October 21, 2025
A beginner-friendly guide to essential cyber security terminology from red team and blue team concepts to DevSecOps, cloud, and network security terms.
Daoud Youssef
This article is intended for beginners to overcome the difficulties of understanding some terms when they first enter the field of information security. these terminologies related to red team , blue team , devsecops and general security terms so whether you have chosen your major or not, you will benefit from this article . so without wasting any time let’s go directly to the terminologies and what each of it means
SaaS means you use ready-made software over the internet instead of installing it on your computer. Examples: Gmail, Slack, or Zoom . you just log in and use them. The provider handles everything servers, updates, and security while you simply use the app. It’s like renting a finished apartment: you only move in and live.
PaaS gives developers a full platform to build and run apps without managing servers or databases. You write code, and the provider takes care of hosting, scaling, and maintenance. Example: Google App Engine or Heroku. Think of it like renting a workshop that already has tools and electricity you just create.
IaaS offers raw computing power virtual machines, storage, and networks over the cloud. You control the operating systems and apps but don’t worry about physical hardware. Examples: AWS EC2, Microsoft Azure, DigitalOcean. It’s like renting empty land you decide what to build on it.
SAST checks your app’s source code or binaries before running them to find security bugs early. It’s like proofreading a book before publishing you catch mistakes in the text itself. Developers use it during coding to fix issues such as SQL injection or insecure data handling. Tools: SonarQube, Checkmarx, or Fortify.
DAST tests a running application from the outside, just like a hacker would. It sends requests and observes responses to find security weaknesses in real time. Think of it as testing a locked door to see if it can be forced open. Tools: OWASP ZAP, Burp Suite.
KYC is a process companies use to verify the identity of users before allowing access or transactions. It helps prevent fraud, money laundering, and fake accounts. Example: when a bank asks for your ID, photo, or address proof before opening an account. In online services, KYC may include document uploads or facial recognition.
IAM is the system that controls who can access what inside an organization. It manages user accounts, roles, and permissions to ensure only the right people reach sensitive data. Think of it as a digital gatekeeper deciding who gets in and what they can do once inside. Examples: Okta, Azure AD, or AWS IAM.
MFA adds extra layers of security beyond just a password. It requires two or more proofs of identity like a password plus a phone code or fingerprint. Even if someone steals your password, they can’t log in without the second factor. Example: logging into Gmail and confirming with a code sent to your phone.
SSO lets you log in once and access multiple apps without re-entering credentials each time. Example: signing into Google and instantly getting access to Gmail, Drive, and YouTube. It improves user convenience while keeping password management simpler and safer. It’s like having one key that opens all your trusted doors.
Zero Trust is a security approach based on the idea: “never trust, always verify.” Every user or device must prove its identity every time even if it’s already inside the network. It assumes no one is automatically safe, not even internal employees or systems. Example: before accessing a company’s file server, you must reauthenticate and pass checks.
Least Privilege means giving users or systems only the minimum permissions they truly need. If someone only needs to read a file, they shouldn’t have permission to edit or delete it. This limits damage if an account is hacked or a mistake happens. It’s like giving a cleaner access to one room instead of the whole building.
SIEM collects and analyzes logs from different systems to detect unusual or malicious behavior. It’s like a central security camera for your digital environment. When something suspicious happens, it alerts security teams in real time. Examples: Splunk, IBM QRadar, or Azure Sentinel.
EDR focuses on protecting endpoints like laptops and servers from attacks. It continuously monitors for unusual behavior and can isolate infected machines automatically. Example: if malware tries to encrypt files, EDR can block it and alert the SOC. Tools: CrowdStrike Falcon, SentinelOne.
XDR expands EDR by combining data from endpoints, networks, emails, and cloud systems. It gives a full picture of an attack instead of isolated alerts from separate tools. This helps analysts detect complex, multi-stage threats faster. Think of it as connecting all security cameras into one control room.
A WAF protects websites and web apps from online attacks like SQL injection or cross-site scripting (XSS). It filters and inspects HTTP traffic, blocking anything suspicious before it reaches the app. Think of it as a security guard who reads every message coming to your website. Examples: Cloudflare WAF, AWS WAF, Imperva.
A SOC is a team or department that monitors and defends an organization’s systems 24/7. They track alerts, investigate suspicious activity, and respond to security incidents. Think of them as digital firefighters always ready to act when an alarm goes off. They rely on tools like SIEM and EDR to stay aware of threats in real time.
CSP can mean Cloud Service Provider or Content Security Policy, depending on context . Here are both definitions written clearly:
A CSP is a company that delivers computing services like servers, databases, and software through the internet. Examples include AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud. They handle all the physical infrastructure so customers can build, host, or run apps easily. Think of them as the landlords of the cloud you rent resources instead of buying hardware.
