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Do you ever wonder what your IT director is talking about when they throw all those random phrases and tech terms at you? If DNS, ATP, and vCIO just sound like alphabet soup to you, don’t worry. We’re here to break it all down in simple terms, so the next time you get caught in the middle of a tech talk, you can chime in with a few acronyms of your own.

ATP / Advanced Threat Protection – This is a series of security solutions that defend against sophisticated malware and cyberattacks that target sensitive data. Advanced threat protection solutions are available as software or as a managed service and they can help businesses anticipate and prevent security breaches.

Switch – A switch is a high speed device that allows data transfer between many devices that connect to it, on a network.

WLAN / Wireless LAN  / Local Area Network – When businesses want to give their team members the ability to work remotely they’ll use a WLAN. The WLAN  has APs (Access Points) that send and receive radio signals allowing devices like laptops or tablets the ability to connect to the network without any physical connection to it. 

DNS / Domain Name System – The DNS is basically like the phone book of the internet. If you imagine the DNS as being your contact list, which matches people’s names with their phone numbers and email addresses. Then multiply that contact list by just about everyone else in the world.

DHCP / Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol – DHCP is a network protocol that’s used on IP networks where a DHCP server automatically assigns IP addresses and other information to each host on the network so they can communicate efficiently with other endpoints.

ICMP / Internet Control Message Protocol – ICMP is a tool used to determine whether data is reaching its intended destination in a timely manner. “Ping” is another term used for ICMP.

IP / Internet Protocol address –  Your IP address is the network address for your computer so the internet knows where to send your emails and data.

AV / Antivirus – This is software that protects devices from malware, viruses, and cybercriminals. Antivirus software looks at web pages, files, and applications and searches for known threats and monitors the behavior of programs.

VoIP / Voice Over Internet Protocol – Simply put, this is digital calling over the internet. VoIP is a method of technology that converts your voice into a digital signal, allowing you to make a call from any data-driven device.

IoT / Internet of Things – The network of physical objects—“things”—that are embedded with sensors, software, and other technologies for the purpose of connecting and exchanging data with other devices and systems over the internet.

VM / Virtual Machine – A virtual environment that functions as a virtual computer system with its own CPU, memory, network interface, and storage, created on a physical hardware system (located off- or on-premises).

MDM / Mobile Device Management – An industry term for the administration of mobile devices, such as smartphones, tablet computers and laptops. MDM allows IT administrators to control, secure, and enforce policies on these devices.

SaaS / Software as a Service – Software as a service is a software licensing and delivery model in which software is licensed on a subscription basis and is centrally hosted.

vCIO / Virtual Chief Information Officer –  A dedicated resource or consultant who serves as a virtual Chief Information Officer to organizations that do not have a full time CIO on staff. This person provides strategic technology consulting, recommendations, plans the budget, and facilitates technology changes. Did you know IT Resource offers vCIO as a service? 

The world of IT can be complex. If you ever have any questions or need more clarification, please don’t hesitate to give us a call. We’re here to help you, whether you need someone to take complete control of your IT, or you just need a little guidance here and there.