Graduate job-speak: a glossary of IT business terms

A

• agile software development A software development methodology that anticipates a need for flexibility, delivering approved, functioning elements of an application as they are ready rather than one complete application at the end of a project.
• application A program designed to perform a specific function for the user or for another application program.
• ASP (1) Active Server Page – an HTML page including scripts that are processed on a web server before the page is sent to the user.
• ASP (2) Application Service Provider – a company offering online access to applications and services that would otherwise be located on individual computers.
• availability An IT system's availability and resilience to failure resulting in down time.

B

• bandwidth The amount of data that can be sent through a communications channel in one second.
• Basel II International regulation related to banking practices to guard against financial and operational risks within an organisation.
• beta testing Testing an unrelesed version of software by letting selected developers use it.
• blog A personal journal that is accessible to the general public on the internet. Short for ‘Weblog’.
• Bluetooth A wireless standard developed to replace cables connecting devices such as PCs and printers, or mobiles and headsets.
• broadband Telecommunication where a wide frequency band allows a greater volume of information to be transmitted.

C

• C, C++ C is one of the dominant languages used by programmers. C++ is a later, object-oriented version.
• CMM Capability Maturity Model. A fivelevel model used for refining and developing an organisation’s software development process.
• compliance Compliance is about developing technology and processes that meet established guidelines, specifications or legislation.
• convergence Two or more distinct technologies brought together in one device, eg camera phones.
• CRM Customer Relationship Management. An integrated information system enabling a customer to interact with a company and receive consistently high quality service.

D

• data mining A database software application thatsearches for hidden patterns and relationships within in collection of data.
• denial of service attack (DoS) When a user/company is deprived of network services and their website may be temporarily shut down.
• DNS Domain Name System. Locates common website domain names and translates them into internet protocol (IP) addresses.
• domain A set of network addresses organised in levels. The top level identifies some geographic or purpose commonality, while the lower levels specify a unique place within this.
• DSL Digital Subscriber Line (or Loop). Refers to technology that enables the mixing of data, voice and video over telephone lines.

E

• e-commerce/-business Banking, buying, selling, trading etc carried out over the internet.
• embedded system A combination of hardware and software, either programmable or with fixed capability, specifically designed for some application device, eg vending machines.
• enterprise Industry word describing any organisation that uses computers.
• ECDL European Computer Driving Licence. A certified training programme that leads to a grasp of basic IT concepts and skills.
• EMEA Europe, Middle East and Africa.
• ERP Enterprise Resource Planning. The management of business activities, usually through the use of multi-module applications software.
• ethical hacker A specialist who attacks a network or security system with its owner’s permission, reporting on its vulnerability to malicious hackers.

F

• FTP File Transfer Protocol. The simplest method of transferring files between PCs via the internet.

G

• GPRS General Packet Radio Service. A packet-switched GSM data transmission technology that uses radio bandwidth efficiently, through not setting up any permanent connection.
• greenfield The development and installation of a completely new network or application.
• grid computing Applying the resources of a whole network of computers to solving a complex problem.
• GSM Global Standard for Mobile communications. The common standard in Europe for mobile communications.
• GUI Graphical User Interface. Pictorial communication of a program’s output.

H

• HTML HyperText Markup Language. The simple language for writing web pages.

I

• interoperability The ability for different systems and products to work together without adaptation or customisation.
• intranet A private network usually contained within a business, typically linking to the wider internet through one or more gateway computers.
• IP Internet Protocol. The protocol by which information is sent via the internet. Every computer on the internet has a unique IP address (number), which tells other computers where to send information.
• ISDN Integrated Systems Digital Network.
• ISP Internet Service Provider. A company that provides internet access and other related services, eg Wanadoo/AOL.
• ITIL Information Technology Infrastructure Library. Best practice guidelines and detailed information for managing infrastructure, development and operations in information technology - widely used in IT service management.

J

• java A language developed by Sun, intended to be a cross platform language suitable for any operating system.

K

• knowledge management system A system that intelligently manages information within a large organisation.

L

• LAN Local Area Network. A small network of computers interlinked for data sharing.
• lean programming A methodology  that focuses on optimising the programming process through efficiency and minimising waste, from the level of the individual programmer up to organisational factors.
• legacy Describes applications and data inherited from earlier languages, platforms and techniques.
• Linux Low-cost/free operating system for PC users with Unix-like capabilities.

