Engineering Glossary

From fundamental principles to cutting-edge practices, this glossary covers the full spectrum of software engineering terminology.

DevOps
Cloud Computing
Git
Containerization & Orchestration

Syslog

Standard for message logging, often used in Unix and Unix-like systems for system management and security auditing.
DevOps

System Team

Team responsible for building and maintaining the platforms used by stream-aligned teams.
DevOps

TLS Certificate: DevOps Explained

Digital certificate that authenticates a website's identity and enables an encrypted connection.
DevOps

Tactics Techniques and Procedures (TTPs)

Patterns of activities or methods associated with a specific threat actor or group of threat actors.
DevOps

Taint Analysis

Technique used to identify and track data in a program that has been tainted with user input.
DevOps

Team Topologies

Organizational design approach focused on optimizing team interactions and boundaries for effective software delivery.
DevOps

TeamCity

Powerful and user-friendly continuous integration server by JetBrains, supporting various version control systems and build tools.
DevOps

Technical Debt

Implied cost of future rework caused by choosing quick, easy solutions now instead of better, more time-consuming approaches.
DevOps

Technology Stack

Set of technologies used to build and run a single application, including programming languages, frameworks, and tools.
DevOps

Telemetry

Automated process of collecting data at remote points and transmitting it to receiving equipment for monitoring.
DevOps

Tenants

In multi-tenant architecture, distinct groups of users who share a common access with specific privileges to the software instance.
DevOps

Terraform

Open-source infrastructure as code software tool that enables defining and provisioning data center infrastructure using a declarative language.
DevOps

Terraform Cloud

Managed service offering of Terraform for teams and organizations, providing collaboration features and workflow management.
DevOps

Test Automation

Use of software to execute tests and compare actual outcomes with predicted outcomes.
DevOps

Test Automation for Everything

Approach of automating all possible tests in the software development process to improve quality and efficiency.
DevOps

Test Data Management

Process of creating, managing, and maintaining test data for software testing, ensuring data quality and relevance.
DevOps

Test Environment

Setup of software and hardware on which the testing team performs testing of a new build.
DevOps

Test Environment Management

Process of planning, creating, maintaining, and managing environments for software testing, ensuring consistency and reliability.
DevOps

Test Kitchen

Tool for testing infrastructure code and software on isolated target platforms, supporting multiple providers and test frameworks.
DevOps

Test-doubles

Generic term for any object used in place of a real object for testing purposes.
DevOps

Test-driven Development (TDD)

Software development process relying on software requirements being converted to test cases before software is fully developed.
DevOps

TestFlight

Apple's platform for over-the-air installation and beta testing of mobile applications before they are submitted to the App Store.
DevOps

Testdatenmanagement

Process of creating, managing, and maintaining test data for software testing, ensuring data quality and relevance for various test scenarios.
DevOps

Testenvironment Self-Service

Ability for testers to provision and manage their own test environments, increasing efficiency and autonomy.
DevOps

Testing-as-a-Service (TaaS)

Outsourcing of testing activities to a third-party service provider, offering specialized expertise and tools for comprehensive testing.
DevOps

The Three Pillars of Observability

Logs, metrics, and traces; key components for understanding the behavior of distributed systems.
DevOps

The Three Ways

Principles underpinning DevOps movements: Flow, Feedback, Continual Learning and Experimentation.
DevOps

Theory of Constraints

Management paradigm that views any manageable system as being limited in achieving its goals by a small number of constraints.
DevOps

Threat Detection and Response (TDR)

Cybersecurity process of identifying, analyzing, and mitigating threats to an organization's IT infrastructure in real-time.
DevOps

Threat Hunting

Proactive cybersecurity technique to detect hidden threats that have evaded existing security solutions.
DevOps

Threat Intelligence

Information about potential or current threats to an organization's security, used to inform better decision-making.
DevOps

Threat Landscape

Comprehensive view of potential security threats facing an organization or industry, crucial for effective risk management.
DevOps

Threat Modeling

Process of identifying, understanding, and categorizing potential security threats.
DevOps

Time to First Byte

Measure of responsiveness that indicates the time between a user making an HTTP request and the first byte of the page being received by the browser.
DevOps

Time to Restore Service

Metric measuring how long it takes to restore a service after an incident, important for assessing system reliability.
DevOps

Time to Value

Duration between the initiation of a process and the realization of its benefits, crucial for measuring efficiency and ROI.
DevOps

Toggle by Geo-location

Feature flag technique that enables or disables features based on geographical location.
DevOps

Toggle by User Rights

Feature flag technique that enables or disables features based on user permissions.
DevOps

Toil

Manual, repetitive, automatable work in running production services that lacks long-term value and scales linearly with service growth.
DevOps

Tool Sprawl

Proliferation of tools within an organization, often leading to inefficiency and integration challenges.
DevOps

Toolchain

Set of programming tools used to perform a complex software development task or to create a software product.
DevOps

Traffic Management

Process of monitoring, controlling, and optimizing network traffic to ensure efficient data flow and prevent congestion.
DevOps

Travis CI

Distributed continuous integration service used to build and test software projects hosted on GitHub.
DevOps

Trunk-Based Development

Source control branching model where developers collaborate on code in a single branch.
DevOps

Tsuru

Open-source Platform as a Service (PaaS) that makes it easy to deploy and manage applications.
DevOps

TypeScript

Typed superset of JavaScript that compiles to plain JavaScript, offering enhanced tooling and error detection in large-scale applications.
DevOps

TypeScript First

Development approach prioritizing TypeScript over JavaScript for enhanced type safety and tooling support.
DevOps

