The FREE Cybersecurity Glossary by Thor Pedersen!

Offsite storage: The practice of storing data or physical assets at a location that is separate from the main facility or office. It is used to protect against disasters, such as fires or floods, and to provide additional security for sensitive information. Examples include using a remote server for data backup or storing physical documents in a secure storage facility.

Omnidirectional Antenna: A wireless transmitting or receiving antenna that radiates or intercepts radio-frequency signals in all directions horizontally. These antennas are often used when broad coverage is required, such as in wireless networks where the position of the receiving device is not fixed or when a signal needs to be broadcast to multiple other points from one central location.

On-boarding: The process of introducing a new employee to the organization and its culture, policies, and systems. It is used to ensure that the employee has the knowledge and tools they need to perform their job effectively. Examples include providing orientation and training, introducing the employee to their team and colleagues, and setting up their workstations.

One-time Cryptosystem: A cryptographic system that uses a unique, random key for each message, ensuring that the key cannot be reused or derived from other communications. The one-time pad cipher is a classic example, providing theoretically unbreakable security when implemented correctly.

One-Time Pad: A symmetric-key cipher that uses a random key that is as long as the message and is used only once. It is considered the most secure encryption method, as the key cannot be derived from the ciphertext. Examples include using a one-time pad to encrypt classified documents or to secure communication between two parties.

One-Time Passwords (OTPs): A temporary password that is only valid for a single use. It is often used as an additional layer of security in authentication processes. Examples include a one-time password sent to a user's email or mobile phone or a token generated by a hardware device.