glossary.md

Larger online version: https://csrc.nist.gov/glossary

A

• Absolute file path: The full file path, which starts from the root
• Access controls: Security controls that manage access, authorization, and accountability of information
• Active packet sniffing: A type of attack where data packets are manipulated in transit
• Address Resolution Protocol (ARP): A network protocol used to determine the MAC address of the next router or device on the path
• Advanced persistent threat (APT): An instance when a threat actor maintains unauthorized access to a system for an extended period of time
• Adversarial artificial intelligence (AI): A technique that manipulates artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) technology to conduct attacks more efficiently
• Adware: A type of legitimate software that is sometimes used to display digital advertisements in applications
• Algorithm: A set of rules used to solve a problem
• Analysis: The investigation and validation of alerts
• Angler phishing: A technique where attackers impersonate customer service representatives on social media
• Anomaly-based analysis: A detection method that identifies abnormal behavior
• Antivirus software: A software program used to prevent, detect, and eliminate malware and viruses
• Application: A program that performs a specific task
• Application programming interface (API) token: A small block of encrypted code that contains information about a user
• Argument (Linux): Specific information needed by a command
• Argument (Python): The data brought into a function when it is called
• Array: A data type that stores data in a comma-separated ordered list
• Assess: The fifth step of the NIST RMF that means to determine if established controls are implemented correctly
• Asset: An item perceived as having value to an organization
• Asset classification: The practice of labeling assets based on sensitivity and importance to an organization
• Asset inventory: A catalog of assets that need to be protected
• Asset management: The process of tracking assets and the risks that affect them
• Asymmetric encryption: The use of a public and private key pair for encryption and decryption of data
• Attack surface: All the potential vulnerabilities that a threat actor could exploit
• Attack tree: A diagram that maps threats to assets
• Attack vectors: The pathways attackers use to penetrate security defenses
• Authentication: The process of verifying who someone is
• Authorization: The concept of granting access to specific resources in a system
• Authorize: The sixth step of the NIST RMF that refers to being accountable for the security and privacy risks that might exist in an organization
• Automation: The use of technology to reduce human and manual effort to perform common and repetitive tasks
• Availability: The idea that data is accessible to those who are authorized to access it

B

• Baiting: A social engineering tactic that tempts people into compromising their security
• Bandwidth: The maximum data transmission capacity over a network, measured by bits per second
• Baseline configuration (baseline image): A documented set of specifications within a system that is used as a basis for future builds, releases, and updates
• Bash: The default shell in most Linux distributions
• Basic auth: The technology used to establish a user’s request to access a server
• Basic Input/Output System (BIOS): A microchip that contains loading instructions for the computer and is prevalent in older systems
• Biometrics: The unique physical characteristics that can be used to verify a person’s identity
• Bit: The smallest unit of data measurement on a computer
• Boolean data: Data that can only be one of two values: either True or False
• Bootloader: A software program that boots the operating system
• Botnet: A collection of computers infected by malware that are under the control of a single threat actor, known as the “bot-herder"
• Bracket notation: The indices placed in square brackets
• Broken chain of custody: Inconsistencies in the collection and logging of evidence in the chain of custody
• Brute force attack: The trial and error process of discovering private information
• Bug bounty: Programs that encourage freelance hackers to find and report vulnerabilities
• Built-in function: A function that exists within Python and can be called directly
• Business continuity: An organization's ability to maintain their everyday productivity by establishing risk disaster recovery plans
• Business continuity plan (BCP): A document that outlines the procedures to sustain business operations during and after a significant disruption
• Business Email Compromise (BEC): A type of phishing attack where a threat actor impersonates a known source to obtain financial advantage