M

• middleware Programming or software that integrates or matches two separate programs or applications. Sometimes referred to as the 'plumbing'.
• migration Moving from one operating environment to another operating environment, eg changing from Windows 98 to XP.
• MMS Multimedia messaging services. MMS is the evolution of SMS (short message service) that allows users to send messages containing text, graphics, photographic images, audio and video clips between MMS-capable mobile devices.
• Moore’s law An observation made in 1965 by Gordon Moore, co- founder of Intel, that the number of transistors per square inch on integrated circuits had doubled every year since the integrated circuit was invented. This rule seems to be holding.
• MP3 An MPEG (Moving Pictures Expert Group) standard for the compression of CDquality sound in digital files.

N

• .NET Microsoft’s name for its business strategy and collection of programming support for web services, aiming to make computing activities increasingly webbrowser orientated.
• network A series of computers linked up to share data and files, eg within an office or school.

O

• object-oriented analysis/object orientation An approach to programming involving linking small self-contained pieces of code to form larger programs.
• offshoring Where an organisation moves a process such as IT administration or software development overseas, to cut costs or improve performance.
• orientation An approach to programming that links small self-contained pieces of code to form larger programs.
• outsourcing Where one organisation brings in another to look after non-core business functions, eg IT.
• OS (1) Open Source. An OS program has its source code laid open for anyone to use or modify as they see fit.
• OS (2) Operating System. The software that interfaces with the hardware component of the computer to get it to do what you want, eg Windows 2000.

P

• P2P Peer-to-peer. Popularised by filesharing systems like Napster, P2P allows hardware and software to operate on a network without the need for a server.
• PDA Personal Digital Assistant. Any mobile hand-held device that provides computing, information storage and retrieval capabilities for personal or business use.
• phishing A swindle to obtain or ‘phish’ for personal and financial details of unsuspecting internet users.
• platform Usually refers to a particular ‘model’ of computer and is principally to do with the type of processor used by the machine, eg PC or Macintosh.
• portal Websites serving as a starting point to access lots of information, or a home base for web users, often personalised.
• PRINCE2 Projects IN Controlled Environments. UK government standard for IT project management. However, PRINCE methodology has been embraced by IT project managers in both the public and private sectors. It is recognised as'the'standard for project management.

R

• RAD Rapid Application Development. Developing products faster through an accelerated process development model.
• RFID Radio Frequency Identification.
• robust A product or system that doesn’t break easily or has a low failure rate.

S

• SAN Storage Area Network.
• Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) 2002 legislation responding to Enron and WorldCom accounting scandals. Its aim is to protect shareholders and the public from errant practices in business.
• SDLC Systems Development LifeCycle. A project management model that includes stages from feasibility study through to running and maintaining the application or system developed.
• server The principal machine on a network to which most requests come for files, or a machine providing any similar ‘service’.
• SQL Structured Query Language. A language used to ‘interrogate’ databases to extract information. Pronounced ‘sequel’.

T

• 3G Third-generation wireless technology that allows high-speed digital data transmission and global roaming for mobiles.

U

• UMTS Universal Mobile Telecommunications Standard. The standard used by 3G mobile.
• unix The original multi-user operating system, and written almost entirely in C, Unix is available to run on most types of computer.
• utility computing Where a service provider makes IT resources available on an as needed basis. The customer pays for what they use.

V

• VB Visual Basic. Microsoft’s implementation of a relatively simple language (BASIC) as a visual development tool for programmers.
• virus A computer program that replicates by being copied or by authorising another program to make copies. They can be harboured by e-mail attachments, downloaded files, floppy discs or CDs and they can lie dormant until triggered to activate at a specified time.
• VoIP Voice over IP. Voice information sent via the internet using IP, enabling the internet to be used to make telephone calls.
• VPN Virtual Private Network. A private network configured within a public network.

W

• Wi-Fi Wireless Fidelity. Popular term for a high-frequency wireless local area network, increasingly seen as an alternative to wired local area networks (LAN).
• wiki A program that allows a number of users to add and edit the content of a wiki website.
• WLAN Wireless Local Area Network. A local area network that transmits over the air, a wireless LAN does not need devices to be in line of sight.
• WML Wireless Markup Language. worm A virus that inhabits a computer’s active memory without altering files. They can remain invisible for some time, silently replicating, until they consume system resources causing a noticeable slowdown in operations. The Sasser worm was the plague of 2004.
• worm A virus that inhabits a computer’s active memory without altering files. They silently replicate consuming system resources, eventually causing a noticeable slowdown in operations.
• WSDL Web Services Description Language. An XML-based language used to describe the services a business offers and to provide a way for individuals and other businesses to access those services electronically.

X

• XML eXtensible Markup Language. A language using tags to define a relationship between a document’s structure and its content – important for knowledge management.

Z

• zombie Web servers, networks or computers that have been compromised by a hacker or spammer and used remotely to launch DoS attacks and send out spam.
• ZX81 Clive Sinclair’s famous personal computer.