The FREE Cybersecurity Glossary by Thor Pedersen!

Security requirements: A set of criteria that a system, network, or service must meet to ensure that it is secure from potential threats. Security requirements may pertain to the protection of data confidentiality, integrity, and availability, as well as user authentication, access controls, system resilience, and compliance with relevant regulations. They provide a clear understanding of what is needed to protect information assets and serve as a basis for the design, implementation, and evaluation of security controls.

Security requirements baseline: A set of minimum security requirements that a system, application, or environment must meet to ensure a satisfactory level of protection against potential threats. This baseline is established after conducting a risk assessment to identify vulnerabilities and threats. It serves as a foundation for the design and implementation of security controls and as a reference point for auditing and compliance checks. By adhering to a security requirements baseline, an organization can ensure a consistent level of security across its systems and processes.

Security scores: The quantitative measures of an organization's security performance or risk level. These scores are typically generated by third-party security rating services and are based on the analysis of various data points, such as an organization's public-facing security configurations, past incidents, and other relevant factors. Security scores can serve as a valuable benchmark for organizations to understand their security posture, compare against industry peers, and identify areas for improvement.

Security standards: Established guidelines and specifications designed to maintain information security and provide a baseline for implementing cybersecurity measures. Standards such as ISO/IEC 27001 help organizations protect assets, comply with regulations, and foster trust with stakeholders.

Security Target: A document that outlines the security requirements and objectives of a system or product and specifies how the security controls are implemented and tested. Used in product development and certification. Examples -Security target for a cloud computing service, security target for a mobile app, security target for a network security device.

Security template: A predefined configuration file used to define and manage security settings on a network or within an organization. It includes configurations for various policies, user rights, and system services, which can be applied to systems to maintain consistency and facilitate easier management of security settings. Frequently utilized in environments using Microsoft Windows, these templates assist administrators in the deployment and enforcement of corporate security policies.