- Accreditation of IT Systems The formal approval process that a system undergoes to verify that it adheres to a set of predefined standards or guidelines, often related to security, functionality, and reliability. During accreditation, various aspects, such as design, implementation, and operating procedures, are evaluated to ensure compliance. This process enhances confidence in the system's capabilities and its adherence to necessary norms while also identifying areas of potential improvement.
- Accrediting Authority An entity, often a recognized body or organization, which has the power to grant accreditation to systems, products, or individuals. The authority conducts or oversees assessments to verify compliance with specified requirements or standards. Their role is crucial in maintaining standards of quality, performance, and security, and their endorsement serves as a mark of trust and reliability.
- ACID Transaction A concept used in database management to ensure that all database transactions are processed reliably. ACID stands for Atomicity (transactions are all-or-nothing), Consistency (transactions must leave the database in a consistent state), Isolation (transactions are processed independently), and Durability (once a transaction is committed, it is permanently recorded). This framework is crucial for maintaining data integrity across a variety of applications.
- Acknowledgment (ACK) A signal sent between devices during a communication process to confirm that data has been successfully received. Typically, an ACK is sent from the receiver back to the sender after a packet of data has been received. The use of acknowledgments helps to ensure the reliability of communication systems, as it allows for error detection and prompts retransmission of data if an ACK is not received within a certain time frame.
- Acoustic Side-Channel Attack An attack method that exploits sound waves produced by a device during its operation to extract sensitive information. By analyzing noises such as keystrokes or fan vibrations, an attacker may be able to infer user inputs, system states, or other confidential data. These attacks highlight the need for comprehensive security measures that consider not just digital but also physical and environmental aspects of system operation.
- Acquisitions In the business context, acquisitions refer to the process of one company purchasing most or all of another company's shares or assets in order to take control of that company. In terms of IT and cybersecurity, acquisitions can have significant implications for technology integration, data management, and security considerations. It is critical to conduct thorough due diligence and plan for the secure integration of systems, networks, and data during the acquisition process to manage potential security risks and ensure regulatory compliance.
- Active Directory A directory service developed by Microsoft that provides a centralized and secure platform for managing user accounts, network resources, and access controls in a Windows environment. This concept is commonly used in enterprise IT environments to simplify users, manage permissions, and enforce security policies. Examples of Active Directory features include group policy management, authentication and authorization, and domain-based naming and organization.
- Active Recovery Site (Mirrored) A disaster recovery site that is a real-time replica of the primary site, continually updated with data and transactions from the primary site. In the event of a system disruption or failure at the primary site, the active recovery site can take over almost instantly, ensuring business continuity with minimal downtime. This high-availability solution is crucial for organizations that cannot tolerate significant data loss or downtime.
- Active Response A security measure that immediately takes action to prevent or mitigate a potential threat or attack. It is commonly used in intrusion detection and prevention systems. Examples include blocking an IP address after multiple failed login attempts or shutting down a network port that is being used for a malicious attack.
- Active Sniffing A method of data interception in IT and Cybersecurity where the attacker actively inserts themselves into a network to intercept and possibly alter data packets passing through the network. Unlike passive sniffing, where the attacker is silent and only listens to network traffic, active sniffing usually involves techniques that can influence or modify the flow of data, such as ARP spoofing, DHCP attacks, or MAC flooding. Active sniffing is detectable due to the intervention in the network communication.
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