operational and accessible when required for use, often considered a critical component of system reliability.

You will find this term commonly used in General IT, Security

Availability Management

Availability Management is an IT service management process focused on ensuring IT services are available as agreed upon in service level agreements (SLAs), addressing the reliability and maintainability of IT services.

You will find this term commonly used in IT Management, IT Service Management

AWS (Amazon Web Services)

AWS is a comprehensive, evolving cloud computing platform provided by Amazon that offers a mix of infrastructure as a service (IaaS), platform as a service (PaaS), and packaged software as a service (SaaS) offerings.

You will find this term commonly used in Cloud Computing

AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner

Provides an overall understanding of AWS Cloud platform, irrespective of specific technical roles. It covers basic AWS Cloud architectural principles, value proposition, key services, security and compliance aspects, and billing and pricing models.

You will find this term commonly used in Cloud Computing

AWS Certified DevOps Engineer – Professional

Validates expertise in provisioning, operating, and managing distributed application systems on the AWS platform.

You will find this term commonly used in Cloud Computing, DevOps

AWS Certified Security - Specialty

Validates expertise in securing data and workloads in the AWS cloud environment.

You will find this term commonly used in Cloud Security

AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate

Demonstrates expertise in designing distributed systems on AWS.

You will find this term commonly used in Cloud Computing

Axelos

Best known for ITIL (IT Infrastructure Library) certifications in IT service management, as well as certifications in project management methodologies like PRINCE2.

You will find this term commonly used in IT Service Management, Project Management

Azure

Azure, Microsoft's cloud computing service, provides a wide range of cloud services, including those for computing, analytics, storage, and networking, enabling businesses to build, deploy, and manage applications.

You will find this term commonly used in Cloud Computing

Azure Functions

Azure Functions is a serverless compute service that lets you run event-triggered code without having to explicitly provision or manage infrastructure, allowing developers to focus on the application logic.

You will find this term commonly used in Cloud Computing

Backbone

In networking, a backbone refers to the principal data routes between large, strategically interconnected networks and core routers. It's the central conduit designed to transfer data at high speeds and capacities, ensuring connectivity across various segments of the internet or within large organizations.

You will find this term commonly used in Networking

Backbone Network

The part of a computer network that interconnects various pieces of the network, providing a path for the exchange of information between different LANs or sub-networks. A backbone can tie together diverse networks in the same building, across different buildings, or over a wide area.

You will find this term commonly used in Networking, Infrastructure

Backbone Network Architecture

The high-capacity network infrastructure that connects various segments of a network, providing a path for the exchange of information between different sub-networks. It is the foundation for internet and intranet communications.

You will find this term commonly used in Networking, Infrastructure

Backhaul Network

The intermediate links between the core network, or backbone network, and the small subnetworks at the edge of the entire network. Essential in telecommunications for connecting cell sites to the network backbone.

You will find this term commonly used in Networking, Telecommunications

Backscatter Analysis

The study of reflections or responses from a communication system that can be used to monitor the health, traffic, and anomalies of a network or to detect and analyze cyber-attacks.

You will find this term commonly used in Networking, Cybersecurity

Backup

The process of creating copies of data to ensure its availability for restoration in case of data loss, corruption, or disasters. Backup strategies are critical for data recovery plans, safeguarding against data breaches, system failures, and other unforeseen events.

You will find this term commonly used in Data Management, Security

Backup and Recovery Strategy

Plans and technologies used by organizations to protect data from loss and to restore data following a loss event. This includes data backup solutions and disaster recovery procedures.

You will find this term commonly used in Data Management, IT Infrastructure

Backup Software

Software designed to create copies of data stored on devices or within systems to enable recovery in the event of data loss. Backup software ensures data integrity and availability, often featuring automation, scheduling, and data compression capabilities.

You will find this term commonly used in Data Management, Security

Balanced Computing

A design philosophy in computing that aims for an optimal balance between the major components of a computer system, such as CPU, memory, and I/O, to achieve maximum efficiency and performance.

You will find this term commonly used in Hardware, Computer Engineering

Balanced Scorecard (BSC) in IT

A strategic planning and management system used to align business activities with the vision and strategy of the IT department, improve internal and external communications, and monitor performance against strategic goals.

You will find this term commonly used in IT Management, Strategic Planning

Balanced Technology Extended (BTX)

A form factor for motherboards and computer cases, designed for improved thermal management compared to the older ATX standard.