CSP is a web browser security feature that helps prevent attacks like Cross-Site Scripting (XSS). It lets a website tell the browser which sources of scripts, images, or styles are trusted. If a hacker tries to load a malicious script from an unapproved source, the browser blocks it. It’s like a guest list for your website only trusted content is allowed to run
PKI is the system that manages digital certificates and encryption keys to secure communication. It ensures that data sent over the internet (like on HTTPS sites) is private and authentic. It works with two keys one public and one private to encrypt and verify information. Think of PKI as the ID card system of the digital world, proving who’s who online.
An HSM is a physical device that securely stores and manages encryption keys. It protects sensitive keys from being copied or stolen, even by internal employees. Banks and cloud providers use HSMs for things like digital signatures and secure transactions. It’s like a digital safe that only authorized systems can open. HSM examples: AWS CloudHSM, Thales Luna, Azure Key Vault HSM, IBM Cloud HSM, Entrust nShield.
A CASB acts as a security checkpoint between users and cloud services. It monitors and controls how data moves in and out of cloud apps like Google Drive or Salesforce. CASBs help enforce company policies, detect risky behavior, and prevent data leaks. Think of it as a security guard watching all cloud traffic for your organization. CASB examples: Netskope, McAfee MVISION Cloud, Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps, Palo Alto Prisma Cloud, Cisco Cloudlock.
DevSecOps means adding security into every stage of the software development process. Instead of checking for security only at the end, developers, security teams, and operations work together from the start. Example: automatically scanning code for vulnerabilities each time it’s updated. It’s like building safety into a car while designing it not after it’s already on the road.
A BCP is a plan that keeps a business running during emergencies like cyberattacks, fires, or power outages. It defines backup systems, communication steps, and recovery methods. Example: having cloud backups ready so operations can continue even if the main office is down. It’s basically a “what to do when things go wrong” guide for companies.
A DRP is a detailed guide for restoring systems and data after a disaster like ransomware, fire, or server failure. It focuses on getting IT systems back online quickly and minimizing downtime. Example: restoring backups to new servers after a cyberattack. Think of it as an emergency kit that helps your business survive and recover fast.
RBAC gives users permissions based on their job roles. For example, an accountant can view financial data, but a developer cannot. It simplifies management you just assign roles instead of individual permissions. It’s like giving keys only to people whose job requires entering certain rooms.
ABAC controls access based on user attributes (like department, location, or time). It’s more flexible than RBAC because it checks multiple conditions before granting access. Example: “Allow access if user is in HR and it’s during work hours.” It’s like a smart lock that opens only when all conditions are met.
Threat Modeling is the process of identifying how an attacker could harm a system and how to stop them. It helps teams find weak spots early before real hackers do. Example: analyzing a banking app to see if attackers could steal data through insecure APIs. It’s like planning your defense by thinking the way an enemy would.
SOAR tools help security teams automate responses to incidents. They connect systems like SIEM, firewalls, and ticketing tools to act automatically when threats appear. Example: if malware is detected, SOAR can isolate the device and alert the team instantly. It’s like having a smart assistant that handles emergencies on its own.
SOAR examples: Palo Alto Cortex XSOAR - Splunk SOAR (formerly Phantom)
DLP prevents sensitive information from being leaked, stolen, or sent outside the company. It monitors emails, file uploads, and USB transfers to stop data from leaving unauthorizedly. Example: blocking a user from emailing a spreadsheet with customer credit card numbers. It’s like a security guard ensuring confidential files never leave the building.
DLP examples : Symantec Data Loss Prevention (Broadcom) - McAfee Total Protection for DLP
An IDS monitors network traffic or system activity to detect suspicious or malicious behavior. It doesn’t block attacks it only alerts security teams when something looks wrong. Example: noticing unusual login attempts from foreign IPs. It’s like a burglar alarm that warns you when someone’s trying to break in.
An IPS does everything an IDS does but also takes action to stop attacks. It can block malicious traffic, reset connections, or quarantine systems automatically. Example: detecting a SQL injection attempt and instantly blocking that request. It’s like a security guard who not only sounds the alarm but tackles the intruder.
A Honeypot is a fake system or service set up to attract hackers and study their behavior. It looks real but contains no valuable data, so it’s safe to monitor. Example: a fake login portal that records attack methods used by cybercriminals. It’s like bait a trap to learn how thieves operate.
Honeypot examples: Cowrie – Dionaea – Honeyd – Kippo
A Honeynet is a collection of multiple Honeypots connected together. It simulates an entire network environment to observe more advanced attacks. Researchers use it to understand large-scale or coordinated hacking tactics. Think of it as a whole fake neighborhood built to catch and study burglars.