UEBA

User and Entity Behavior Analytics; process of tracking, collecting and analyzing user and machine data to detect anomalies.
DevOps

UI Testing

Process of testing a product's graphical user interface to ensure it meets its specifications.
DevOps

Ubuntu

Popular, user-friendly Linux distribution based on Debian, known for its ease of use, regular release cycle, and strong community support.
DevOps

Unit Testing

Software testing method where individual units or components of a program are tested in isolation.
DevOps

Uptime

Measure of system reliability, expressed as the percentage of time a machine has been working and available.
DevOps

Uptime Robot

Service for monitoring websites and alerting users when their sites go down, providing 24/7 uptime monitoring.
DevOps

Uptrends

Website and server monitoring service that helps businesses ensure their online presence is always available and performing optimally.
DevOps

Use Mockups

Practice of creating simplified versions of system components for testing purposes.
DevOps

User Acceptance Test

Final phase of software testing where intended users test the software to ensure it can handle required tasks in real-world scenarios.
DevOps

User Acceptance Testing (UAT)

Final phase of software testing where actual users test the software to ensure it meets business requirements and is fit for purpose.
DevOps

Using Components with Known Vulnerabilities

Security risk of utilizing software components with documented security issues in applications.
DevOps

VMFest

Clojure library for managing virtual machines on various virtualization platforms, simplifying VM lifecycle management.
DevOps

VPC Flow Logging

Feature that enables you to capture information about the IP traffic going to and from network interfaces in your VPC.
DevOps

VPC Peering

Networking connection between two VPCs that enables you to route traffic between them using private IP addresses.
DevOps

Vagrant

Tool for building and managing virtual machine environments, streamlining the setup process for development environments.
DevOps

Vagrant-lxc

Vagrant plugin that allows the use of LXC (Linux Containers) as a provider, enabling lightweight, OS-level virtualization for development environments.
DevOps

Validate Compliance

Process of ensuring that systems and practices meet specified standards or regulations.
DevOps

Value Stream Management

Practice of optimizing the flow of value through the software delivery lifecycle.
DevOps

Value Stream Mapping

Lean technique for analyzing current state and designing future state of events that deliver a product or service to the customer.
DevOps

Vault

Secure secret management tool for storing and controlling access to tokens, passwords, certificates, and other sensitive data.
DevOps

Vaurien

Chaos Monkey-style tool for introducing delays and errors into TCP connections, useful for testing system resilience.
DevOps

Veewee

Tool for easily building custom Vagrant base boxes, KVMs, and virtual machine images.
DevOps

Velocity

Measure of the amount of work a team completes during a sprint or iteration, used in agile project management.
DevOps

Version Control

System that records changes to a file or set of files over time so that you can recall specific versions later.
DevOps

Version Control System (VCS)

Software tools that help software teams manage changes to source code over time.
DevOps

Vieraugenprinzip

German term for the "four-eyes principle", requiring two individuals to approve an action before it can be taken.
DevOps

Virtual Machine (VM)

Emulation of a computer system, providing the functionality of a physical computer.
DevOps

Virtual Private Cloud (VPC)

On-demand configurable pool of shared computing resources allocated within a public cloud environment.
DevOps

Virtualization

Creation of a virtual version of something, such as a server, storage device, network or operating system.
DevOps

Vulnerability Assessments (VA)

Systematic review of security weaknesses in an information system, often involving scanning and analysis of potential vulnerabilities.
DevOps

Vulnerability Scanning

Automated process of proactively identifying security vulnerabilities of computing systems in a network.
DevOps

WAAP (Web Application & API Protection)

Security solution that protects web applications and APIs from various types of attacks.
DevOps

WAF (Web Application Firewall)

Application firewall for HTTP applications that applies a set of rules to an HTTP conversation.
DevOps

Waste

Any activity in a process that does not add value to the customer, a key concept in lean methodologies for process improvement.
DevOps

Waterfall

Traditional, linear approach to software development with distinct phases, often contrasted with more iterative methodologies like Agile.
DevOps

Weave

Network plugin for Kubernetes that creates a virtual network for connecting containers across multiple hosts.
DevOps

Web API Security

Set of practices and measures taken to protect web APIs from various security threats and unauthorized access.
DevOps

Web Application Development

Process of creating web applications, including design, coding, testing, and deployment, often using various web technologies.
DevOps

Web Application Security

Discipline of protecting websites and web applications against security threats.
DevOps

Web Scraping

Automated process of extracting data from websites, often used for data mining, price monitoring, or content aggregation.
DevOps

WebSockets

Protocol providing full-duplex communication channels over a single TCP connection.
DevOps

Webhooks

Automated messages sent from apps when something happens, allowing real-time data transfer and integration between different systems.
DevOps

White Box Testing

Method of testing where the internal structure/design/implementation of the item being tested is known to the tester.
DevOps

Wildcard Certificate

SSL certificate that secures a domain and its subdomains, allowing for flexible and cost-effective implementation of HTTPS.
DevOps

Windows Event

Record of an occurrence in a Windows operating system or application, crucial for system monitoring and troubleshooting.
DevOps

Windows Event Log

Detailed record of system, security, and application notifications stored by Windows.
DevOps

Windows Performance Counters

Measurement tools built into Windows that provide information about system operation.
DevOps

Windows Services

Programs that operate in the background on Windows systems, similar to daemons in Unix-like operating systems.
DevOps

Work in Progress (WIP)

Partially completed work or any task that has been started but is not yet finished.
DevOps