C

• Categorize: The second step of the NIST RMF that is used to develop risk management processes and tasks
• CentOS: An open-source distribution that is closely related to Red Hat
• Central Processing Unit (CPU): A computer’s main processor, which is used to perform general computing tasks on a computer
• Chain of custody: The process of documenting evidence possession and control during an incident lifecycle
• Chronicle: A cloud-native tool designed to retain, analyze, and search data
• Cipher: An algorithm that encrypts information
• Cloud-based firewalls: Software firewalls that are hosted by the cloud service provider
• Cloud computing: The practice of using remote servers, applications, and network services that are hosted on the internet instead of on local physical devices
• Cloud network: A collection of servers or computers that stores resources and data in remote data centers that can be accessed via the internet
• Cloud security: The process of ensuring that assets stored in the cloud are properly configured and access to those assets is limited to authorized users
• Command: An instruction telling the computer to do something
• Command and control (C2): The techniques used by malicious actors to maintain communications with compromised systems
• Command-line interface (CLI): A text-based user interface that uses commands to interact with the computer
• Comment: A note programmers make about the intention behind their code
• Common Event Format (CEF): A log format that uses key-value pairs to structure data and identify fields and their corresponding values
• Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE®) list: An openly accessible dictionary of known vulnerabilities and exposures
• Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS): A measurement system that scores the severity of a vulnerability
• Compliance: The process of adhering to internal standards and external regulations
• Computer security incident response teams (CSIRT): A specialized group of security professionals that are trained in incident management and response
• Computer virus: Malicious code written to interfere with computer operations and cause damage to data and software
• Conditional statement: A statement that evaluates code to determine if it meets a specified set of conditions
• Confidentiality: The idea that only authorized users can access specific assets or data
• Confidential data: Data that often has limits on the number of people who have access to it
• Confidentiality, integrity, availability (CIA) triad: A model that helps inform how organizations consider risk when setting up systems and security policies
• Configuration file: A file used to configure the settings of an application
• Containment: The act of limiting and preventing additional damage caused by an incident
• Controlled zone: A subnet that protects the internal network from the uncontrolled zone
• Cross-site scripting (XSS): An injection attack that inserts code into a vulnerable website or web application
• Crowdsourcing: The practice of gathering information using public input and collaboration
• Cryptographic attack: An attack that affects secure forms of communication between a sender and intended recipient
• Cryptographic key: A mechanism that decrypts ciphertext
• Cryptography: The process of transforming information into a form that unintended readers can’t understand
• Cryptojacking: A form of malware that installs software to illegally mine cryptocurrencies
• CVE Numbering Authority (CNA): An organization that volunteers to analyze and distribute information on eligible CVEs
• Cybersecurity (or security): The practice of ensuring confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information by protecting networks, devices, people, and data from unauthorized access or criminal exploitation

D

• Data: Information that is translated, processed, or stored by a computer
• Data at rest: Data not currently being accessed
• Database: An organized collection of information or data
• Data controller: A person that determines the procedure and purpose for processing data
• Data custodian: Anyone or anything that’s responsible for the safe handling, transport, and storage of information
• Data exfiltration: Unauthorized transmission of data from a system
• Data in transit: Data traveling from one point to another
• Data in use: Data being accessed by one or more users
• Data owner: The person who decides who can access, edit, use, or destroy their information
• Data packet: A basic unit of information that travels from one device to another within a network
• Data point: A specific piece of information
• Data processor: A person that is responsible for processing data on behalf of the data controller
• Data protection officer (DPO): An individual that is responsible for monitoring the compliance of an organization's data protection procedures
• Data type: A category for a particular type of data item
• Date and time data: Data representing a date and/or time
• Debugger: A software tool that helps to locate the source of an error and assess its causes
• Debugging: The practice of identifying and fixing errors in code
• Defense in depth: A layered approach to vulnerability management that reduces risk
• Denial of service (DoS) attack: An attack that targets a network or server and floods it with network traffic
• Detect: A NIST core function related to identifying potential security incidents and improving monitoring capabilities to increase the speed and efficiency of detections
• Detection: The prompt discovery of security events
• Dictionary data: Data that consists of one or more key-value pairs
• Digital certificate: A file that verifies the identity of a public key holder
• Digital forensics: The practice of collecting and analyzing data to determine what has happened after an attack
• Directory: A file that organizes where other files are stored
• Disaster recovery plan: A plan that allows an organization’s security team to outline the steps needed to minimize the impact of a security incident
• Distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack: A type of denial of service attack that uses multiple devices or servers located in different locations to flood the target network with unwanted traffic
• Distributions: The different versions of Linux
• Documentation: Any form of recorded content that is used for a specific purpose
• DOM-based XSS attack: An instance when malicious script exists in the webpage a browser loads
• Domain Name System (DNS): A networking protocol that translates internet domain names into IP addresses
• Dropper: A type of malware that comes packed with malicious code which is delivered and installed onto a target system