Honeynet examples: The Honeynet Project – MHN (Modern Honey Network) - Honeywall
An Air Gap means completely isolating a computer or network from the internet or other systems. It’s used to protect highly sensitive environments like military or industrial systems. Example: a nuclear plant control network not physically connected to any external network. It’s like keeping your most valuable treasure in a locked room with no doors or Wi-Fi.
Network Segmentation divides a network into smaller sections to limit access and damage. If one part is compromised, the attacker can’t easily reach the rest. Example: separating office computers from servers that store customer data. It’s like putting fire doors in a building to stop flames from spreading.
examples : Cisco ACI (Application Centric Infrastructure) – VMware NSX – Illumio Core
A VLAN is a virtual way to separate devices on the same physical network. It organizes traffic so that only specific devices can talk to each other securely. Example: keeping the HR department’s computers on a different VLAN from IT’s. It’s like invisible walls inside one office building that divide departments.
NAC checks every device that tries to connect to a network before letting it in. It can block unknown or non-compliant devices automatically. Example: denying access to a laptop without updated antivirus software. It’s like a digital bouncer only trusted, healthy devices get through the door.
MDM is software that lets companies control and secure mobile devices used for work. It can enforce password policies, encrypt data, or remotely wipe a lost device. Example: if a phone with company emails is stolen, IT can erase it instantly. Tools: Microsoft Intune, VMware Workspace ONE, Jamf.
BYOD means employees use their personal phones, laptops, or tablets for work tasks. It’s convenient but risky, since personal devices may not follow company security rules. Example: an employee checking work emails on their own smartphone. Companies often use MDM tools to keep BYOD devices secure and compliant.
Secure Boot is a feature that ensures a device starts only with trusted, verified software. When a computer powers on, it checks the digital signatures of system files before running them. If malware or unauthorized firmware is detected, the boot process stops. It’s like checking IDs before letting anyone enter the building during startup.
A TPM is a small hardware chip that securely stores encryption keys and system integrity data. It helps verify that a computer hasn’t been tampered with during startup. TPMs are used for features like Windows BitLocker encryption and Secure Boot. Think of it as a digital safe built right into your motherboard.
Certificate Pinning links an app or website to a specific SSL certificate or public key. Even if a hacker tricks a browser with a fake certificate, the app won’t trust it. Example: a banking app only accepting its real server certificate, blocking impostors. It’s like knowing your friend’s exact voice you won’t believe an imitator.
Supply Chain Security focuses on protecting every step involved in creating and delivering software or hardware. It ensures no one injects malicious code, tools, or components during production or updates. Example: verifying third-party libraries before including them in your app. It’s like checking every link in a delivery chain to make sure no package was tampered with.
An SBOM is a detailed list of all the components, libraries, and dependencies inside a software product. It helps developers and security teams know what’s in their code and where vulnerabilities might hide. Example: if a library like Log4j is found vulnerable, an SBOM helps you locate and patch it fast. It’s like an ingredient label for software.
Immutable Infrastructure means servers or containers are never modified after deployment. If an update is needed, a new instance is built and replaces the old one completely. This prevents hidden configuration drift and makes environments more predictable. It’s like replacing a damaged car part with a new one instead of trying to repair it in place.
examples: Docker - Kubernetes
Containerization is a method of packaging applications with all their dependencies into isolated units called containers. It ensures consistency across environments (development, testing, production). Containers are lightweight and portable compared to virtual machines. Examples: Docker, Podman, LXC, containerd.
Kubernetes Security focuses on protecting containerized workloads managed by Kubernetes. It involves securing clusters, nodes, network policies, secrets, and access control. Common practices include using Role-Based Access Control (RBAC), image scanning, and runtime monitoring. Examples: Kube-bench, Aqua Security, Prisma Cloud, Falco.
Secrets Management handles sensitive information like passwords, API keys, and certificates. It ensures secure storage, controlled access, and automated rotation of secrets across systems. Examples: HashiCorp Vault, AWS Secrets Manager, Azure Key Vault, Google Secret Manager.
Key Rotation is the process of periodically changing encryption or access keys to reduce the impact of key compromise. It strengthens data protection and is often automated in secure systems. Examples: AWS KMS automatic rotation, Azure Key Vault rotation policies, Google Cloud KMS rotation.
Log Management involves collecting, storing, and analyzing system and application logs to detect issues, track user actions, and support security investigations. It’s vital for incident response and compliance. Examples: Splunk, Graylog, ELK Stack (Elasticsearch, Logstash, Kibana).
An Insider Threat occurs when someone within an organization ike an employee or contractor misuses their access to harm the company. This could be stealing data, sabotaging systems, or leaking information accidentally. Examples: Edward Snowden case, or an employee copying confidential client data.