Workflow

Sequence of processes through which a piece of work passes from initiation to completion.
DevOps

XDR

Extended Detection and Response; security technology that provides holistic protection against cyber threats.
DevOps

XML External Entities (XXE)

Web security vulnerability that allows an attacker to interfere with an application's processing of XML data.
DevOps

Xcode

Integrated development environment (IDE) for macOS containing a suite of software development tools.
DevOps
Pull/Pull Request

Pull/Pull Request

Alternative terms for the same concept of proposing and reviewing changes in Git-based collaboration.
Push

Push

A Git command used to upload local repository changes to a remote repository, sharing updates with collaborators.
README

README

A file in a Git repository that provides information about the project, its purpose, and how to use or contribute to it.
Rebase

Rebase

A Git operation that moves or combines a sequence of commits to a new base commit, often used to maintain a linear history.
Rebase Interactive

Rebase Interactive

A Git rebase mode allowing users to modify, reorder, or squash commits before applying them to the target branch.
RefLog

RefLog

A Git mechanism that records updates to branch tips and other references in a repository.
Refspec

Refspec

A string that specifies the mapping between remote and local references when fetching or pushing in Git.
Release branching

Release branching

A strategy where a separate branch is created for release preparation, allowing continued development on the main branch.
Remote

Remote

A Git repository hosted on a server, allowing collaboration and synchronization between multiple developers.
Repository

Repository

Centralized location where software packages or modules are stored and managed, facilitating version control and collaboration.
Repository ("Repo")

Repository ("Repo")

A data structure containing all the files, history, and metadata for a Git-managed project.
SCM

SCM

Source Control Management, a system for tracking and managing changes to code, of which Git is an example.
SHA-1

SHA-1

The cryptographic hash function used by Git to generate unique identifiers for objects in the repository.
SSH key

SSH key

A secure authentication method using a pair of cryptographic keys for accessing remote systems or services.
Shallow Clone

Shallow Clone

A Git clone that only fetches a limited number of recent commits, reducing download size for large repositories.
Squash

Squash

The process of combining multiple commits into a single commit in Git, often used to simplify history.
Staging

Staging

The process of preparing changes to be committed in Git, also known as "adding to the index."
Stash

Stash

A Git feature for temporarily storing uncommitted changes, allowing you to switch branches without committing work in progress.
Stashing

Stashing

A Git feature for temporarily saving uncommitted changes, allowing you to switch contexts without committing incomplete work.
Status

Status

A Git command that shows the state of the working directory and staging area, indicating which files are modified or staged.
SubModule

SubModule

A Git repository nested within another repository, allowing you to include external projects in your own project.
Tag

Tag

A named reference to a specific point in Git history, typically used to mark release points or important milestones.
Team plan

Team plan

A subscription level for GitHub designed for collaborative groups or small organizations.
Upstream

Upstream

The original repository from which a fork is created, or the branch that a local branch is tracking.
Upstream and Downstream

Upstream and Downstream

Terms describing the flow of changes in Git, with upstream being the source and downstream the destination.
Work in Progress (WIP) Commit

Work in Progress (WIP) Commit

A temporary commit indicating unfinished work, often used to save progress or facilitate code reviews.
access token

access token

A secure alternative to passwords, used for authentication in Git operations, providing limited access to specific resources or actions.
alternate object database

alternate object database

A secondary location where Git stores object files, useful for optimizing storage and performance in large repositories.
appliance

appliance

A dedicated hardware or virtual machine optimized for running Git services, often used in enterprise environments for improved performance.
assignee

assignee

The person responsible for addressing an issue or pull request in a Git repository, helping to organize and prioritize tasks.
authentication code

authentication code

A temporary code used in two-factor authentication to verify a user's identity when accessing Git repositories or services.
base branch

base branch

The primary branch in a Git repository from which feature branches are created and into which they are merged after development.
basic authentication

basic authentication

A simple authentication method in Git using a username and password, often discouraged in favor of more secure methods.
billing cycle

billing cycle

The recurring period for which Git hosting services charge users or organizations for their subscriptions and usage.
billing email

billing email

The email address associated with a Git account or organization for receiving invoices and billing-related communications.
billing manager

billing manager

A user role in Git hosting platforms responsible for managing billing information, subscriptions, and payments for an organization.
billing plan

billing plan

A subscription package offered by Git hosting services, defining features, storage limits, and pricing for users or organizations.
bio

bio

A brief description of a user's profile on Git platforms, typically including their role, interests, or expertise in software development.
blob object

blob object

A Git object type representing the contents of a file, stored as a sequence of bytes without any metadata or file attributes.
block

block

An action on Git platforms to restrict a user's ability to interact with a repository, often used to manage disruptive behavior.
branch restriction

branch restriction

A set of rules applied to Git branches to control who can push changes, merge, or perform certain actions, enhancing code quality.
cURL

cURL

A command-line tool often used with Git to transfer data and interact with APIs, supporting various protocols including HTTPS.
card

card

A visual representation of an issue or pull request in Git project management tools, used for organizing and prioritizing work.
chain

chain

A series of connected commits in Git, representing a sequence of changes that build upon each other in a repository's history.
changeset

changeset

A group of changes made to files in a Git repository, typically represented by a commit and including additions, modifications, and deletions.
check

check

An automated test or verification process run on Git repositories to ensure code quality, security, or compliance with project standards.
child team

child team

A nested team within a Git organization's hierarchy, inheriting permissions and access rights from its parent team.
clean

clean

A Git command used to remove untracked files and directories from a working directory, helping to maintain a tidy repository.
clustering

