Glossary

Information Security Concepts

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Midjourney AI depiction of VMware Security Hardening, blocky painting in shades of blue that evokes rain, with a person in white in the middle under a white umbrella.

Understanding information security concepts not only enables efficient communication within organizations but also promotes understanding among different groups. Moreover, these information security concepts improve system design by highlighting areas of consideration. Authentication Authentication, a fundamental information security concept, proves that a person or application is genuine, thereby verifying their identity. It employs one or more of three primary methods, or factors: what you know, what you are, and what you have. “What you know” encompasses passwords, personal identification numbers (PINs), passphrases, and other secrets. However, this type of authentication is not strong on its own and is typically paired with another authentication factor. “What you are” involves biometric authentication methods, …

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What is Access Control?

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Midjourney depiction of access control

Access control is a fundamental concept in cybersecurity that revolves around managing and restricting access to sensitive resources within an organization’s network. It is a critical component of any comprehensive security strategy, as it helps prevent unauthorized access, protect confidential data, and ensure that only authorized individuals can perform specific actions or access particular systems. At its core, access control is based on the principle of least privilege, which states that users should be granted the minimum level of access required to perform their job functions effectively. This approach minimizes the potential damage that can be caused by accidental or malicious misuse of privileges. Types of Access Control Models There …

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What is a Keylogger or Keystroke Logger?

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Midjourney representation of the question "What is a Keylogger?"

A keylogger, also known as a keystroke logger, is a type of software or hardware device that records every keystroke made on a computer keyboard. It captures all the text typed by the user, including sensitive information such as passwords, credit card numbers, and private conversations. Software Keyloggers Software-based keyloggers are the most common type. They are installed on the target computer, often through malware or phishing attacks. Once active, they run in the background, secretly logging keystrokes and sending the collected data to the attacker. Some advanced keyloggers can even capture screenshots and record clipboard content. Hardware Keyloggers Hardware keyloggers are physical devices that are attached between the keyboard …

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What is Virtualization?

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Midjourney rendition of the question "What is virtualization?"

At its core, virtualization is a technology that allows you to create multiple virtual environments on a single physical machine. These virtual environments, called virtual machines (VMs), act as independent computers with their own operating systems, applications, and resources, even though they share the same underlying hardware. Imagine you have a powerful server with ample CPU, memory, and storage capacity. Instead of dedicating the entire server to a single operating system and application, you can use virtualization software, known as a hypervisor, to create multiple VMs on that server. Each VM runs its own operating system and applications, isolated from other VMs on the same physical machine. Types of Virtualization …

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What is an Inode?

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An image generated by Midjourney depicting people with hats looking at a skyline, connected with wires, with blobs in them that could be inodes

An inode, short for “index node,” is a data structure used by Linux filesystems to store metadata about a file or directory. Each file and directory in a Linux or UNIX filesystem is associated with a unique inode number. The inode contains essential information about the file or directory, such as: It’s important to note that the inode itself does not contain the file’s name or the actual data. Instead, it serves as a reference point for accessing the file’s metadata and locating its data on the disk. Inode Structure and Limits Each filesystem has a fixed number of inodes, which is determined when the filesystem is created. The number …

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