Data Dictionary

Our guide to what all those technology acronyms and terms mean.

Find more answers on our Frequently Asked Questions page!

What is Data Mining?

Data mining extracts useful information from large data sets. The goal is to uncover trends and patterns within data to help you improve marketing, uncover security threats, learn more about your customer base, and improve decision making.

Centriworks can help you work online more safely and securely. Contact our certified experts for more info on Managed IT Services and Cybersecurity Services that can help safeguard your business.

What is a Cache?

A cache is a storage application that saves your data for future use. The most common form of a cache is used on websites and can help with faster loading times, less device energy used, and more relevant ads. The disadvantages include using more storage space, increased possibility for corruption, and a lack of data privacy.

Centriworks can help you work online more safely and securely. Contact our certified experts for more info on Managed IT Services and Cybersecurity Services that can help safeguard your business.

What is a Brute Force Attack?

A brute force attack is a form of hacking that uses trial and error to gain access to data. The goal of these attacks is to crack passwords, login credentials, or encryption keys. This may seem like an inefficient way to gain unauthorized access, however some hackers can try hundreds of guesses in one second.Follow our tips in the video to reduce your brute force attack vulnerability.

Centriworks can help you work online more safely and securely. Contact our certified experts for more info on Managed IT Services and Cybersecurity Services that can help safeguard your business.

What is a DDOS Attack?

DDOS stands for Distributed Denial of Service. A DDOS attack is a malicious effort to prevent access to online services or websites. These attacks flood the online entity with requests causing it to reach its capacity. Essentially, these attacks send more traffic to a website or online service than it can handle, which causes them to go offline.

Centriworks can help you work online more safely and securely. Contact our certified experts for more info on Managed IT Services and Cybersecurity Services that can help safeguard your business.

What is Ransomware?

Ransomware is a form of malware that keeps you from accessing your files or data. Cyberhackers encrypt data and demand payment in exchange for access to your digital assets. Ransomware attacks can block you from accessing your personal data or operating systems, install viruses on your network, and publish your private information online.

Centriworks can help you work online more safely and securely. Contact our certified experts for more info on Managed IT Services and Cybersecurity Services that can help safeguard your business.

What is Encryption?

Encryption is the process encoding data to prevent access from unauthorized users. It creates a code that is only understood by authorized parties with the objective of shielding sensitive information. Encryption takes plaintext and turns it into an unreadable format called ciphertext. The ultimate goal of encryption is to prevent data breaches.

Centriworks can help you work online more safely and securely. Contact our certified experts for more info on Managed IT Services and Cybersecurity Services that can help safeguard your business.

What is a Firewall?

A firewall is a network security system that protects your network from unsafe digital content. A network administrator sets the firewall rules that monitor harmful incoming and outgoing traffic. Firewalls protect your network from viruses, phishing attacks, spam and inappropriate content.

Centriworks can help you work online more safely and securely. Contact our certified experts for more info on Managed IT Services and Cybersecurity Services that can help safeguard your business.

What is MFA?

When you try to log in to one of your online accounts using your username and password, that’s called Authentication. Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) uses additional factors to verify your identity, like facial or fingerprint recognition, authentication apps, and codes sent to your phone or email.

Centriworks can help you work online more safely and securely. Contact our certified experts for more info on Managed IT Services and Cybersecurity.

What is BDR?

BDR stands for Backup and Disaster Recovery. It’s the process of generating one or more copies of files and storing them in separate remote locations. These copies allow users to resume normal operations after an event that has caused a loss of data.

BDR comes in handy after a file a cyberattack has occurred, a file has been corrupted or a disaster has caused physical damage.

At Centriworks, Backup and Disaster Recovery are part of our core Cybersecurity Services. Contact our IT experts to build a BDR strategy that includes verification of your backups.

What is the Dark Web?

The “Dark Web” refers to a part of the internet not indexed by traditional search engines, meaning you can’t just Google “Dark Web” and get in. The Dark Web’s key feature is its anonymity. This makes it a hotbed of dangerous criminal activity, such as drug trafficking, identity theft, and hacking.

If your data is currently floating around on the Dark Web, you have no way of knowing… on your own, that is. Learn more about Dark Web Scans and Cybersecurity Services that can help safeguard your business.

What is a VPN?

VPN stands for Virtual Private Network. It’s a service that protects your online privacy by creating a secure connection between your network and your device. VPNs allow you to use public WiFi connections safely by creating an encrypted channel for your data that hides your communications. This masks your online identity from public networks.

Centriworks can help you work online more safely and securely. Contact our certified experts for more info on Managed IT Services and Cybersecurity Services that can help safeguard your business.

What is Malware?

Generally, malware is short for malicious software. It’s designed to intentionally damage, destroy, or disrupt computers and their systems. Malware allows hackers to obtain unauthorized access to your device. Common examples of malware attacks include trojans, viruses, spyware, ransomware, and malvertising.

Centriworks can help you work online more safely and securely. Contact our certified experts for more info on Managed IT Services and Cybersecurity Services that can help safeguard your business.

What is Big Data?

Big Data are very large datasets that are too vast for traditional processing methods. It is defined by 5 characteristics, called the 5 Vs. Big Data has very high levels of volume, variety, value, velocity, and veracity. Some examples of Big Data creation include customer databases, applications, social media, and emails.

If you need help organizing and managing your data, contact Centriworks today for customized solutions that can improve your productivity and decision-making on day one.