The FREE Cybersecurity Glossary by Thor Pedersen!

Data Circuit Terminating Equipment (DCE): Devices that serve as an interface between data terminal equipment (DTE) and a data transmission circuit, such as modems, switches, and routers. DCE devices connect networks and facilitate communication processes.

Data Classification: The process of organizing data into categories for its most effective and efficient use. Classification helps manage risk by applying appropriate controls based on the sensitivity and value of the data. It typically involves categorizing data as public, internal, confidential, or secret to guide users on how to handle and secure it. Proper classification is crucial for compliance, data security, and minimizing the risk of data breaches.

Data Classification Scheme: A structured framework used to categorize data based on its level of sensitivity, importance, and legal obligations. Such schemes allow organizations to effectively manage and protect their data by setting rules for access, storage, and transfer and ensuring that adequate protective measures are applied consistently throughout the organization's data ecosystem.

Data Communications: The process of transmitting and receiving digital or analog data between two or more points. The data can be transferred through various mediums like wire, optical fiber, or airwaves and can be anything from simple text files to complex multimedia presentations. Secure data communications are pivotal for maintaining the integrity and confidentiality of transmitted data.

Data Contamination: The process by which data becomes corrupt or tainted due to the introduction of erroneous, misleading, or irrelevant information. This can happen through human error, data integration issues, or malicious activity, such as a cyber-attack. Contaminated data can lead to inaccurate analyses, misguided business decisions, or compromised machine learning models. In cybersecurity, it is essential to maintain the integrity of data by implementing controls that prevent contamination, such as input validation, data sanitation processes, and activity monitoring, to detect and mitigate any contamination incidents quickly.

Data Control Language (DCL): A type of syntax used in SQL databases that manages permissions on different database objects. DCL commands such as GRANT and REVOKE allow specific roles or users to access or restrict certain actions on the database, ensuring that only authorized individuals have the right level of access to perform their duties.