CTSF flashcards
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32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.
- Byte
- A unit of digital information made of 8 bits; it commonly represents one character of text and is the base unit for file and memory sizes.
- Hypervisor
- Software that creates and runs virtual machines by allocating physical CPU, memory, storage, and network resources among guest operating systems.
- SaaS
- A cloud service model in which the provider delivers a complete, ready-to-use application over the network, and the customer manages only its own data and users.
- Throughput
- The amount of data transferred per unit of time, such as megabytes per second; it measures volume delivered, not the delay before transfer begins.
- Non-volatile storage
- Memory or media that retains its contents when power is removed, including solid-state drives, hard disks, and USB flash drives, unlike RAM.
- POST
- Power-on self-test; firmware diagnostics that check core hardware such as CPU, memory, and video before the operating system loads, signaling faults by beeps or codes.
- SSD
- Solid-state drive using flash memory with no moving parts, offering low latency and shock resistance but a finite number of write cycles.
- Peripheral
- Any device connected to a computer to add function, classified as input, output, or both, such as keyboards, monitors, printers, and touchscreens.
- DHCP
- Protocol that automatically assigns IP address, subnet mask, default gateway, and DNS servers to devices joining a network, removing manual configuration.
- DNS
- Hierarchical naming system that translates human-readable hostnames into IP addresses using records such as A, AAAA, CNAME, and MX.
- Private IP address
- An address from ranges 10.0.0.0/8, 172.16.0.0/12, or 192.168.0.0/16 that is not routed on the public internet and requires translation to reach it.
- TCP versus UDP
- TCP establishes a connection and guarantees ordered, reliable delivery; UDP sends datagrams without acknowledgment, favoring speed over reliability.
- Subnet mask
- A 32-bit value that separates the network portion of an IPv4 address from the host portion; /24 equals 255.255.255.0 and allows 254 usable hosts.
- NTFS
- The primary Windows file system, supporting per-file permissions, encryption, quotas, journaling, and very large volumes and files.
- Least privilege
- The principle that users and processes receive only the access rights required for their tasks, with administrative rights requested only when needed.
- Incremental backup
- A backup that copies only data changed since the most recent backup of any type, making it fast but dependent on a chain of prior backups for restore.
- Device driver
- Operating system software that translates generic commands into instructions a specific hardware device understands; a mismatched version can cause device failures.
- Sudo
- A Linux command that temporarily elevates a standard user's privileges to run a specific administrative task, then returns to normal rights.
- Multi-factor authentication
- Access control requiring two or more different evidence types, such as a password plus a one-time code, so a stolen password alone is insufficient.
- Ransomware
- Malicious software that encrypts or locks data and demands payment for restoration; recovery depends on isolated backups and containment of the infected host.
- Encryption in transit
- Protecting data while it moves across a network using protocols such as TLS or a VPN, so interception yields unreadable ciphertext.
- Phishing
- A social-engineering attack that impersonates a trusted party by message to trick a recipient into revealing credentials or opening malicious content.
- Role-based access control
- An access model that grants permissions to defined roles rather than individuals, so users receive rights by assignment to a role.
- Incident priority
- A ranking derived from impact multiplied by urgency, used to order support work so widespread or time-critical outages are handled before routine requests.
- Service level agreement
- A documented commitment between a provider and customer defining measurable service targets such as response time, availability, and resolution windows.
- Functional escalation
- Transferring a ticket to a technician or team with deeper technical skill when first-line staff cannot resolve the issue within their scope.
- Change management
- A controlled process for requesting, approving, scheduling, and verifying modifications to systems, with a documented rollback plan before implementation.
- Knowledge base article
- A stored record of a problem's symptoms, cause, resolution steps, and affected versions, reused to resolve recurring issues consistently and quickly.
- Active listening
- A communication technique of letting the speaker finish, paraphrasing the message back, and asking clarifying questions before proposing a solution.
- Conflict of interest
- A situation where a personal relationship or benefit could bias professional judgment; it must be disclosed and avoided rather than hidden.
- Need-to-know
- A confidentiality rule limiting access to information to people whose duties require it, regardless of their general rank or clearance level.
- Ticket documentation
- Recording actions taken, timestamps, and outcomes in a support record so other technicians can continue the work without re-interviewing the user.