If you’re in the C-suite or lead a business, you don’t need a tech degree, but you do need a shared language with your IT team. With work now fully digital and teams more hybrid than ever, technology decisions impact your productivity, security, and cost. If it’s an IT issue, it’s a business issue.
This quick glossary translates everyday IT terms into plain English so you can avoid downtime, reduce risk, and make faster, better decisions.
Here are the essentials to get you started.
Infrastructure & Cloud
- OS (Operating System): The OS is the core software that runs your computers and servers (e.g., Windows, macOS, Linux). Keeping it current matters because unsupported versions stop receiving security patches, driving breach and compliance risk.
- HCI (Hyperconverged Infrastructure): HCI merges computing, storage, and networking into one software-defined platform. It reduces hardware sprawl, simplifies management, and speeds recovery when something fails, often lowering total cost of ownership.
- IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service): IaaS lets you rent servers, storage, and networking in the cloud instead of buying hardware. You gain scalability, faster deployments, and OpEx flexibility while shedding datacenter overhead.
- SaaS (Software as a Service): SaaS delivers applications via the web (think Microsoft 365 or Salesforce). It minimizes maintenance and keeps you on the latest, most secure version, improving uptime and reducing risk.
- VM (Virtual Machine): A VM is a software-based server that shares a physical host with others. It improves hardware utilization, isolates workloads for security, and speeds backup/restore in a disaster.
- Containers: Containers package apps and their dependencies, so they run consistently anywhere. They enable faster releases and portability across environments, which accelerates innovation.
Performance & Storage
- SSD (Solid-State Drive): SSDs are faster, more reliable storage with no moving parts. They boost application performance and reduce failure rates versus traditional spinning disks.
- Throughput / IOPS: Throughput measures total data moved; IOPS measures how many reads/writes happen per second. Higher, well-balanced numbers mean snappier apps and fewer slowdowns at peak.
- Latency: Latency is the time it takes data to travel from request to response. Lower latency improves the user experience for VoIP, cloud apps, and databases.
Security & Resilience
- Phishing: Phishing uses fake emails or messages to trick users into clicking malware or giving up credentials. It’s the most common breach entry, so training and layered email security are essential.
- MFA (Multi-Factor Authentication): MFA adds a second proof (app code, key, or prompt) at login. It blocks most account takeovers, especially critical for executives, finance, and IT admins.
- EDR (Endpoint Detection & Response): EDR continuously monitors devices for suspicious behavior and can contain threats in real time. It catches modern attacks that legacy antivirus misses and shortens incident response.
- SIEM / SOC: A SIEM aggregates security logs; a SOC is the team watching and responding 24/7. Together they provide visibility and rapid containment, so small issues don’t become business-stopping incidents.
- Zero Trust: Zero Trust means “never trust, always verify” for every user and device. It limits damage if an account is compromised and is foundational for secure remote/hybrid work.
- Patch Management: Patch management is the disciplined updating of software and firmware. It’s one of the highest-ROI controls for eliminating known vulnerabilities before attackers exploit them.
- Encryption (At Rest / In Transit): Encryption scrambles data stored on disks and traveling over networks. It protects sensitive information and supports regulatory compliance.
Backup, Disaster Recovery & Continuity
- BDR (Backup & Disaster Recovery): BDR combines reliable backups with a tested recovery plan. It determines how quickly you can get back to business, and how much a cyberattack or outage will actually cost.
- RPO / RTO: RPO is how much data you can afford to lose; RTO is how fast you must be restored. Setting these targets aligns IT spending with business tolerance for downtime and data loss.
- Immutable Backups: Immutable backups can’t be altered or deleted, even by admins. They are a critical safeguard against ransomware and insider mistakes.
- Air-Gapped / Offsite Backups: These are copies kept physically or logically separated from your network. If the primary environment is compromised, your recovery lifeline stays safe.
- DRaaS (Disaster Recovery as a Service): DRaaS provides cloud-based failover for critical systems. You get rapid recovery without buying and maintaining duplicate hardware.
Networking & Access
- VPN (Virtual Private Network): A VPN creates an encrypted tunnel for remote access. It protects company data when employees work from home, on the road, or public Wi-Fi.
- VLAN (Virtual LAN): VLANs segment your network into logical zones. Segmentation limits attacker movement, improves performance, and helps with compliance.
- DNS Filtering: DNS filtering blocks access to malicious or risky domains at the lookup stage. It reduces malware infections, phishing success, and shadow IT.
- TLS (Transport Layer Security): TLS encrypts web and email traffic end-to-end. It’s table stakes for secure browsing, customer trust, and regulatory requirements.
Identity & Email Security
- SSO (Single Sign-On): SSO lets users access multiple apps with one secure login. It reduces password fatigue, improves productivity, and lowers risk.
- MFA Fatigue / Push Bombing: Attackers spam approval prompts to trick users into tapping “Approve.” Training plus number-matching or hardware keys defeats this tactic.
- SPF / DKIM / DMARC: These email standards verify sender authenticity and protect your domain from spoofing. They reduce CEO fraud attempts and improve deliverability.
- MDM (Mobile Device Management): MDM centrally manages laptops and mobile devices for updates, encryption, and remote wipe. It protects company data on lost or personal devices and simplifies compliance.
How to Use This with Your Board Today
Here are some ways you can use these terms to talk to your board members and IT team to improve security.
- Ask IT to map each control above to reduce risk, avoid downtime, and support compliance.
- Set RPO/RTO targets per critical system (finance, CRM, production).
- Require a BDR test and a phishing simulation quarterly; review results in the risk committee.
- Mandate MFA, SSO, and patching SLAs for all users, especially executives and finance.
Sure Systems: Hassle-Free IT
For executive teams in Calgary and beyond, we translate the alphabet soup and endless abbreviations into a prioritized, ROI-based plan:
- Assess your current posture and business tolerance (RPO/RTO).
- Translate IT asks into business cases your leadership can act on.
- Prioritize investments that reduce the most risk per dollar.
- Implement & monitor
- Report in business terms: uptime, risk reduction, and cost avoidance.
Close the Communication Gap
Cyber risk isn’t “just an IT problem.” It’s a business risk with real financial impact. Let’s align your leadership team and your IT strategy.
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