The FREE Cybersecurity Glossary by Thor Pedersen!

Threat monitoring: The continual process of observing and tracking activities within a system or network to detect signs of cyber threats or breaches. This often involves the use of automated systems, such as intrusion detection systems (IDS) or security information and event management (SIEM) systems, which can detect anomalies or suspicious behavior and send alerts for further investigation.

Threat Vector: A pathway or means by which a cyberattack is carried out. Threat vectors are the methods or routes taken by attackers to infiltrate systems, exploit vulnerabilities, and potentially cause damage. Common vectors include phishing emails, malicious websites, or compromised networks.

Throughput: The amount of data that can be transferred from one point to another over a set period. In the context of network security, high throughput is desirable as it means data can be transferred quickly and efficiently, but it must be balanced against potential security risks such as data breaches or unauthorized access. Monitoring throughput is also important, as unexpected changes could indicate a security issue, like a denial-of-service attack or network intrusion.

Tier Standards (Uptime Institute): A globally recognized benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of data centers. They classify data centers into four tiers based on factors such as redundancy, fault tolerance, and availability. Tier I represents basic capacity with non-redundant components, while Tier IV denotes fault-tolerant infrastructure. This classification helps organizations determine the level of service they require from a data center, balancing operational capabilities against cost and business needs.

Time bomb: A malicious piece of code that has been programmed to activate at a specific time or under certain conditions. Unlike a logic bomb, which triggers when a particular event occurs, a time bomb is set to activate on a particular date or after a set amount of time has passed. These are typically used to cause disruption or damage to a system or network, and their delayed activation can make them difficult to detect before they execute.

Time-Division Multiplexing (TDM): A communication process that transmits multiple data streams over a single medium by dividing the signals into separated time slots. By employing this approach, multiple users or processes can share the same communication channel without significant interference or signal degradation, promoting the efficient use of network resources.