E

• Elevator pitch: A brief summary of your experience, skills, and background
• Encapsulation: A process performed by a VPN service that protects your data by wrapping sensitive data in other data packets
• Encryption: The process of converting data from a readable format to an encoded format
• Endpoint: Any device connected on a network
• Endpoint detection and response (EDR): An application that monitors an endpoint for malicious activity
• Eradication: The complete removal of the incident elements from all affected systems
• Escalation policy: A set of actions that outline who should be notified when an incident alert occurs and how that incident should be handled
• Event: An observable occurrence on a network, system, or device
• Exception: An error that involves code that cannot be executed even though it is syntactically correct
• Exclusive operator: An operator that does not include the value of comparison
• Exploit: A way of taking advantage of a vulnerability
• Exposure: A mistake that can be exploited by a threat
• External threat: Anything outside the organization that has the potential to harm organizational assets

F

• False negative: A state where the presence of a threat is not detected
• False positive: An alert that incorrectly detects the presence of a threat
• Fileless malware: Malware that does not need to be installed by the user because it uses legitimate programs that are already installed to infect a computer
• File path: The location of a file or directory
• Filesystem Hierarchy Standard (FHS): The component of the Linux OS that organizes data
• Filtering: Selecting data that match a certain condition
• Final report: Documentation that provides a comprehensive review of an incident
• Firewall: A network security device that monitors traffic to or from a network
• Float data: Data consisting of a number with a decimal point
• Foreign key: A column in a table that is a primary key in another table
• Forward proxy server: A server that regulates and restricts a person’s access to the internet
• Function: A section of code that can be reused in a program

G

• Global variable: A variable that is available through the entire program
• Graphical user interface (GUI): A user interface that uses icons on the screen to manage different tasks on the computer

H

• Hacker: Any person who uses computers to gain access to computer systems, networks, or data
• Hacktivist: A person who uses hacking to achieve a political goal
• Hard drive: A hardware component used for long-term memory
• Hardware: The physical components of a computer
• Hash collision: An instance when different inputs produce the same hash value
• Hash function: An algorithm that produces a code that can’t be decrypted
• Hash table: A data structure that's used to store and reference hash values
• Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA): A U.S. federal law established to protect patients’ health information
• Honeypot: A system or resource created as a decoy vulnerable to attacks with the purpose of attracting potential intruders
• Host-based intrusion detection system (HIDS): An application that monitors the activity of the host on which it’s installed
• Hub: A network device that broadcasts information to every device on the network
• Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP): An application layer protocol that provides a method of communication between clients and website servers
• Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS): A network protocol that provides a secure method of communication between clients and website servers

