The FREE Cybersecurity Glossary by Thor Pedersen!

Fire suppression: The various methods and systems designed to extinguish or prevent the spread of fire in a building or facility. These methods can be manual, like fire extinguishers and fire blankets, or automatic, like sprinkler systems or gas-based systems. These systems are particularly important in data centers or server rooms where high temperatures or fires can cause catastrophic damage.

Firewall: A network security device that monitors and controls incoming and outgoing network traffic based on predetermined security rules. A firewall typically establishes a barrier between a trusted internal network and an untrusted external network, such as the Internet. Firewalls are designed to prevent unauthorized access to or from private networks and can come in the form of hardware, software, or a combination of both. They are a fundamental part of network security and can perform various functions, including packet filtering, stateful inspection, proxy service, and network address translation (NAT).

Firewall Policy: A set of instructions or rules that dictate how a firewall should handle inbound or outbound network traffic. The policy is often based on IP addresses, domain names, protocols, programs, ports, or specific network interfaces. The policies dictate which types of traffic are permitted and which are not, enhancing security by blocking potentially harmful traffic or specific services that should not be publicly available.

Firmware: A specialized form of software that provides low-level control for a device's specific hardware. Firmware can be found in embedded systems such as traffic lights, consumer appliances, wireless routers, and digital watches. It can also provide essential instructions for how a device communicates with other computer hardware. Unlike typical software, firmware is usually designed for a specific hardware device and is stored on non-volatile memory chips, making it persistent through reboots and power off/on cycles. Firmware updates can fix bugs, add features, and patch security vulnerabilities.

Fiscal Year: A one-year period that organizations and governments use for accounting and preparing financial statements. It may differ from the calendar year and vary between entities. The fiscal year is used for budgeting, keeping accounts, and taxation purposes, typically ending when operational activities are minimal to facilitate the compilation of financial and operational results.

Flaw: A weakness or a defect in a system, be it in a software, hardware component, network design, or business process. This could be a result of coding errors in software, design oversights, or configuration errors. When a flaw is discovered, it often needs to be rectified quickly to prevent exploitation that could compromise system integrity, confidentiality, or availability.