clustering

A technique used in Git hosting services to distribute repository data across multiple servers for improved performance and reliability.
code frequency graph

code frequency graph

A visual representation of code additions and deletions over time in a Git repository, useful for tracking project activity.
code of conduct

code of conduct

A document outlining expected behavior and guidelines for contributors in a Git repository, promoting a positive community.
code owner

code owner

A designated person or team responsible for reviewing and approving changes to specific files or directories in a Git repository.
collaborator

collaborator

A user with read and write access to a Git repository, able to contribute code and participate in project discussions.
commit ID

commit ID

A unique identifier (SHA-1 hash) assigned to each commit in Git, used to reference specific points in a repository's history.
commit author

commit author

The person who originally created a commit in Git, distinct from the committer who may have applied the changes on behalf of the author.
commit graph

commit graph

A visual representation of the commit history in a Git repository, showing the relationships between different branches and merges.
commit graph concept, representations and usage

commit graph concept, representations and usage

The underlying structure and visual representations of Git's commit history, used for understanding project evolution.
commit message

commit message

A descriptive text associated with a Git commit, explaining the purpose and details of the changes made in that commit.
commit object

commit object

A Git object type containing metadata about a commit, including the author, committer, date, and a pointer to the tree object.
commit-graph file

commit-graph file

A file used by Git to store commit graph information, optimizing performance for operations that traverse the commit history.
commit-ish (also committish)

commit-ish (also committish)

A term referring to any Git object that can be resolved to a commit, including commit IDs, branch names, and tags.
compare branch

compare branch

A Git feature allowing users to view differences between two branches, often used before merging to review changes.
contribution graph

contribution graph

A visual representation of a user's Git activity over time, showing the frequency and distribution of their contributions to repositories.
contribution guidelines

contribution guidelines

A document in a Git repository outlining best practices, coding standards, and procedures for contributors to follow when submitting changes.
contributions

contributions

The collective changes, commits, issues, and pull requests made by a user to Git repositories, showcasing their involvement in projects.
contributor

contributor

Any person who has made contributions to a Git repository, whether through code, documentation, or other forms of project support.
contributors graph

contributors graph

A visual representation of all contributors to a Git repository, showing their relative contributions over time and by type.
core Git

core Git

The fundamental set of Git commands and functionality, excluding third-party extensions or hosting platform-specific features.
coupon

coupon

A promotional code offering discounts or credits for Git hosting services, often used to attract new users or upgrade existing accounts.
cron

cron

A time-based job scheduler used in Git hosting platforms to automate tasks such as backups, notifications, or periodic code checks.
dangling object

dangling object

A Git object not reachable from any reference (branch, tag, etc.), often created during rebasing or other history-altering operations.
dashboard

dashboard

A central interface in Git platforms providing an overview of a user's repositories, activities, and notifications.
default branch

default branch

The primary branch in a Git repository, typically named "main" or "master," serving as the base for new branches and deployments.
dependency graph

dependency graph

A visual representation of a project's dependencies, showing relationships between different components or external libraries.
dependents graph

dependents graph

A visualization of other projects or repositories that depend on a given Git repository, useful for understanding its impact.
deploy key

deploy key

An SSH key granting read-only access to a specific Git repository, commonly used for automated deployments or CI/CD processes.
dereference

dereference

The process of resolving a Git reference (like a branch or tag) to its corresponding commit object or SHA-1 hash.
detached HEAD

detached HEAD

A state in Git where the HEAD pointer references a specific commit rather than a branch, often used for temporary work.
diagnostics

diagnostics

Tools and features in Git used to identify and troubleshoot issues with repositories, commits, or configuration settings.
directory

directory

A folder within a Git repository containing files and potentially other subdirectories, organized hierarchically.
dirty

dirty

A term describing a Git working directory that contains uncommitted changes, indicating modifications that haven't been saved to the repository.
email notifications

email notifications

Alerts sent via email by Git platforms to inform users about repository activities, mentions, or updates.
enterprise account

enterprise account

A high-tier account type offered by Git hosting services, providing advanced features and support for large organizations.
evil merge

evil merge

A problematic merge in Git where conflicts are resolved incorrectly, potentially introducing subtle bugs or inconsistencies.
fast-forward

fast-forward

A type of Git merge where the target branch's pointer is simply moved to the latest commit of the source branch, without creating a new commit.
feature branch

feature branch

A temporary branch in Git created to develop a specific feature or fix, typically merged back into the main branch upon completion.
fenced code block

fenced code block

A markdown syntax used in Git documentation and comments to display formatted code snippets with syntax highlighting.
file system

file system

The underlying structure used by Git to store repository data, including objects, refs, and configuration files.
following (users)

following (users)

A feature in Git platforms allowing users to receive updates and notifications about other users' activities.
gitfile

gitfile

A file containing a Git repository's object database, used in certain Git operations.
gitignore

gitignore

A text file specifying intentionally untracked files that Git should ignore, customizable for different project types.
graft

graft

A technique in Git to join two unrelated commit histories, typically used for repository repair or history modification.
hash

hash

A unique identifier (SHA-1) for Git objects, used to ensure data integrity and create content-addressable storage.
head branch

head branch

The default branch that is checked out when a repository is cloned, typically 'main' or 'master'.
head ref

head ref

A reference to the tip of a branch, representing the most recent commit in that branch's history.
high-availability

high-availability

A characteristic of Git hosting systems designed to ensure continuous operation and minimal downtime.
hook

hook

A script that Git executes before or after events such as commit, push, and receive, used for automating or controlling Git processes.
hostname

hostname

The unique name assigned to a device on a network, used for identification and communication purposes.
identicon

identicon

A visual representation of a hash value, often used as a default avatar in Git platforms.
identity provider

identity provider

A service that creates, maintains, and manages identity information for users, often integrated with Git platforms.

