Some IT providers love showing off with technical terms and acronyms. We're not like that. We know the jargon and we know you don't like it, so we avoid it when we're talking to you unless we really have to.
This glossary is here to help. Use it to make sense of the language, or to get your own back on an IT provider who won't explain themselves!
Networks and the internet
| Term | Stands for | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| ARP | Address Resolution Protocol | Links the internet address of each device on a local network to its hardware address |
| Bandwidth | The most data a connection can carry at once, measured in bits per second (bps) | |
| BGP | Border Gateway Protocol | How the large networks that make up the internet tell each other where to send traffic |
| Client-server model | A setup where computers (clients) ask a central computer (the server) for files or services | |
| CSMA/CD | Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Detection | Controls how devices on a wired (Ethernet) network take turns to send data |
| Data packet | A small block of data sent over a network, carrying both the content and where it's going | |
| DNS | Domain Name System | Turns website names people can read into the number addresses computers use |
| Ethernet | The standard for wired networks in an office or home | |
| Gateway | A device that connects different networks so they can talk to each other | |
| HTTP / HTTPS | Hypertext Transfer Protocol (Secure) | The rules for loading web pages; HTTPS adds encryption |
| ICMP | Internet Control Message Protocol | Reports network errors and status, for example when you "ping" a device |
| IoT | Internet of Things | Everyday physical devices, such as cameras and sensors, connected to the internet and sharing data |
| IP address | Internet Protocol address | A unique number that identifies a device on a network (IPv4 or IPv6) |
| ISP | Internet Service Provider | The company that provides your internet connection |
| LAN | Local Area Network | A network in one place, such as your office |
| Latency | The delay between data being sent and received | |
| MAC address | Media Access Control address | A unique hardware ID for a device's network connection, a bit like a fingerprint |
| MTU | Maximum Transmission Unit | The largest packet of data that can be sent without being split up |
| NAT | Network Address Translation | Lets all the devices on your private network share one public internet address |
| Network topology | The layout of a network, such as star, mesh or ring | |
| OSI | Open Systems Interconnection | A seven-layer model that describes how network communication works |
| Protocol | A set of rules for how data is communicated | |
| QoS | Quality of Service | Gives priority to important traffic, such as phone calls, so it stays clear |
| Router | Directs data between networks and connects your office network to the internet | |
| SAN | Storage Area Network | A high-speed network linking storage devices and servers |
| SMTP | Simple Mail Transfer Protocol | The rules for sending email between mail servers |
| SNMP | Simple Network Management Protocol | Used to monitor and manage devices on a network |
| Switch | Connects multiple devices on a local network and sends data to the right one | |
| TCP | Transmission Control Protocol | Makes sure data arrives complete and in order, checking for errors |
| UDP | User Datagram Protocol | Fast data sending with no error checking, often used for calls and video |
| URL | Uniform Resource Locator | The address of a web page |
| VLAN | Virtual Local Area Network | Splits one network into separate sections for better control and security |
| VoIP | Voice over Internet Protocol | Phone calls made over the internet |
| WAN | Wide Area Network | A network covering a large area, such as several offices |
| Wi-Fi | Wireless technology that lets devices connect without cables | |
| WLAN | Wireless Local Area Network | A local network that uses Wi-Fi |
Security
| Term | Stands for | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| ACL | Access Control List | A list of rules about who or what can use particular parts of a network |
| AES | Advanced Encryption Standard | A secure way of encrypting data, used worldwide |
| Cybersecurity | Protecting computer systems and networks from digital attacks | |
| Encryption | Scrambling readable data into a secure code so only the right people can read it | |
| Firewall | A security system that filters and controls traffic coming into and going out of a network | |
| IDS / IPS | Intrusion Detection / Prevention System | Watches for, or blocks, malicious activity on a network |
| Malware | Malicious software designed to disrupt or damage systems | |
| MITM | Man-in-the-middle | An attack where someone secretly intercepts communication between two people or systems |
| PKI | Public Key Infrastructure | The system that manages digital certificates and encryption keys |
| RSA | Rivest–Shamir–Adleman | A widely used method of encryption for secure communication |
| SSH | Secure Shell | A secure way to log in to and control computers remotely |
| SSL / TLS | Secure Sockets Layer / Transport Layer Security | The security that protects data sent over the internet, shown by the padlock in your browser |
| VPN | Virtual Private Network | A secure, encrypted connection over the internet, for example to your office from home |
| WPA2 / WPA3 | Wi-Fi Protected Access 2 / 3 | The security that encrypts wireless networks |
Computers, software and data
| Term | Stands for | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Algorithm | A set of steps or instructions for solving a problem or doing a task | |
| API | Application Programming Interface | A way for different pieces of software to talk to each other and share data |
| Binary | The counting system of 0s and 1s that computers use | |
| Bit / byte | The smallest units of data; 1 byte = 8 bits | |
| Cache | Pronounced "cash" | A small, fast store of data that's used often, so it loads quicker |
| Cloud computing | Using services over the internet for storage, computing power and software | |
| CPU | Central Processing Unit | The computer's "brain", which carries out instructions |
| Database | An organised collection of information, stored and managed electronically | |
| Operating system (OS) | The core software that runs a computer, such as Windows or macOS | |
| RAM | Random Access Memory | A computer's short-term working memory |
| ROM | Read-Only Memory | Memory that keeps permanent data even when the power is off |
| Server | A computer that provides files, programs or services to other computers | |
| SQL | Structured Query Language | The language used to manage and search databases |
| Virtual machine (VM) | A computer that runs as software on another computer |
So there you have it: IT terms, decoded
We hope this glossary helps the next time you talk about your IT. If you'd like an IT partner that simply speaks human, get in touch with Q6IT.
We're on your side, and we'll turn your tech into something that makes sense and works for you.