Glossary of Technology Terms

Transcription

1 Glossary of Technology Terms 1 Acceptable Use Agreement (AUA) An acceptable use agreement (AUA) is a document that outlines a set of rules to be followed by users or customers of a set of computing resources, which could be a computer network, website or large computer system. An AUA clearly states what the user is and is not allowed to do with these resources. An acceptable use policy is also known as a fair use policy or terms of use. Active Directory Active Directory (AD) is a Windows OS directory service that facilitates working with interconnected, complex and different network resources in a unified manner. Assistive Technology As defined by the Assistive Technology Act of 1998, the term refers to any item, piece of equipment, or product system, whether acquired commercially, modified, or customized, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities. Assistive technologies include: screen readers and magnifiers, closed captioning, alternative keyboards, and other special software and equipment that makes information devices more accessible. Also referred to as Adaptive Technology. Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) Bring your own device (BYOD) refers to employees who bring their own computing devices, such as smartphones, laptops and tablet PCs, to work with them and use them in addition to or instead of company-supplied devices. The prevalence of BYOD is growing as people increasingly own their own high-end mobile computing devices and become more attached to a particular type of device or mobile operating system. Broadband A type of high-speed data transmission in which the bandwidth is shared by more than one simultaneous signal. Business Process Analysis (BPA) Business process analysis (BPA) is the analysis of various business operations classified into processes, or series' of related tasks, where observation revolves around the specific ways in which these processes happen along a life cycle from beginning to end. Because a business process consists of a series of related tasks or events with a particular end objective, business process analysis uses various tools and methodologies to look at these processes in a variety of ways, and to monitor efficiency, productivity and more. CENIC/CALREN a network linking CSUs, UCs, CCCs, and some private colleges in California to a common backbone with access to the Internet. Canvas Multi-device, social media-aware, Cloud-based and centralized LMS used by all California Community Colleges. Enables instructors to publish and maintain centrally-hosted websites for their for-credit classes. CCCApply A California Community Colleges website ( that supports a common online admissions application accepted by most colleges in the system. It also provides information about campus programs and services and is the primary student portal to the system for those who do not enter through a specific college. CCC Information Security Center The California Community Colleges Information Security Center facilitates and coordinates the work of system wide information security (SIS) technology by: Understanding CCC IS priorities Offering free vulnerability scanning Providing free server monitoring Developing IS policies & procedures Promoting IS awareness Publicizing important IS information

2 Cloud (the) The cloud is a friendly way of describing web-based computing services that are hosted outside of our organization. When you use cloud-based services, the IT infrastructure resides off our property (offpremises) and is maintained by a third party (hosted) instead of residing on a server on campus (on-premises) maintained by NVC technology staff. CISCO One of the leading manufacturers of network equipment. Cisco's primary business is in internetworking products. Colleague The College s primary SIS/ERP software created by Datatel. Computer Aided Design (CAD) The use of computer programs and systems to design detailed two- or threedimensional models of the physical. Coupling A linkage between each part of a system such that if one part is modified, the behavior of other parts may also be affected. The degree to which each system module relies on each of the other modules Datatel The college-wide computer software system used to manage and coordinate all of the resources, information, and functions of the college from shared data sources. Data Transfer The ability to import and export information (as appropriate) that is stored in databases to known, commonly used formats, e.g., Delimited files (comma, tab, fixed length), IMS, XML. Disaster Preparedness/ Recovery Plan A Disaster Recovery Plan (DRP) is a business plan that describes how work can be resumed quickly and effectively after a disaster. Disaster recovery planning is just part of business continuity planning and applied to aspects of an organization that rely on an IT infrastructure to function. The overall idea is to develop a plan that will allow the IT department to recover enough data and system functionality to allow a business or organization to operate - even possibly at a minimal level. Distance Education Transmission of instruction to students at a location separate from the institution. DNS (Domain Name System) The domain name system (DNS) stores and associates many types of information with domain names, but most importantly, it translates domain names (computer hostnames) to IP addresses. Domain A group of computers on a network that share a common directory or storage location. Domain name The most common type of domain names are hostnames that provide more memorable names to stand in for numeric IP addresses. Enterprise Architecture (EA) The practice of applying a comprehensive and rigorous method for describing a current and/or future structure and behavior for an organization's processes, information systems, personnel and organizational sub-units, so that they align with the organization's core goals and strategic direction. Enterprise Architecture Principles A set of guiding and value based criterion to be applied to increase consistency and quality in technology decision making. Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Enterprise resource planning (ERP) is a method of efficiently utilizing people, hardware and software to increase productivity and profit, thus simplifying a company s business processes. ERP may include many software applications or a single (but more complex) software package that smoothly disseminates data required by two or more unique business departments. 2

