System and network security acronyms and abbreviations

Abstract

Abstract : This report contains a list of selected acronyms and abbreviations for system and network security terms with their generally accepted or preferred definitions. It is intended as a resource for federal agencies and other users of system and network security publications. The capitalization, spelling, and definitions of acronyms and abbreviations frequently vary among publications. It is easy to understand why this happens. While some acronyms and abbreviations (e.g., WWW) have one universally recognized and understood definition within the domain of system and network security, others (e.g., IA, MAC) have multiple valid definitions depending upon the context in which they are used. Some acronyms bear little resemblance to their definitions, such as Modes of Operation Validation System for the Triple DES Algorithm (TMOVS). Others use unexpected capitalization or spelling (e.g., Electronic Business using eXtensible Markup Language [ebXML] and Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development [OECD]). As a result, acronyms, abbreviations, and their definitions may be inaccurately or inconsistently defined by authors, perpetuating errors and confusing or misleading readers. This report is meant to help reduce these errors and confusion by providing the generally accepted or preferred definitions of a list of frequently used acronyms and abbreviations. The list does not include all system and network security terms, nor is it a compendium of every acronym and abbreviation found in system and network security documents published by NIST. Readers should refer to each document's list of acronyms and abbreviations (typically found in an appendix) for definitions applicable to that particular document.