The FREE Cybersecurity Glossary by Thor Pedersen!

Variable sampling: A statistical analysis method where a subset of data from a larger population is examined to draw conclusions about the larger set. In the context of system auditing and security, variable sampling might be used to analyze patterns of behavior, detect anomalies, and identify potential threats or vulnerabilities. The goal is to uncover insights that can help improve system security without the need to analyze every single piece of data.

Vendor Lock-in (Cloud Computing): A situation where a customer using cloud services becomes dependent on a single cloud provider's infrastructure and tools, making it difficult or costly to migrate to another service. This can be due to proprietary technologies, custom APIs, or data transfer costs.

Vendor Lock-out (Cloud Computing): A situation where a cloud service provider limits customer choice and interoperability by preventing the integration of competing services or products with its platform, thereby maintaining greater control over its ecosystem.

Very Early Smoke Detection Apparatus (VESDA): A system that actively draws air through a network of pipes to a central detector, enabling it to provide a very early warning of potential fire situations. It detects minute smoke particles in the air, thus allowing organizations to initiate response procedures before any visible signs of fire appear, minimizing potential damage and enhancing safety.

VM (Virtual Machine) Escapes: A security breach in which the attacker breaks out of a virtual machine and interacts directly with the host operating system. This can be a serious issue as it can give the attacker access to the host environment and other virtual machines running on the same host, potentially compromising the entire system.

Validation: The process of verifying that data or information meets certain criteria or standards. It is used to ensure the accuracy and consistency of data and to prevent errors or inconsistencies. Examples include verifying the format of a phone number or email address or checking that a password meets the required complexity criteria.