I

• Identify: A NIST core function related to management of cybersecurity risk and its effect on an organization’s people and assets
• Identity and access management (IAM): A collection of processes and technologies that helps organizations manage digital identities in their environment
• IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi): A set of standards that define communication for wireless LANs
• Immutable: An object that cannot be changed after it is created and assigned a value
• Implement: The fourth step of the NIST RMF that means to implement security and privacy plans for an organization
• Improper usage: An incident type that occurs when an employee of an organization violates the organization’s acceptable use policies
• Incident: An occurrence that actually or imminently jeopardizes, without lawful authority, the confidentiality, integrity, or availability of information or an information system; or constitutes a violation or imminent threat of violation of law, security policies, security procedures, or acceptable use policies
• Incident escalation: The process of identifying a potential security incident, triaging it, and handing it off to a more experienced team member
• Incident handler’s journal: A form of documentation used in incident response
• Incident response: An organization’s quick attempt to identify an attack, contain the damage, and correct the effects of a security breach
• Incident response plan: A document that outlines the procedures to take in each step of incident response
• Inclusive operator: An operator that includes the value of comparison
• Indentation: Space added at the beginning of a line of code
• Index: A number assigned to every element in a sequence that indicates its position
• Indicators of attack (IoA): The series of observed events that indicate a real-time incident
• Indicators of compromise (IoC): Observable evidence that suggests signs of a potential security incident
• Information privacy: The protection of unauthorized access and distribution of data
• Information security (InfoSec): The practice of keeping data in all states away from unauthorized users
• Injection attack: Malicious code inserted into a vulnerable application
• Input validation: Programming that validates inputs from users and other programs
• Integer data: Data consisting of a number that does not include a decimal point
• Integrated development environment (IDE): A software application for writing code that provides editing assistance and error correction tools
• Integrity: The idea that the data is correct, authentic, and reliable
• Internal hardware: The components required to run the computer
• Internal threat: A current or former employee, external vendor, or trusted partner who poses a security risk
• Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP): An internet protocol used by devices to tell each other about data transmission errors across the network
• Internet Control Message Protocol flood (ICMP flood): A type of DoS attack performed by an attacker repeatedly sending ICMP request packets to a network server
• Internet Protocol (IP): A set of standards used for routing and addressing data packets as they travel between devices on a network
• Internet Protocol (IP) address: A unique string of characters that identifies the location of a device on the internet
• Interpreter: A computer program that translates Python code into runnable instructions line by line
• Intrusion detection system (IDS): An application that monitors system activity and alerts on possible intrusions
• Intrusion prevention system (IPS): An application that monitors system activity for intrusive activity and takes action to stop the activity
• IP spoofing: A network attack performed when an attacker changes the source IP of a data packet to impersonate an authorized system and gain access to a network
• Iterative statement: Code that repeatedly executes a set of instructions

K

• KALI LINUX ™: An open-source distribution of Linux that is widely used in the security industry
• Kernel: The component of the Linux OS that manages processes and memory
• Key-value pair: A set of data that represents two linked items: a key, and its corresponding value

L

• Legacy operating system: An operating system that is outdated but still being used
• Lessons learned meeting: A meeting that includes all involved parties after a major incident
• Library: A collection of modules that provide code users can access in their programs
• Linux: An open-source operating system
• List concatenation: The concept of combining two lists into one by placing the elements of the second list directly after the elements of the first list
• List data: Data structure that consists of a collection of data in sequential form
• Loader: A type of malware that downloads strains of malicious code from an external source and installs them onto a target system
• Local Area Network (LAN): A network that spans small areas like an office building, a school, or a home
• Local variable: A variable assigned within a function
• Log: A record of events that occur within an organization’s systems
• Log analysis: The process of examining logs to identify events of interest
• Logging: The recording of events occurring on computer systems and networks
• Logic error: An error that results when the logic used in code produces unintended results
• Log management: The process of collecting, storing, analyzing, and disposing of log data
• Loop condition: The part of a loop that determines when the loop terminates
• Loop variable: A variable that is used to control the iterations of a loop

M

• Malware: Software designed to harm devices or networks
• Malware infection: An incident type that occurs when malicious software designed to disrupt a system infiltrates an organization’s computers or network
• Media Access Control (MAC) address: A unique alphanumeric identifier that is assigned to each physical device on a network
• Method: A function that belongs to a specific data type
• Metrics: Key technical attributes such as response time, availability, and failure rate, which are used to assess the performance of a software application
• MITRE: A collection of non-profit research and development centers
• Modem: A device that connects your router to the internet and brings internet access to the LAN
• Module: A Python file that contains additional functions, variables, classes, and any kind of runnable code
• Monitor: The seventh step of the NIST RMF that means be aware of how systems are operating
• Multi-factor authentication (MFA): A security measure that requires a user to verify their identity in two or more ways to access a system or network

