The FREE Cybersecurity Glossary by Thor Pedersen!

SCADA (Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition): A system used to monitor and control industrial processes and infrastructure, such as power plants, water treatment facilities, and transportation networks. It is used to automate and remotely manage complex systems and processes. Examples include a SCADA system for monitoring and controlling a power grid, a SCADA system for managing a water treatment plant, and a SCADA system for coordinating traffic signals in a city.

Scalability in cloud computing: The ability to handle an increased workload without a decrease in performance. This concept is used in cloud computing to ensure that a system can handle the added demand of new users or applications without slowing down. For example, a company might need to add new users to its cloud-based email system without disrupting service for existing users.

Scavenging: The practice of searching for and reusing discarded or abandoned data, often involving combing through discarded hardware devices, network traffic, or public domains for residual data. Unprotected data or insufficiently sanitized storage media can be exploited, emphasizing the need for robust data disposal practices and secure data transmission to prevent unauthorized access.

Scheduling: The process of organizing and coordinating activities, events, or tasks in a systematic way. It is used to plan and execute tasks efficiently and effectively. Examples include a scheduling algorithm for scheduling jobs on a computer, a scheduling system for managing appointments in a doctor's office, and a scheduling software for planning and organizing a project.

Scope creep: A project management term referring to the uncontrolled changes or continuous growth in a project's scope after the project work has started. These changes can occur due to various reasons, such as changes in requirements, miscommunication, or lack of clear initial requirements, and can lead to delays, cost overruns, or quality issues. Managing scope creep involves setting clear project objectives, maintaining effective communication, and closely monitoring changes to the project's scope to ensure alignment with project goals and resources.

Scoping: The process of defining and delimiting the boundaries and parameters of a project, system, or process. It is used to clarify the objectives, requirements, and constraints of a project and ensure its feasibility and success. Examples include a scoping study for identifying and assessing the potential impacts of a development project, a scoping exercise for defining the scope and requirements of a software project, and a scoping review for summarizing the evidence on a particular research topic.