3D Stacked Memory for Cloud Servers

High-density memory architecture using vertically stacked chips, enhancing performance and capacity in cloud server hardware.

5G Cloud

Cloud infrastructure optimized for 5G networks, supporting high-speed, low-latency services and applications.

5G Network Slicing

Technique to create multiple virtual networks on a shared physical 5G infrastructure, each optimized for specific use cases.

5G and Edge Computing

Integration of 5G networks with edge computing to enable low-latency, high-bandwidth applications closer to end-users.

6G Cloud Integration

Future convergence of 6G networks with cloud computing, promising ultra-high speeds and advanced capabilities.

ACID Compliance

Database transaction properties (Atomicity, Consistency, Isolation, Durability) ensuring data integrity in cloud environments.

AI Ethics Compliance Tools

Software ensuring AI systems adhere to ethical guidelines and regulations in cloud deployments.

AI Ethics and Bias Detection Tools

Software for identifying and mitigating ethical issues and biases in AI models deployed in cloud environments.

AI Ethics and Governance Tools

Solutions for managing ethical considerations and regulatory compliance in cloud-based AI systems.

AI Governance Frameworks

Structured approaches for managing AI development, deployment, and use in cloud environments.

AI Model Governance Platforms

Comprehensive solutions for managing, monitoring, and controlling AI models in cloud-based systems.

AI Model Interpretability Services

Cloud-based tools for explaining and understanding the decision-making processes of AI models.

AI Model Interpretability Tools

Software for analyzing and explaining AI model decisions, crucial for transparency in cloud AI services.

AI Model Marketplaces

Cloud platforms for discovering, sharing, and monetizing pre-trained AI models and algorithms.

AI Model Monitoring and Drift Detection

Tools for tracking AI model performance and identifying deviations from expected behavior in cloud environments.

AI Model Versioning and Governance

Systems for managing different versions of AI models and enforcing governance policies in cloud deployments.

AI-Assisted Coding Platforms

Cloud-based development environments that use AI to assist programmers in writing and optimizing code.

AI-Augmented Analytics

Integration of AI capabilities into data analytics processes in cloud environments for enhanced insights.

AI-Driven Capacity Planning

Use of AI algorithms to predict and optimize resource allocation in cloud infrastructures.

AI-Driven Cloud Optimization

Application of AI techniques to improve efficiency, performance, and cost-effectiveness of cloud resources.

AI-Driven Cloud Resource Allocation

Automated distribution of cloud resources using AI to optimize performance and cost-efficiency.

AI-Driven Cloud Service Composition

AI-based automation of cloud service selection and integration for complex workflows.

AI-Driven Code Generation

Automated creation of source code using AI models, often integrated into cloud development platforms.

AI-Driven Data Classification

Automated categorization and labeling of data using AI algorithms in cloud storage and processing systems.

AI-Driven Network Optimization

Use of AI to improve network performance, efficiency, and security in cloud environments.

AI-Driven Resource Allocation

Intelligent distribution of computing resources in cloud environments using AI algorithms.

AI-Driven Security Information and Event Management (SIEM)

Enhanced SIEM systems using AI for improved threat detection and response in cloud environments.

AI-Driven Threat Detection

Use of AI algorithms to identify and analyze potential security threats in cloud systems.

AI-Driven Threat Hunting

Proactive search for hidden threats in cloud environments using AI-powered analytics and automation.

AI-Optimized Cloud Hardware

Cloud infrastructure components designed or configured to enhance AI workload performance.

AI-Optimized Databases

Database systems tailored for AI workloads, often featuring in-memory processing and distributed architectures.

AI-Powered Anomaly Detection

Use of AI algorithms to identify unusual patterns or behaviors in cloud systems and data.

AI-Powered Integration

Intelligent automation of data and application integration processes in cloud environments using AI.

AI-as-a-Service

Cloud-based offering of AI capabilities, allowing businesses to leverage AI without extensive in-house expertise.

AI-as-a-Service (AIaaS)

Cloud-based AI capabilities offered as a service, enabling easy integration of AI into applications.

AIOps

Application of AI for automating and enhancing IT operations management in cloud environments.

AIOps Platforms

Integrated solutions leveraging AI for automated monitoring, analysis, and management of cloud IT operations.

AIOps for Predictive Maintenance

Use of AI-driven analytics to forecast and prevent system failures in cloud infrastructure.

API Security Gateway

Service that protects APIs in cloud environments by managing access, monitoring traffic, and preventing attacks.

API Security Gateways

Dedicated services for securing and managing APIs in cloud environments, including access control and threat protection.

API-First Development

Design approach prioritizing API creation before implementation, common in cloud-native application development.

API-Led Connectivity

Integration strategy using purpose-built APIs to connect data, devices, and applications in cloud ecosystems.

AR Cloud

Persistent 3D digital content overlaid on the physical world, accessible via cloud infrastructure for augmented reality applications.

AR/VR Analytics

Cloud-based tools for analyzing user behavior and performance in augmented and virtual reality environments.

AR/VR Collaboration Platforms

Cloud-hosted services enabling multi-user interaction in shared augmented or virtual reality spaces.

AR/VR Content Delivery Network

Specialized CDN optimized for delivering AR/VR content with low latency and high bandwidth.