N

• nano: A command-line file editor that is available by default in many Linux distributions
• National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Cybersecurity Framework (CSF): A voluntary framework that consists of standards, guidelines, and best practices to manage cybersecurity risk
• National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Incident Response Lifecycle: A framework for incident response consisting of four phases: Preparation; Detection and Analysis; Containment, Eradication and Recovery, and Post-incident activity
• National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Special Publication (S.P.) 800-53: A unified framework for protecting the security of information systems within the U.S. federal government
• Network: A group of connected devices
• Network-based intrusion detection system (NIDS): An application that collects and monitors network traffic and network data
• Network data: The data that’s transmitted between devices on a network
• Network Interface Card (NIC): Hardware that connects computers to a network
• Network log analysis: The process of examining network logs to identify events of interest
• Network protocol analyzer (packet sniffer): A tool designed to capture and analyze data traffic within a network
• Network protocols: A set of rules used by two or more devices on a network to describe the order of delivery and the structure of data
• Network security: The practice of keeping an organization's network infrastructure secure from unauthorized access
• Network segmentation: A security technique that divides the network into segments
• Network traffic: The amount of data that moves across a network
• Non-repudiation: The concept that the authenticity of information can’t be denied
• Notebook: An online interface for writing, storing, and running code
• Numeric data: Data consisting of numbers

O

• OAuth: An open-standard authorization protocol that shares designated access between applications
• Object: A data type that stores data in a comma-separated list of key-value pairs
• On-path attack: An attack where a malicious actor places themselves in the middle of an authorized connection and intercepts or alters the data in transit
• Open-source intelligence (OSINT): The collection and analysis of information from publicly available sources to generate usable intelligence
• Open systems interconnection (OSI) model: A standardized concept that describes the seven layers computers use to communicate and send data over the network
• Open Web Application Security Project/Open Worldwide Application Security Project (OWASP): A non-profit organization focused on improving software security
• Operating system (OS): The interface between computer hardware and the user
• Operator: A symbol or keyword that represents an operation
• Options: Input that modifies the behavior of a command
• Order of volatility: A sequence outlining the order of data that must be preserved from first to last
• OWASP Top 10: A globally recognized standard awareness document that lists the top 10 most critical security risks to web applications

P

• Package: A piece of software that can be combined with other packages to form an application
• Package manager: A tool that helps users install, manage, and remove packages or applications
• Packet capture (P-cap): A file containing data packets intercepted from an interface or network
• Packet sniffing: The practice of capturing and inspecting data packets across a network
• Parameter (Python): An object that is included in a function definition for use in that function
• Parrot: An open-source distribution that is commonly used for security
• Parsing: The process of converting data into a more readable format
• Passive packet sniffing: A type of attack where a malicious actor connects to a network hub and looks at all traffic on the network
• Password attack: An attempt to access password secured devices, systems, networks, or data
• Patch update: A software and operating system update that addresses security vulnerabilities within a program or product
• Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCI DSS): A set of security standards formed by major organizations in the financial industry
• Penetration test (pen test): A simulated attack that helps identify vulnerabilities in systems, networks, websites, applications, and processes
• PEP 8 style guide: A resource that provides stylistic guidelines for programmers working in Python
• Peripheral devices: Hardware components that are attached and controlled by the computer system
• Permissions: The type of access granted for a file or directory
• Personally identifiable information (PII): Any information used to infer an individual's identity
• Phishing: The use of digital communications to trick people into revealing sensitive data or deploying malicious software
• Phishing kit: A collection of software tools needed to launch a phishing campaign
• Physical attack: A security incident that affects not only digital but also physical environments where the incident is deployed
• Physical social engineering: An attack in which a threat actor impersonates an employee, customer, or vendor to obtain unauthorized access to a physical location
• Ping of death: A type of DoS attack caused when a hacker pings a system by sending it an oversized ICMP packet that is bigger than 64KB
• Playbook: A manual that provides details about any operational action
• Policy: A set of rules that reduce risk and protect information
• Port: A software-based location that organizes the sending and receiving of data between devices on a network
• Port filtering: A firewall function that blocks or allows certain port numbers to limit unwanted communication
• Post-incident activity: The process of reviewing an incident to identify areas for improvement during incident handling
• Potentially unwanted application (PUA): A type of unwanted software that is bundled in with legitimate programs which might display ads, cause device slowdown, or install other software
• Private data: Information that should be kept from the public
• Prepare: The first step of the NIST RMF related to activities that are necessary to manage security and privacy risks before a breach occurs
• Prepared statement: A coding technique that executes SQL statements before passing them on to a database
• Primary key: A column where every row has a unique entry
• Principle of least privilege: The concept of granting only the minimal access and authorization required to complete a task or function
• Privacy protection: The act of safeguarding personal information from unauthorized use
• Procedures: Step-by-step instructions to perform a specific security task
• Process of Attack Simulation and Threat Analysis (PASTA): A popular threat modeling framework that’s used across many industries
• Programming: A process that can be used to create a specific set of instructions for a computer to execute tasks
• Protect: A NIST core function used to protect an organization through the implementation of policies, procedures, training, and tools that help mitigate cybersecurity threats
• Protected health information (PHI): Information that relates to the past, present, or future physical or mental health or condition of an individual
• Protecting and preserving evidence: The process of properly working with fragile and volatile digital evidence
• Proxy server: A server that fulfills the requests of its clients by forwarding them to other servers
• Public data: Data that is already accessible to the public and poses a minimal risk to the organization if viewed or shared by others
• Public key infrastructure (PKI): An encryption framework that secures the exchange of online information
• Python Standard Library: An extensive collection of Python code that often comes packaged with Python

