Tech glossary A–Z

An auditing framework from the AICPA that assesses how a service company protects customer data, based on five trust services criteria. Cybersecurity

Structured Query Language: the standard language for storing, querying, and managing data in relational databases. Data & Analytics

An attack in which malicious input is inserted into a database query, tricking the application into exposing or altering data. Cybersecurity

A group of satellites working together as a system to provide coverage, such as global internet, navigation, or Earth imaging. Space Tech

Structured data code added to web pages that tells search engines exactly what the content is, such as a product, recipe, event, or business. Business & Retail Tech

An Agile framework in which a small team delivers work in fixed-length iterations called sprints, with defined roles and regular reviews. Software Development

The practice of improving a website and its content so it ranks higher in unpaid search engine results and attracts more visitors. Business & Retail Tech

A cloud-based approach, known as SASE, that combines networking and security services so users connect safely from anywhere. Cybersecurity

Education that teaches employees to recognize and avoid cyber threats such as phishing, scams, and unsafe handling of data. Cybersecurity

A security system, known as SIEM, that collects and analyzes log data from across an organization to detect threats and support investigations. Cybersecurity

A team and facility that monitors an organization's systems around the clock to detect, analyze, and respond to cybersecurity threats. Cybersecurity

Search that finds results based on the meaning of a query rather than exact keyword matches. Data & Analytics

A version numbering scheme in the form MAJOR.MINOR.PATCH that signals whether a software update adds features, fixes bugs, or breaks compatibility. Software Development

A material, most commonly silicon, whose electrical conductivity can be controlled, forming the basis of computer chips and electronics. Hardware & Industry 4.0

Using natural language processing to determine whether a piece of text expresses a positive, negative, or neutral opinion. Data & Analytics

A cloud model where developers run code without managing servers, and the provider automatically handles scaling and charges per use. Cloud & DevOps

A contract between a service provider and a customer that defines expected service quality, such as uptime, and what happens if it is not met. Cloud & DevOps

An infrastructure layer that manages communication between microservices, handling traffic routing, security, and monitoring outside the application code. Cloud & DevOps

An authentication method, known as SSO, that lets people log in once and access many applications without signing in to each separately. Cybersecurity

An approach, known as SRE, that applies software engineering to operations to keep systems reliable, scalable, and efficient. Cloud & DevOps

A compact language model, typically with a few hundred million to around ten billion parameters, built to run efficiently on modest hardware. Artificial Intelligence

A program stored on a blockchain that automatically executes predefined actions when its conditions are met. Web3 & Blockchain

An electricity network that uses digital sensors, communication, and automation to balance supply and demand more efficiently. Green Tech

Phishing carried out through SMS or other text messages, tricking people into clicking malicious links or sharing personal information. Cybersecurity

Manipulating people into breaking security practices, such as sharing passwords or granting access, rather than attacking technology directly. Cybersecurity

Interpersonal and personal abilities, such as communication, teamwork, problem solving, and adaptability, that help people work well with others. Tech Careers

A detailed list, known as an SBOM, of all the components, libraries, and versions that make up a piece of software. Cybersecurity

A packaged set of tools, libraries, documentation, and code samples that helps developers build software for a specific platform or service. Software Development

The structured series of stages software goes through, from planning and design to building, testing, release, and maintenance. Software Development

A model in which software is hosted in the cloud and delivered to users over the internet, usually through a subscription. Cloud & DevOps

A targeted phishing attack aimed at a specific person or organization, using personal details to make the message more convincing. Cybersecurity

Technology that converts spoken language into written text, allowing computers to understand voice commands and transcribe audio. Artificial Intelligence

A cryptocurrency designed to maintain a stable value, usually by being pegged to a fiat currency such as the US dollar. Web3 & Blockchain

A machine learning approach where a model learns from labeled examples, each pairing an input with the correct output. Artificial Intelligence

A cyberattack that compromises a trusted supplier, software vendor, or component in order to reach that supplier's customers. Cybersecurity

Artificially generated data that mimics the patterns of real data, used for testing, training models, or sharing without exposing real records. Data & Analytics

Background instructions given to a language model by the developer that set its role, tone, rules, and limits for every conversation. Artificial Intelligence