An overview of all technical terms
| Access Control: | Controls access rights to IT systems and data. |
|---|---|
| Access Network: | Network segment that connects subscribers and end devices to a provider's network. |
| Access Point: | Network component that connects wireless devices to a wired network via Wi-Fi. |
| Active Directory: | Provides centralized management of users, devices, and resources. |
| Adapter: | Connects different devices or interfaces. |
| Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA): | Cisco security platform that combines firewall, VPN and access control functions in a single system. |
| Address Resolution Protocol (ARP): | Network protocol that maps IP addresses to the corresponding physical MAC addresses within a local network. |
| Advanced Encryption Standard (AES): | Standardised encryption method used to protect digital data against unauthorised access. |
| Advanced Persistent Threat (APT): | Targeted, long-term cyber attack on selected organisations carried out with considerable technical effort. |
| Alternative Cooling: | Cooling technologies for IT systems and data centres that complement or replace conventional air-based cooling methods. |
| Ansible: | Open-source automation tool used to configure, manage and deploy IT systems. |
| Anycast: | Network addressing method that sends a request to multiple equivalent servers, answered by the nearest one. |
| Application Layer: | Topmost layer in the OSI and TCP/IP reference models through which applications access network services. |
| Application Layer Gateway: | Network function that analyses traffic at application level and adapts it for firewalls or NAT. |
| Application Programming Interface (API): | Enables data exchange between different applications. |
| Artificial Intelligence for IT Operations (AIOps): | AI-powered approach for the automated monitoring, analysis and optimisation of complex IT infrastructures and IT operations. |
| Asset management: | Systematic management and monitoring of IT resources throughout their entire lifecycle. |
| Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM): | Transmission technology that sends data in fixed-length cells and supports defined quality of service classes. |
| Authoritative Zone Transfer (AXFR): | DNS mechanism for transferring a complete zone file from one authoritative DNS server to another DNS server. |
| Automation: | Use of technology to execute recurring processes and tasks independently with minimal manual intervention. |
| Autonome Systeme: | Network domains under unified routing administration, identified on the internet by their own reference number. |