AR/VR Development Platforms

Cloud-based tools and services for creating, testing, and deploying augmented and virtual reality applications.

ARM Templates (Azure)

JSON-based files defining infrastructure and configuration for Azure resource deployment.

Adaptive User Interfaces for Cloud Services

Dynamic UIs that adjust based on user behavior, device capabilities, and context in cloud applications.

Adversarial Machine Learning Detection

Techniques to identify and mitigate attacks on ML models in cloud-based AI systems.

Alerting and Notification

Systems for informing administrators or users about important events or issues in cloud environments.

Algorithmic Auditing

Process of examining AI algorithms for bias, errors, or unintended consequences in cloud-based systems.

Ambient Computing Interfaces for Cloud

Seamless, context-aware interaction methods for accessing cloud services in IoT environments.

Anomaly Detection Systems

Tools for identifying unusual patterns or behaviors in cloud systems, often using machine learning techniques.

Application-Aware Networking

Network management approach that optimizes performance based on specific application requirements in cloud environments.

Approximate Query Processing

Technique for quickly estimating query results in large-scale cloud databases, trading accuracy for speed.

Archive Storage (e.g., Amazon Glacier, Azure Archive Storage)

Low-cost cloud storage for infrequently accessed data with longer retrieval times, e.g., Amazon Glacier, Azure Archive Storage.

Artifact Repository

Cloud-based storage for software build outputs, dependencies, and related metadata.

Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) as a Service

Hypothetical cloud offering of human-level AI capabilities across various domains.

Artificial General Intelligence Research Platforms

Cloud-based environments for developing and testing advanced AI systems approaching human-level intelligence.

Audit Logging

Systematic recording of actions and events in cloud systems for security and compliance purposes.

Audit Trails

Chronological records of system activities for reconstructing and examining the sequence of events in cloud environments.

Augmented Analytics

Integration of machine learning and natural language processing in cloud-based data analytics workflows.

Augmented Reality (AR) Cloud

Shared, persistent digital content overlaid on the physical world, accessible via cloud infrastructure.

Augmented Reality Cloud Interfaces

Cloud-based systems for managing and delivering AR content and experiences, enabling scalable AR applications.

Augmented Reality Cloud Rendering

Cloud-powered generation of AR graphics and content, offloading processing from end-user devices.

Auto Scaling Groups

Collections of EC2 instances that automatically adjust capacity based on defined conditions.

Auto-scaling

Automatic adjustment of cloud resources to match workload demands, ensuring optimal performance and cost-efficiency.

AutoML

Automated machine learning processes for model selection, hyperparameter tuning, and feature engineering in cloud environments.

AutoML in the Cloud

Cloud-based services automating the machine learning pipeline from data preparation to model deployment and monitoring.

Automated AI Pipeline Optimization

AI-driven tools for improving efficiency and performance of machine learning workflows in the cloud.

Automated Cloud Governance Enforcement

Systems that automatically implement and maintain cloud resource policies and compliance.

Automated Compliance Monitoring

Continuous, AI-driven assessment of cloud systems against regulatory and security standards.

Automated Data Discovery

AI-powered tools for identifying, categorizing, and mapping data assets in cloud environments.

Automated Data Governance

AI-driven systems for managing data quality, security, and compliance in cloud environments.

Automated Data Wrangling Services

Cloud-based tools using AI to clean, transform, and prepare data for analysis, streamlining data preparation processes.

Automated Feature Engineering

AI-powered generation and selection of features for machine learning models in cloud environments.

Automated Incident Response Orchestration

AI-driven coordination of security incident detection and resolution in cloud systems, automating response workflows.

Automated Machine Learning (AutoML)

Cloud services that automate the process of creating and optimizing machine learning models, from data prep to deployment.

Automated Machine Learning (AutoML) Platforms

Cloud-based systems that automate the end-to-end machine learning model development process, including feature engineering and model selection.

Automated Penetration Testing

AI-driven tools for simulating cyberattacks to identify vulnerabilities in cloud systems and applications.

Automated Threat Modeling

AI-powered analysis of cloud architectures to identify potential security risks and attack vectors.

Autonomous Systems in the Cloud

Self-managing, self-healing cloud services requiring minimal human intervention, leveraging AI for operations.

Azure Edge Zones

Ultra-low latency edge computing extensions of Azure for 5G networks, bringing cloud resources closer to users.

Azure Policy

Service for creating, assigning, and managing policies to control Azure resources and ensure compliance.

B2B Integration Platforms

Cloud-based services facilitating data exchange and process integration between business partners.

Backend for Frontend (BFF) Pattern

Architectural approach creating backend services tailored to specific frontend application needs in cloud environments.

Bare Metal Server

Physical server dedicated to a single tenant, offering direct hardware access in cloud environments.

Bare Metal Servers

Dedicated physical servers without virtualization, offered as a cloud service for high-performance workloads.

Batch Processing (e.g., AWS Batch, Azure Batch)

Execution of series of jobs without user interaction, often for large-scale data processing in the cloud (e.g., AWS Batch, Azure Batch).

Big Data Clusters

Distributed computing environments for processing and analyzing massive datasets in the cloud.

Billing Dashboard

Interface for monitoring and managing cloud service usage and costs, providing detailed breakdowns and forecasts.

Biocomputing in the Cloud

Use of cloud resources for computational biology and genomics research, enabling large-scale analysis and modeling.

Biodiversity Impact Assessment for Cloud Facilities

Evaluation of cloud data center effects on local ecosystems and wildlife to ensure sustainable operations.