3 Feasibility Study designed to provide an overview of the primary issues related to a technology project. The purpose is to identify any make or break issues that would prevent the project from being successful in meeting requirements and goals of the project. In other words, a feasibility study determines whether the technical approach makes sense. A feasibility study will include an evaluation of alternative approaches and rationale why the selected systems were chosen. FTP or File Transfer Protocol used to connect two computers over the Internet so that the user of one computer can transfer files and perform file commands on the other computer. Hyper V Microsoft Hyper-V is a server virtualization product developed by Microsoft Corporation, which provides virtualization services through hypervisor-based simulations. Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) Information technology infrastructure library (ITIL) is a widely accepted best practices framework for IT service management (ITSM). ITIL includes practices, checklists, tasks and procedures documenting the role of the ITSM function. Additionally, ITIL is supported by a qualification scheme, accredited training organizations and implementation third-party (also called ITIL-aligned) assessment tools. Infrastructure the physical components and associated software used to support the flow and processing of information. Learning Management System (LMS) Software for delivering, tracking and managing education or training. LMSs range from systems for managing training/educational records to software for distributing courses over the Internet and offering features for online collaboration. Local Area Network (LAN) A local area network (LAN) is a computer network within a small geographical area such as a home, school, computer laboratory, office building or group of buildings. A LAN is composed of interconnected workstations and personal computers which are each capable of accessing and sharing data and devices, such as printers, scanners and data storage devices, anywhere on the LAN. Microsoft Exchange Microsoft Exchange Server (Exchange) is a collaborative enterprise server application designed by Microsoft to run on Windows Servers. Exchange supports: Contacts and tasks Calendar Management Information System (MIS) Refers to computer-based systems that manage student, fiscal and other information. The CCC MIS database is comprised of unit record student and staff data from all colleges in the system. Project A human endeavor, involving a team of personnel, plans, actions, and outcomes, which are directed at developing and / or maintaining an information technology based system to achieve a set of goals, within a specified timeline, and within budget. Project Management Institute The Project Management Institute (PMI) is a leader in credentialing project management professionals and advancing the field of project management. Project Management Professional (PMP) Project Management Professional (PMP) credential is the most important industry-recognized certification for project managers. Globally recognized and demanded, the PMP demonstrates experience, education and competency to lead and direct projects. 3

4 Technology Refresh Plan A systematic plan to replace systems, such as computers, before they break or become obsolete. ROI (Return on Investment) the ratio between the net profit and the costs of a purchase or investment. Service Level Agreement (SLA) A Service Level Agreement (SLA) is the service contract component between a service provider and customer. A SLA provides specific and measurable aspects related to service offerings. Single Sign-on (SSO) Single sign-on (SSO) is an authentication process that allows a user to access multiple applications with one set of login credentials. SSO is a common procedure in enterprises, where a client accesses multiple resources connected to a local area network (LAN). SSO advantages include: Eliminates credential re-authentication; thus, improving productivity Streamlines local and remote application and desktop workflow Minimizes phishing Improves compliance through a centralized database Provides detailed user access reporting System Administrator The person primarily responsible for maintaining a multi-user computer system. System-wide Information Security (SIS) A comprehensive approach to ensuring LAN/WAN security. Thin Client A way to configure a group of computers (e.g. a lab) in which the data processing occurs at a centralized server. TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) Includes initial purchase price, costs of maintenance and support, repairs, warranties as well as any unintended costs over the life of the product. Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) The protocol which allows telephone calls to be made over computer networks. WebAdvisor The student and faculty interface to Colleague. Virtualization Virtualization refers to the creation of a virtual resource such as a server, desktop, operating system, file, storage or network. The main goal of virtualization is to manage workloads by radically transforming traditional computing to make it more scalable. Virtualization has been a part of the IT landscape for decades now, and today it can be applied to a wide range of system layers, including operating system-level virtualization, hardware-level virtualization and server virtualization. Virtualized Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) Virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) is a virtualization technique enabling access to a virtualized desktop, which is hosted on a remote service over the Internet. It refers to the software, hardware and other resources required for the virtualization of a standard desktop system. VMWare VMware is a company that was established in 1998 and provides different software and applications for virtualization. It has become one of the key providers of virtualization software in the industry. VPN (Virtual Private Network) a technology that creates a safe and encrypted connection over a less secure network, such as the internet. VPN technology was developed as a way to allow remote users and branch offices to securely access corporate applications and other resources. 4

5 Wi-Fi wireless networking technology that uses radio waves to provide wireless high-speed Internet and network connections. Allows computers and other devices to communicate over a wireless signal. Some definitions contained within this document were provided by the following sources: o o 5