Q

• Query: A request for data from a database table or a combination of tables
• Quid pro quo: A type of baiting used to trick someone into believing that they’ll be rewarded in return for sharing access, information, or money

R

• Rainbow table: A file of pre-generated hash values and their associated plaintext
• Random Access Memory (RAM): A hardware component used for short-term memory
• Ransomware: A malicious attack where threat actors encrypt an organization’s data and demand payment to restore access
• Rapport: A friendly relationship in which the people involved understand each other’s ideas and communicate well with each other
• Recover: A NIST core function related to returning affected systems back to normal operation
• Recovery: The process of returning affected systems back to normal operations
• Red Hat® Enterprise Linux® (also referred to simply as Red Hat in this course): A subscription-based distribution of Linux built for enterprise use
• Reflected XSS attack: An instance when malicious script is sent to a server and activated during the server’s response
• Regular expression (regex): A sequence of characters that forms a pattern
• Regulations: Rules set by a government or other authority to control the way something is done
• Relational database: A structured database containing tables that are related to each other
• Relative file path: A file path that starts from the user's current directory
• Replay attack: A network attack performed when a malicious actor intercepts a data packet in transit and delays it or repeats it at another time
• Resiliency: The ability to prepare for, respond to, and recover from disruptions
• Respond: A NIST core function related to making sure that the proper procedures are used to contain, neutralize, and analyze security incidents, and implement improvements to the security process
• Return statement: A Python statement that executes inside a function and sends information back to the function call
• Reverse proxy server: A server that regulates and restricts the internet's access to an internal server
• Risk: Anything that can impact the confidentiality, integrity, or availability of an asset
• Risk mitigation: The process of having the right procedures and rules in place to quickly reduce the impact of a risk like a breach
• Root directory: The highest-level directory in Linux
• Rootkit: Malware that provides remote, administrative access to a computer
• Root user (or superuser): A user with elevated privileges to modify the system
• Router: A network device that connects multiple networks together