Chaos Engineering is the practice of intentionally breaking parts of a system to test its resilience and recovery. The goal is to find weaknesses before real failures happen. Example: Netflix’s Chaos Monkey tool randomly shuts down services to test system stability.
OAuth is a technology that lets users log in to websites using existing accounts from other platforms like Google or Facebook without sharing their passwords. Example: Clicking “Login with Google” on a new website uses OAuth.
OpenID Connect is built on top of OAuth 2.0 and adds identity verification. While OAuth focuses on authorization (what you can do), OIDC adds authentication (who you are). Example: When an app confirms your identity via your Google profile before granting access.
SAML is an older XML-based standard used to share login credentials between systems, often in enterprise environments for single sign-on (SSO). Example: Logging into multiple corporate apps through one company portal uses SAML.
PKCE is an extension of OAuth 2.0 that makes authentication safer, especially for mobile and single-page apps. It prevents attackers from stealing authorization codes by using a unique secret for each login attempt. Example: Used when a mobile app logs you in via Google securely without exposing tokens.
DNSSEC adds cryptographic signatures to DNS records to prevent attackers from redirecting users to fake websites (DNS spoofing). Example: When a browser verifies that bank.com truly comes from the legitimate DNS server, not a malicious one.
DoH encrypts DNS requests using HTTPS, hiding them from eavesdroppers like ISPs or hackers. It protects user privacy by preventing DNS-based tracking or manipulation. Example: Firefox and Chrome use DoH to securely resolve website names.
RASP is a security technology built into an application that monitors its own behavior and blocks attacks in real time like SQL injection or XSS while the app is running. Examples: Contrast Security, Imperva RASP, Signal Sciences RASP.
Runtime Monitoring tracks what an application or system does while it’s running to detect abnormal behavior, performance issues, or attacks in real time. It helps catch threats that static analysis might miss. Examples: Datadog, Dynatrace, New Relic, Falco (for containers).
Threat Intelligence involves collecting and analyzing data about current and emerging cyber threats to predict and prevent attacks. It includes attacker tactics, tools, and indicators of compromise (IOCs). Examples: Recorded Future, Mandiant Threat Intelligence, IBM X-Force.
MITRE ATT&CK is a global knowledge base that documents real-world attacker techniques and tactics used during cyber intrusions. It helps organizations understand, detect, and respond to threats effectively. Example: Security teams map attacks like phishing or lateral movement to MITRE ATT&CK techniques for analysis.
Secure SDLC integrates security practices into every stage of software development from planning and coding to testing and deployment to build more secure applications. Examples: Microsoft SDL, OWASP SAMM frameworks.
Code Signing uses digital certificates to verify the authenticity and integrity of software. It ensures that the code hasn’t been tampered with and comes from a trusted developer. Examples: Microsoft Authenticode, Apple Developer Certificates, DigiCert.
Firmware Security focuses on protecting the low-level software that runs hardware devices (like BIOS or UEFI). Attackers who compromise firmware can control a system before the OS even loads, making detection hard. Examples: Intel Boot Guard, HP Sure Start, Eclypsium firmware protection.
An API Gateway acts as a central entry point for APIs it manages authentication, rate limiting, encryption, and logging. It helps control and secure how clients interact with backend services. Examples: Kong, NGINX API Gateway, AWS API Gateway, Apigee.
Webhooks let applications automatically send data to each other over HTTP. Securing them means verifying requests (via signatures or tokens), using HTTPS, and restricting allowed IPs to prevent spoofing or abuse. Example: GitHub or Stripe webhooks secured with HMAC signatures.
Endpoint Hardening means securing devices like laptops, servers, and mobile phones by reducing their attack surface disabling unused ports, enforcing patches, encryption, and security policies. Examples: Microsoft Intune, CrowdStrike Falcon, CIS Hardening Benchmarks.
Configuration Management ensures all systems and software are set up securely and consistently. It prevents configuration drift, where small untracked changes can create security gaps. Examples: Ansible, Puppet, Chef.
Vulnerability Management is the continuous process of identifying, assessing, prioritizing, and fixing security weaknesses in systems and applications before attackers exploit them. Examples: Tenable Nessus, Qualys, Rapid7 InsightVM.
Patch Management involves regularly applying software updates and security fixes to close known vulnerabilities. It’s essential for defending against exploits targeting outdated systems. Examples: WSUS (Windows Server Update Services), ManageEngine Patch Manager Plus, Ivanti.
A PIA is an evaluation that determines how a project or system might affect personal data privacy and ensures compliance with privacy laws like GDPR. Example: Conducting a PIA before launching a new customer data analytics platform
Consent Management handles how organizations collect, store, and manage user permissions for data processing. It ensures users control how their personal information is used. Examples: OneTrust, TrustArc, Cookiebot.
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