Block Storage

Cloud storage that provides fixed-size raw storage volumes, typically used for databases or file systems.

Block Storage (e.g., Amazon EBS, Azure Disk Storage)

Cloud services providing persistent block-level storage volumes for use with compute instances.

Blockchain Analytics

Cloud-based tools for analyzing and visualizing blockchain data and transactions, offering insights into network activity.

Blockchain Databases

Distributed databases using blockchain technology for enhanced security and immutability in cloud environments.

Blockchain Governance Tools

Software for managing and enforcing rules, permissions, and consensus mechanisms in blockchain networks deployed on cloud platforms.

Blockchain Integration Services

Cloud-based solutions for connecting blockchain networks with existing enterprise systems and applications.

Ceph RadosGW

Object storage gateway for Ceph, providing S3-compatible API for container storage needs in Kubernetes.

Cgroup (Control Group)

Linux kernel feature for limiting, prioritizing, and isolating resource usage of container groups.

Change Data Capture (CDC)

Technique for tracking and capturing changes in databases, useful in microservices architectures.

Chaos Engineering in CI/CD

Practice of intentionally injecting failures in CI/CD pipelines to improve system resilience.

Chaos Mesh for Reliability Testing

Platform for simulating various abnormal scenarios in Kubernetes environments to test reliability.

Checkov for IaC Security Scanning

Static code analysis tool for detecting misconfigurations in Infrastructure as Code deployments.

Cilium

Open-source networking, observability, and security solution for container workloads based on eBPF.

Cilium Service Mesh

eBPF-powered service mesh offering high-performance traffic management and security for microservices.

Cilium's Hubble for Network Observability

Observability platform for Kubernetes providing deep visibility into container network flows.

Cilium's eBPF Datapath

High-performance networking mode in Cilium using extended Berkeley Packet Filter for packet processing and security.

CircleCI

Continuous integration and delivery platform supporting containerized application testing and deployment.

Circuit Breaker Pattern

Fault tolerance pattern preventing cascading failures in distributed containerized systems.

Circuit Breaking

Technique to detect failures and prevent system overload in microservices architectures, enhancing resilience.

Claim Check Pattern for Large Messages

Design pattern for handling large payloads in microservices by storing data externally, improving efficiency.

Clair for Static Image Analysis

Open-source tool for static analysis of vulnerabilities in container images, enhancing security.

Cloud Controller Manager

Kubernetes component managing interactions between cluster and cloud provider APIs, enabling cloud integration.

Cloud Native Application Bundle (CNAB)

Specification for packaging and managing distributed applications across different environments.

Cloud-Native Buildpacks

Tooling for building container images from source code without Dockerfiles, adhering to best practices.

Cloud-Native Design Patterns

Architectural patterns specifically tailored for distributed, containerized applications in cloud environments.

CloudEvents

Specification for describing event data in common formats, facilitating event-driven architectures in cloud environments.

CloudEvents Specification

Isolation technique in containerized microservices to prevent failure propagation across the system.

Cluster

Group of servers or other resources that work together as a single system to provide high availability.

Cluster API

Kubernetes project for declarative management and provisioning of clusters using Kubernetes-style APIs.

Cluster API Provider

Implementation of Cluster API for specific infrastructure providers, enabling cluster lifecycle management.

Cluster Autoscaler

Kubernetes component that automatically adjusts the size of a cluster based on resource demands.

Cluster Capacity Planning

Process of estimating and allocating resources needed for container workloads in a cluster.

Cluster Federation

Mechanism for coordinating multiple Kubernetes clusters, enabling multi-cluster application deployment and management.

Cluster Mesh

Interconnected network of container clusters, enabling cross-cluster communication and resource sharing.

Cluster Networking

Network configuration and management within and between container clusters, enabling inter-container communication.

Cluster Upgrade Process

Procedure for updating the Kubernetes version and components of a cluster while minimizing disruptions.

Cluster-level Logging

Centralized logging solution capturing logs from all containers and nodes in a cluster, aiding in troubleshooting.

ClusterAutoscaler

Kubernetes component that automatically adjusts the number of nodes in a cluster based on resource utilization.

ClusterIP

Kubernetes service type that exposes the service on an internal IP within the cluster, facilitating internal communication.

ClusterIP Services

Kubernetes services accessible only within the cluster, used for internal communication between pods.

ClusterRole

Kubernetes RBAC resource defining permissions across an entire cluster, not limited to a single namespace.

ClusterRoleBinding

Kubernetes RBAC resource that binds a ClusterRole to users, groups, or service accounts across all namespaces.

ClusterServiceVersion (CSV)

Custom resource in Operator Lifecycle Manager describing a specific version of an Operator.

Codefresh GitOps

GitOps platform for managing and automating containerized application deployments, streamlining CD workflows.

Cold Start Optimization

Techniques to reduce initialization time of containers, particularly important in serverless environments.

Compensating Transaction Pattern

Design pattern for handling failures in distributed container-based systems by reversing or compensating actions.

ConfigMap

Kubernetes API object used to store non-confidential data in key-value pairs, accessible by pods.

Consul Connect

Service mesh feature of Consul providing secure service-to-service communication with automatic TLS encryption.

Container

Standardized unit of software that packages code and all its dependencies for quick, reliable deployment.

Container Breakout Techniques

Methods used by attackers to escape container isolation and access the host system, posing security risks.

Container Engine

Software responsible for managing container lifecycle, including creation, execution, and destruction.

Container Escape

Security vulnerability allowing a process to break out of container isolation and access the host system.

Container Escape Prevention

Security measures and best practices to prevent containers from breaking out of their isolation.

