The FREE Cybersecurity Glossary by Thor Pedersen!

Network Access Control (NAC): A method of bolstering the security of a proprietary network by restricting the availability of network resources to endpoint devices that comply with a defined security policy. This includes laptops, smartphones, tablets, and other devices. It functions by carrying out a series of checks on each device as it connects to the network, determining its security posture and compliance status before granting it the appropriate level of access.

Network Address Translation (NAT): A methodology that helps mitigate IP address limitations by allowing multiple devices on a private network to share a single public IP address. It plays a key role in network security as it serves as a natural firewall by keeping private IP addresses hidden from external networks, thus preventing unauthorized access from external entities.

Network administrator: A professional responsible for the operational readiness of an organization's data communications systems, which includes maintaining, upgrading, and defending networks from potential threats. They play a critical role in ensuring that network infrastructure is efficient and secure, monitoring system performance, configuring and implementing network software and hardware, and troubleshooting network issues, among other duties.

Network Attached Storage (NAS): A type of dedicated file storage technology that provides local area network nodes with file-based shared storage through a standard Ethernet connection. It allows more hard disk storage space to be added to a network that already exists. Because the stored data is not located on any of the network's client devices but, instead, on the NAS system, it can be accessed and shared in a flexible and efficient way.

Network-attached storage (NAS): A dedicated device that provides shared storage services to devices connected to a network. It allows multiple users and diverse client devices to retrieve data from a centralized disk capacity. Users on a local area network (LAN) access the NAS via a standard Ethernet connection. NAS is useful for backing up, sharing files, and setting up centralized multimedia storage, and can enhance data security by enabling regular and automated data backups.

Network attacks: Malicious activities employed by individuals or entities intending to compromise the integrity, confidentiality, or availability of a network and its data. These attacks can take numerous forms, such as Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks, Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) attacks, or password-based attacks, each with the intent to exploit vulnerabilities in a network's infrastructure.