The FREE Cybersecurity Glossary by Thor Pedersen!

Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS): A device that provides a consistent flow of electricity to connected systems for a short period of time when the primary power source is lost. In an environment where system availability is critical, a UPS can prevent system downtime, loss of data, or hardware damage due to power interruptions.

Unit test: A method of testing individual components of a system to ensure that they are functioning correctly. It verifies that each component, such as a function or a method in a codebase, behaves as expected when given a specific input.

Unit testing: The process of conducting unit tests. This type of testing is usually performed by developers during the development phase to identify and rectify bugs early in the development cycle. It helps ensure that modifications or additions to a system do not cause unexpected behavior or failures.

UNIX: A family of operating systems known for security, stability, and multi-user, multitasking capabilities. Widely used in servers and large-scale computing systems, examples include Linux, Solaris, and macOS.

Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP): A type of cable used in networking that consists of pairs of twisted copper wires, which are surrounded by minimal protective insulation. UTP cables are commonly used for data transmission over short to medium distances, such as within a building or between nearby buildings, with examples including Ethernet and telephone cables.

Updating: The process of applying patches, bug fixes, or enhancements to a system or software. Regular updates are crucial for maintaining system security as they often contain fixes for known vulnerabilities that could otherwise be exploited. The updating process should be managed carefully to minimize the potential for introducing new vulnerabilities or disrupting system functionality.