The world of cybersecurity is filled with abbreviations and acronyms that can be confusing.
On this page, you’ll find clear explanations for the most common acronyms used in the cyber security industry. Whether you’re a pro or just getting started, these definitions will make it easy to understand what these short codes mean.
From data protection codes to threat detection terms, this acronym guide covers all the essential cybersecurity lingo. Use it to follow along as you learn about this important field.
ATP – Advanced Threat Protection
AWS – Amazon Web Services
AV – Anti-Virus
C2 – Command and Control
CA – Certificate Authority
CERT – Computer Emergency Response Team
CRQ – Cyber Risk Quantification
DC – Domain Controller
DLP – Data Loss Prevention
DFIR – Digital Forensics and Incident Response
DNS – Domain Name Service
EASM – External Attack Surface Management
EDR – Endpoint Detection
HIDS – Host Intrusion Detection System
IAM – Identity Access Management
IBM – International Business Machines
IDS – Intrusion Detection System
IOC – Indicator of Compromise
IOT – Indicator of Threat
IPS – Intrusion Prevention System
IaaS – Infrastructure as a Service
IoT – Internet of Things
MDR – Managed Detection and Response
MFA – Multi-Factor Authentication
MISP – Malware Information Sharing Platform and Threat Sharing
MSSP – Managed Security Services Provider
NISF CSF – Cyber Security Framework
NGFW – Next Generation Firewall
OSINT – Open-source Intelligence
PAM – Privileged Access Management
PaaS – Platform as a Service
RAF – Risk Acceptance Forms
SIEM – Security Incident and Event Management
SaaS – Software as a Service
SASE – Secure Access Service Edge
SOC – Security Operations Centre
MSSP – Managed Security Services Provider
NISF CSF – Cyber Security Framework
TI – Threat Intelligence
TIP – Threat Intelligence Platform
TTP – Tactics, Techniques, Procedure
VPN – Virtual Private Network
WFH – Work From Home
XDR – Extended Detection and Response
ZTNA – Zero Trust Network Access