PhilNITS IT Passport key terms

The component that fetches, decodes, and executes program instructions, performing arithmetic and logical operations. Its clock speed and core count largely determine processing throughput in a computer system.

Volatile working storage that holds programs and data currently in use so the CPU can access them quickly. Its contents are lost when power is removed, unlike secondary storage.

A small, fast memory placed between the CPU and main memory that keeps frequently used data close to the processor, reducing average access time and hiding main-memory latency.

Non-volatile storage such as hard disks and SSDs that retains data without power. It holds operating systems, applications, and files, and is slower than main memory but far larger.

A technique that combines multiple physical disks into one logical unit to improve reliability, performance, or both. Common levels use mirroring or parity to survive a single disk failure.

Software that manages hardware resources and provides services such as process scheduling, memory allocation, file systems, and device control so application programs can run reliably.

A memory management technique that gives each process an address space larger than physical RAM by paging inactive data to disk and swapping it back when needed.

A database that stores data in tables of rows and columns and enforces relationships through keys. It is queried with SQL and supports transactions that keep data consistent.

The standard language for defining, querying, and modifying data in relational databases. Statements such as SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, and DELETE let applications and users work with tables declaratively.

A column or set of columns whose values uniquely identify each row in a table. It prevents duplicate records and is often referenced by foreign keys in other tables.

A numeric label assigned to a device on a network so packets can be routed to it. IPv4 uses 32 bits and IPv6 uses 128 bits, and addresses may be static or assigned dynamically.

A bit pattern that separates the network portion of an IP address from the host portion. It lets devices decide whether a destination is on the local network or must be reached through a router.

A distributed naming service that translates human-readable domain names into IP addresses. It works like a hierarchical directory so users need not remember numeric addresses.

A LAN connects devices within a limited area such as an office or building, while a WAN links sites across wide distances. The Internet is the largest public WAN.

A service that creates an encrypted tunnel over a public network, letting remote users or branch offices reach a private network securely as if directly connected.

A security device or software that inspects network traffic and permits or blocks it according to rules, protecting internal systems from unauthorized access and many network attacks.

Malicious software designed to damage, disrupt, or gain unauthorized access to systems. It includes viruses, worms, trojans, ransomware, and spyware, and is countered with antivirus tools and patching.

A social-engineering attack that tricks users into revealing credentials or clicking malicious links by impersonating a trusted party, usually through deceptive email or fake websites.

An access control method that requires two different kinds of evidence, such as a password plus a one-time code, so a stolen password alone is not enough to log in.

The process of transforming readable data into ciphertext using a key so that only authorized parties can recover the original content. It protects data in transit and at rest.

A cryptographic value attached to a message that lets a recipient verify the sender's identity and confirm the content was not altered, providing authenticity and integrity.

The policies, roles, and certificate authorities that issue and manage digital certificates, binding public keys to identities so parties can trust encrypted communication and signatures.

A finite, unambiguous sequence of steps for solving a problem or performing a computation. Algorithms are described by flowcharts or pseudocode before being implemented in a programming language.

A diagram that represents an algorithm or process using standard symbols such as rectangles for steps, diamonds for decisions, and arrows for control flow, making logic easy to review.

A set of instructions written in a programming language that a computer executes. Source code is translated into machine code by a compiler or interpreter before or during execution.

A defined interface through which one software component calls the functions or accesses the data of another. APIs let systems integrate without knowing each other's internal implementation.

A network of physical devices embedded with sensors and connectivity that collect and exchange data over the Internet, enabling remote monitoring and automation in homes, factories, and cities.

Computer systems that perform tasks associated with human intelligence, such as learning, reasoning, and language understanding, typically by training models on large amounts of data.

A branch of AI in which models learn patterns from training data and improve with experience rather than being explicitly programmed for every rule. It supports prediction and classification.

Datasets too large or varied for traditional tools, characterized by high volume, velocity, and variety. Analyzing it requires distributed processing and often feeds AI and analytics systems.

A strategic framework that assesses internal Strengths and Weaknesses and external Opportunities and Threats to inform planning. It helps organizations match capabilities to the competitive environment.

A long-term plan defining which markets and customers a company targets and how it will win, for example through cost leadership or differentiation, and how resources will be allocated to reach goals.

A performance management framework that measures an organization across financial, customer, internal process, and learning perspectives, linking day-to-day activities to strategy rather than relying only on financial results.

A measurable value chosen to show how effectively an organization or process achieves an important objective. Good KPIs are specific, quantifiable, and tied directly to strategic goals.

A ratio comparing the gain from an investment with its cost, usually expressed as a percentage. It is widely used to justify IT projects and compare competing investment options.

The full lifetime cost of an IT asset or system, including acquisition, installation, operation, maintenance, support, and disposal. It gives a more realistic picture than purchase price alone.

A contract between a service provider and a customer that defines the expected level of service, such as availability and response times, and the remedies if those targets are missed.

A widely adopted framework of best practices for IT service management, covering service strategy, design, transition, operation, and continual improvement. It helps align IT services with business needs.

The IT service management process that restores normal service as quickly as possible after an unplanned interruption, minimizing business impact while root-cause problems are handled separately.

The discipline of planning, executing, and controlling a temporary effort with defined scope, schedule, budget, and quality goals, using methods such as WBS and critical path analysis.

A hierarchical decomposition of project scope into smaller, manageable work packages. It provides the basis for estimating effort, assigning responsibility, and tracking progress.

A scheduling technique that identifies the longest sequence of dependent tasks in a project. Delays on the critical path directly delay the project finish date.

The set of policies and mechanisms that decide who may access which resources and what they may do. Common models include role-based and discretionary access control.

A documented set of rules and responsibilities that defines how an organization protects information assets, covering confidentiality, integrity, availability, and acceptable use by employees.

The process of identifying, assessing, and treating risks to information assets, choosing to mitigate, transfer, accept, or avoid them, and monitoring residual risk over time.

A documented plan that enables an organization to keep critical operations running or restore them quickly after a disaster, including backup sites, data recovery, and communication procedures.

A copy of data kept separately so it can be restored after accidental deletion, corruption, or disaster. Effective backup strategies specify frequency, retention, and offsite storage.

Conformity with laws, regulations, industry standards, and internal policies that apply to an organization, such as data protection rules, often verified through audits and documented controls.

On-demand delivery of computing resources such as servers, storage, and software over a network, billed by usage. Service models include IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS.

A cloud model in which a provider hosts and operates an application and customers access it over the Internet, usually by subscription, without managing servers or platforms.

Technology that runs multiple isolated virtual machines or environments on one physical host by sharing its resources, improving utilization, flexibility, and disaster recovery options.

Integrated business software that shares a common database across functions such as finance, procurement, manufacturing, and HR, giving management a unified view of operations.

A system and strategy for managing customer interactions, sales pipelines, and service history in one place, aiming to improve retention and tailor offerings to customer needs.

The phases through which an information system passes, typically requirements, design, implementation, testing, deployment, and maintenance. It provides structure for planning development work.

A sequential development approach in which each phase is completed before the next begins. It suits projects with stable, well-understood requirements but adapts poorly to change.

An iterative approach that delivers software in short increments, emphasizes working software and customer collaboration, and welcomes changing requirements through continuous feedback and adaptation.