Top 10 Tech Acronyms You Should Know

Tech acronyms are everywhere you look but unless you work in the tech world, they might all seem like Gibberish. Much like most technology today, tech acronyms exist to speed up communication and save ourselves from using complicated (and often long) language. The problem with some tech acronyms is that many eyes glaze over and just see a blur if they are not familiar with the different tech concepts behind the letters. The confusion ends here.

Top 10 Tech Acronyms

EMPIST wants you to be as secure in your knowledge of tech as you are with the tech itself. Although there are hundreds of them, here are the top 10 tech acronyms we think everyone should know.

MSP

MSP is a Managed Services Provider. An MSP remotely manages a company’s IT infrastructure and networks, particularly working on preventative security measures. Typically these services are offered as a subscription.

SaaS

Software as a Service is becoming a more widely used term every day. SaaS is a software distribution model where third-party providers host applications which are then made available to clients over the Internet. SaaS is also used alongside IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service) and PaaS (Platform as a Service) and HaaS (Hardware as a Service).

BDR

Backup and Disaster Recovery is an important one to remember. There is no such thing as too many backups in the face of new cyber threats facing businesses every day. BDR is a specialty of EMPIST, and it is a twofold security measure. It is a solution that combines data backups with proactive measures to restore affected data and keeping business continuity.

IoT

The all-encompassing Internet of Things is a popular term and refers to the whole system of interrelated computing devices. This includes computers, smart devices, and the internetworking of buildings and other objects that are Internet-enabled.  

ISP

Some acronyms sound intimidating but are simple in reality. An ISP stands for Internet Service Provider. It is just industry-speak for the company who provides you with the Internet, such as IBM or AT&T.

IaaS

Infrastructure as a Service is a part of one of EMPIST’s favorite things – cloud computing. IaaS is a self-service model used for remote monitoring and accessing data center infrastructures.

MFA

Multi-Factor Authentication refers to the multiple levels of security recommended to keep sensitive data secure. It can include a secure password, Touch ID and biometric security, email/text code confirmation and others.

SSL

Secure Socket Layer is the security used to establish an encrypted connection between a web server and a browser. SSL is an industry standard for websites to ensure the safe and legal passing of data between web servers and browsers. It requires an SSL Certificate to be activated.

IDS

An Intrusion Detection System is a software application or a device that monitors your networks for any signs of malicious activity or security threats. They can detect bad patterns and use machine learning to prevent an attack on your cyber systems.

SSO

Single Sign-On is a user and session authentication services that allow a user to only need one set of login credentials to gain access to multiple applications.

With these tech acronyms under your belt, you’ll feel like a bit of an expert yourself! For everything else, EMPIST is here to lend a hand.

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