S

• Salting: An additional safeguard that’s used to strengthen hash functions
• Scareware: Malware that employs tactics to frighten users into infecting their device
• Search Processing Language (SPL): Splunk’s query language
• Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP): A secure protocol used to transfer files from one device to another over a network
• Secure shell (SSH): A security protocol used to create a shell with a remote system
• Security architecture: A type of security design composed of multiple components, such as tools and processes, that are used to protect an organization from risks and external threats
• Security audit: A review of an organization's security controls, policies, and procedures against a set of expectations
• Security controls: Safeguards designed to reduce specific security risks
• Security ethics: Guidelines for making appropriate decisions as a security professional
• Security frameworks: Guidelines used for building plans to help mitigate risk and threats to data and privacy
• Security governance: Practices that help support, define, and direct security efforts of an organization
• Security hardening: The process of strengthening a system to reduce its vulnerabilities and attack surface
• Security information and event management (SIEM): An application that collects and analyzes log data to monitor critical activities in an organization
• Security mindset: The ability to evaluate risk and constantly seek out and identify the potential or actual breach of a system, application, or data
• Security operations center (SOC): An organizational unit dedicated to monitoring networks, systems, and devices for security threats or attacks
• Security orchestration, automation, and response (SOAR): A collection of applications, tools, and workflows that use automation to respond to security events
• Security posture: An organization’s ability to manage its defense of critical assets and data and react to change
• Security zone: A segment of a company’s network that protects the internal network from the internet
• Select: The third step of the NIST RMF that means to choose, customize, and capture documentation of the controls that protect an organization
• Sensitive data: A type of data that includes personally identifiable information (PII), sensitive personally identifiable information (SPII), or protected health information (PHI)
• Sensitive personally identifiable information (SPII): A specific type of PII that falls under stricter handling guidelines
• Separation of duties: The principle that users should not be given levels of authorization that would allow them to misuse a system
• Session: a sequence of network HTTP requests and responses associated with the same user
• Session cookie: A token that websites use to validate a session and determine how long that session should last
• Session hijacking: An event when attackers obtain a legitimate user’s session ID
• Session ID: A unique token that identifies a user and their device while accessing a system
• Set data: Data that consists of an unordered collection of unique values
• Shared responsibility: The idea that all individuals within an organization take an active role in lowering risk and maintaining both physical and virtual security
• Shell: The command-line interpreter
• Signature: A pattern that is associated with malicious activity
• Signature analysis: A detection method used to find events of interest
• Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP): A network protocol used for monitoring and managing devices on a network
• Single sign-on (SSO): A technology that combines several different logins into one
• Smishing: The use of text messages to trick users to obtain sensitive information or to impersonate a known source
• Smurf attack: A network attack performed when an attacker sniffs an authorized user’s IP address and floods it with ICMP packets
• Social engineering: A manipulation technique that exploits human error to gain private information, access, or valuables
• Social media phishing: A type of attack where a threat actor collects detailed information about their target on social media sites before initiating the attack
• Spear phishing: A malicious email attack targeting a specific user or group of users, appearing to originate from a trusted source
• Speed: The rate at which a device sends and receives data, measured by bits per second
• Splunk Cloud: A cloud-hosted tool used to collect, search, and monitor log data
• Splunk Enterprise: A self-hosted tool used to retain, analyze, and search an organization's log data to provide security information and alerts in real-time
• Spyware: Malware that’s used to gather and sell information without consent
• SQL (Structured Query Language): A programming language used to create, interact with, and request information from a database
• SQL injection: An attack that executes unexpected queries on a database
• Stakeholder: An individual or group that has an interest in any decision or activity of an organization
• Standard error: An error message returned by the OS through the shell
• Standard input: Information received by the OS via the command line
• Standard output: Information returned by the OS through the shell
• Standards: References that inform how to set policies
• STAR method: An interview technique used to answer behavioral and situational questions
• Stateful: A class of firewall that keeps track of information passing through it and proactively filters out threats
• Stateless: A class of firewall that operates based on predefined rules and that does not keep track of information from data packets
• Stored XSS attack: An instance when malicious script is injected directly on the server
• String concatenation: The process of joining two strings together
• String data: Data consisting of an ordered sequence of characters
• Style guide: A manual that informs the writing, formatting, and design of documents
• Subnetting: The subdivision of a network into logical groups called subnets
• Substring: A continuous sequence of characters within a string
• Sudo: A command that temporarily grants elevated permissions to specific users
• Supply-chain attack: An attack that targets systems, applications, hardware, and/or software to locate a vulnerability where malware can be deployed
• Suricata: An open-source intrusion detection system, intrusion prevention system, and network analysis tool
• Switch: A device that makes connections between specific devices on a network by sending and receiving data between them
• Symmetric encryption: The use of a single secret key to exchange information
• Synchronize (SYN) flood attack: A type of DoS attack that simulates a TCP/IP connection and floods a server with SYN packets
• Syntax: The rules that determine what is correctly structured in a computing language
• Syntax error: An error that involves invalid usage of a programming language