Container Escape Vulnerabilities

Weaknesses in container runtimes or configurations that could allow processes to escape isolation.

Container Health Checks

Mechanisms to verify the health and readiness of containerized applications, ensuring service availability.

Container Host

Physical or virtual machine running the container runtime and hosting containers, providing the execution environment.

Container Image Promotion

Process of moving container images through different environments (e.g., dev, test, prod) in a controlled manner.

Container Image Signing

Cryptographic process of digitally signing container images to ensure their integrity and authenticity during distribution.

Container Lifecycle

Stages a container goes through from creation to termination, including running, paused, and stopped states.

Container Lifecycle Management

Processes and tools for managing containers throughout their lifecycle, from creation to deletion.

Container Logging

Process of capturing and managing log output from containerized applications for monitoring and troubleshooting.

Container Manifest

Configuration file specifying how to build a container image, including base image, commands, and environment setup.

Container Metrics

Quantitative measures of container performance, resource usage, and health, used for monitoring and optimization.

Container Network Interface (CNI)

Specification and libraries for configuring network interfaces in Linux containers, standardizing networking.

Container Network Interface (CNI) Spec

Standard for developing plugins to configure network interfaces in Linux containers, ensuring interoperability.

Container Networking Model

Architecture and principles governing how containers communicate within and across hosts in orchestrated environments.

Container Orchestration

Automated arrangement, coordination, and management of software containers, crucial in large-scale deployments.

Container Probes (Liveness, Readiness, Startup)

Kubernetes mechanisms (liveness, readiness, startup) for checking container health and controlling lifecycle.

Container Real User Monitoring (RUM)

Technique for capturing and analyzing real user interactions with containerized applications.

Container Restart Policies

Rules defining how containers should be restarted in case of failures or exits, enhancing application resilience.

Container Runtime

Software responsible for running containers, managing their lifecycle from creation to deletion.

Container Runtime Security

Measures and tools to protect containers during execution, preventing unauthorized access or malicious activities.

Container Shims

Lightweight processes that manage the lifecycle of containers and provide abstraction between runtimes.

Container Storage Interface (CSI)

Standardized interface for container orchestration platforms to interact with storage systems.

Container Storage Interface (CSI) Spec

Standard for developing storage plugins for container orchestration platforms, enabling storage extensibility.

Container Vulnerability Scanning

Process of identifying security vulnerabilities in container images and their dependencies.

Content Trust

Mechanism for verifying the integrity and authenticity of container images before deployment.

Continuous Deployment

Automated process of releasing container images to production environments after passing tests.

Continuous Verification

Ongoing process of validating deployed containers against defined policies and expectations.

Contiv-VPP for High-performance Networking

Container networking solution using VPP (Vector Packet Processing) for optimized performance.

Contract-First API Development

Approach prioritizing API definition before implementation, crucial for microservices architecture.

Control Groups (cgroups)

Linux kernel feature for limiting, prioritizing, and isolating resource usage of container groups.

Control Plane

Components managing the overall state of a container cluster, including API server, scheduler, and controllers.

Control Plane Upgrade

Process of updating the core components of a container orchestration system while maintaining cluster stability.

Controller Manager

Kubernetes component running controller processes to regulate the state of the cluster, maintaining desired state.

Controller Runtime

Software framework for building Kubernetes controllers and operators, simplifying custom resource management.

Conversion Webhooks

Kubernetes feature allowing custom resource API version conversions via external webhooks.

Copy-on-Write (CoW)

Storage optimization technique used in container filesystems to reduce duplication and improve efficiency.

Cordon

Process of marking a node as unschedulable in Kubernetes, preventing new pods from being assigned to it.

CoreDNS

Flexible, extensible DNS server used for service discovery in Kubernetes clusters, replacing kube-dns.

Cortex

Horizontally scalable, multi-tenant, long-term storage for Prometheus metrics, enhancing monitoring capabilities.

Cortex for Multi-tenant Prometheus

Use of Cortex to provide isolated Prometheus monitoring for multiple users or teams in shared environments.

CronJob

Kubernetes object for creating time-based jobs, running containers on a schedule for automated tasks.

CronJob Patterns

Kubernetes patterns for running batch processes and scheduled tasks in containerized environments.

Cross-namespace Operators

Kubernetes operators capable of managing resources across multiple namespaces, enabling broader automation.

Custom Metrics API

Kubernetes API extension allowing pods to consume custom metrics for autoscaling and monitoring.

Custom Resource

Extension of the Kubernetes API that defines new, custom resource types specific to a cluster's needs.

Custom Resource Conversion

Process of converting custom resources between different API versions in Kubernetes, enabling API evolution.

Custom Resource Definition (CRD)

Kubernetes API extension allowing the definition of custom resources, enabling cluster customization.

Custom Resource Definitions (CRDs)

Kubernetes feature for extending the API with custom resources, enabling cluster customization.

Custom Resources

User-defined API objects in Kubernetes, extending the core functionality of the platform for specific use cases.

Custom Scheduler

Alternative or additional scheduler implementation for Kubernetes, allowing custom pod placement logic.

Custom Schedulers

Alternative scheduling implementations in Kubernetes for custom pod placement strategies, enabling specialized scheduling logic.

DNS for Services and Pods

Kubernetes feature providing DNS-based service discovery for containers within the cluster.

DPDK in Container Networks

Use of Data Plane Development Kit for high-performance packet processing in container networks.

DaemonSet

Kubernetes object ensuring that all (or some) nodes run a copy of a specific pod, useful for cluster-wide services.