T

• Tailgating: A social engineering tactic in which unauthorized people follow an authorized person into a restricted area
• TCP/IP model: A framework used to visualize how data is organized and transmitted across a network
• tcpdump: A command-line network protocol analyzer
• Technical skills: Skills that require knowledge of specific tools, procedures, and policies
• Telemetry: The collection and transmission of data for analysis
• Threat: Any circumstance or event that can negatively impact assets
• Threat actor: Any person or group who presents a security risk
• Threat hunting: The proactive search for threats on a network
• Threat intelligence: Evidence-based threat information that provides context about existing or emerging threats
• Threat modeling: The process of identifying assets, their vulnerabilities, and how each is exposed to threats
• Transferable skills: Skills from other areas that can apply to different careers
• Transmission Control Protocol (TCP): An internet communication protocol that allows two devices to form a connection and stream data
• Triage: The prioritizing of incidents according to their level of importance or urgency
• Trojan horse: Malware that looks like a legitimate file or program
• True negative: A state where there is no detection of malicious activity
• True positive An alert that correctly detects the presence of an attack
• Tuple data: Data structure that consists of a collection of data that cannot be changed
• Type error: An error that results from using the wrong data type

U

• Ubuntu: An open-source, user-friendly distribution that is widely used in security and other industries
• Unauthorized access: An incident type that occurs when an individual gains digital or physical access to a system or application without permission
• Uncontrolled zone: Any network outside your organization's control
• Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI): A microchip that contains loading instructions for the computer and replaces BIOS on more modern systems
• USB baiting: An attack in which a threat actor strategically leaves a malware USB stick for an employee to find and install to unknowingly infect a network
• User: The person interacting with a computer
• User Datagram Protocol (UDP): A connectionless protocol that does not establish a connection between devices before transmissions
• User-defined function: A function that programmers design for their specific needs
• User interface: A program that allows the user to control the functions of the operating system
• User provisioning: The process of creating and maintaining a user's digital identity

V

• Variable: A container that stores data
• Virtual machine (VM): A virtual version of a physical computer
• Virtual Private Network (VPN): A network security service that changes your public IP address and hides your virtual location so that you can keep your data private when you are using a public network like the internet
• Virus: Malicious code written to interfere with computer operations and cause damage to data and software
• VirusTotal: A service that allows anyone to analyze suspicious files, domains, URLs, and IP addresses for malicious content
• Vishing: The exploitation of electronic voice communication to obtain sensitive information or to impersonate a known source
• Visual dashboard: A way of displaying various types of data quickly in one place
• Vulnerability: A weakness that can be exploited by a threat
• Vulnerability assessment: The internal review process of an organization's security systems
• Vulnerability management: The process of finding and patching vulnerabilities
• Vulnerability scanner: Software that automatically compares existing common vulnerabilities and exposures against the technologies on the network

W

• Watering hole attack: A type of attack when a threat actor compromises a website frequently visited by a specific group of users
• Web-based exploits: Malicious code or behavior that’s used to take advantage of coding flaws in a web application
• Whaling: A category of spear phishing attempts that are aimed at high-ranking executives in an organization
• Wide Area Network (WAN): A network that spans a large geographic area like a city, state, or country
• Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA): A wireless security protocol for devices to connect to the internet
• Wildcard: A special character that can be substituted with any other character
• Wireshark: An open-source network protocol analyzer
• World-writable file: A file that can be altered by anyone in the world
• Worm: Malware that can duplicate and spread itself across systems on its own

Y

• YARA-L: A computer language used to create rules for searching through ingested log data

Z

• Zero-day: An exploit that was previously unknown