5G: The fifth generation of mobile network technology that promises faster speeds, lower latency, and increased capacity compared to 4G.
Access Charge: A charge assessed by a telephone company to recover the costs of providing access to its network.
Advanced Persistent Threats (APT): A type of cyber attack that is characterized by its persistence, sophisticated tactics, and the ability to evade detection.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) in Networking: The use of AI and ML techniques to improve network automation, fault management, security and optimization.
Behavioral Analytics: The collection and analysis of data on the behavior of users and devices on a network to detect and respond to potential security threats.
Broadband: High-speed internet access that is capable of supporting various types of communication and applications, such as video and audio streaming, online gaming, and teleconferencing.
Business Continuity Planning (BCP): The process of creating a plan to ensure that an organization can continue to operate in the event of a disaster, such as a natural disaster, cyber-attack, or power outage.
Cable modem: A device that uses a cable television network to provide high-speed internet access.
Carrier of Last Resort (COLR): A telephone company that is required to provide service to customers in a specific geographic area, even if the customer is not creditworthy or the area is not profitable.
Cloud Auditing: The process of reviewing cloud environments for compliance and security.
Cloud Automation: The use of software and tools to automate the provisioning, scaling, and management of cloud resources.
Cloud Backup as a Service (BaaS): A cloud service that allows organizations to create and maintain copies of data in a secure location, typically in the cloud, to ensure that it can be restored in case of data loss or corruption.
Cloud Backup: The process of creating and maintaining copies of data in a secure location, typically in the cloud, to ensure that it can be restored in case of data loss or corruption.
Cloud Broker: An entity that acts as an intermediary between an organization and one or more cloud service providers to help an organization find and manage cloud services.
Cloud Bursting: A technique in which an organization uses a public cloud to handle peak loads, while its normal workloads are handled by a private cloud.
Cloud Compliance: The process of ensuring that an organization’s cloud environment adheres to laws, regulations, and industry standards.
Cloud Cost Management: The process of monitoring, optimizing and controlling the cost of cloud services.
Cloud Disaster Recovery as a Service (DRaaS): A cloud service that enables organizations to restore their IT systems, networks and data after a disaster, to minimize the impact on business operations.
Cloud Federation: A set of technologies and practices that allows for the management of multiple cloud services as a single, unified entity.
Cloud Governance: The set of policies, procedures and standards that an organization establishes to ensure that its cloud environment is compliant with laws, regulations, and best practices.
Cloud Identity and Access Management (CIAM): The management of digital identities, roles and access rights, across an organization’s cloud environment.
Cloud Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS): A cloud service that provides computing power, storage and network bandwidth on demand.
Cloud Management Platform (CMP): A software that allows organizations to manage and automate multiple cloud services from a single console.
Cloud Migration: The process of moving data, applications, or other business elements from an organization’s on-premises infrastructure to a cloud-based infrastructure.
Cloud Platform as a Service (PaaS): A cloud service that provides a platform for the development, deployment, and management of applications and services.
Cloud Resource Management: The process of managing and optimizing the use of cloud resources, such as computing power, storage, and network bandwidth.
Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM): The management of an organization’s cloud security posture across multiple cloud services and providers.
Cloud Security: The protection of cloud-based systems, applications, and data from unauthorized access and cyber threats.
Cloud Service Brokerage (CSB): A service that acts as an intermediary between an organization and one or more cloud service providers to help an organization find and manage cloud services.
Cloud Service Catalog: A list of cloud services that are available to an organization and their associated policies, procedures, and guidelines.
Cloud Service Integration: The process of integrating cloud services with an organization’s existing systems, applications and data.
Cloud Service Level Agreement (SLA): A contract between a cloud service provider and a customer that outlines the level of service that will be provided, such as availability, reliability, and response time.
Cloud Service Management (CSM): The process of managing the entire lifecycle of cloud services, including planning, provisioning, scaling, monitoring, and decommissioning.
Cloud Services: Services provided over the internet, such as storage, computing, and software, rather than being provided locally on a customer’s own hardware.
Cloud Software as a Service (SaaS): A cloud service that provides software applications and services over the internet.
Cloud-Native Analytics: The use of cloud-native technologies and architectures to collect, process, and analyze data generated by cloud-native applications and services.
Cloud-Native API Management: The use of API management solutions to secure, scale, and manage the APIs of cloud-native applications and services.
Cloud-Native Automated Auditing: The use of automation and tools to review cloud-native environments for compliance and security.
Cloud-Native Automated Backup and Recovery: The use of automation and tools to create and maintain copies of data in a secure location, typically in the cloud, and restore it in case of data loss or corruption in a cloud-native environment.
Cloud-Native Automated Compliance Monitoring: The use of automation and tools to continuously monitor a cloud-native environment for compliance with laws, regulations, and industry standards.
Cloud-Native Automated Compliance: The use of automation and tools to ensure that a cloud-native environment adheres to laws, regulations, and industry standards.
Cloud-Native Automated Cost Optimization: The use of automation and tools to monitor and optimize the cost of cloud resources in a cloud-native environment.
Cloud-Native Automated Deployment: The use of automation and tools to deploy and manage cloud-native applications and services in a cloud-native environment.
Cloud-Native Automated Governance: The use of automation and tools to enforce governance policies and procedures for cloud-native environments.
Cloud-Native Automated Incident Response: The use of automation and tools to detect and respond to security incidents and threats in a cloud-native environment.
Cloud-Native Automated Monitoring: The use of automation and tools to monitor and analyze the performance and behavior of cloud-native applications and services in real-time, and use this information to make informed decisions and take action in a cloud-native environment.
Cloud-Native Automated Remediation: The use of automation and tools to automatically implement solutions to resolve issues with cloud-native applications and services in a cloud-native environment.
Cloud-Native Automated Root Cause Analysis: The use of automation and tools to analyze and identify the underlying cause of issues with cloud-native applications and services in a cloud-native environment.
Cloud-Native Automated Scaling: The use of automation and tools to automatically adjust the resources of cloud-native applications and services based on usage and demand in a cloud-native environment.
Cloud-Native Automated Security: The use of automation and tools to enforce security policies and procedures, such as vulnerability management, intrusion detection, and incident response, in a cloud-native environment.
Cloud-Native Automated Troubleshooting: The use of automation and tools to diagnose and resolve issues with cloud-native applications and services in a cloud-native environment.
Cloud-Native Automation Platform (CNAP): A platform that provides a set of tools and services to automate the provisioning, scaling, and management of cloud resources.
Cloud-Native Automation: The use of cloud-native technologies and architectures to automate the provisioning, scaling, and management of cloud resources.
Cloud-Native Compliance: The use of cloud-native technologies and best practices to ensure that a cloud-native environment adheres to laws, regulations, and industry standards.
Cloud-Native Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment (CI/CD): The use of automated processes and tools to continuously build, test, and deploy cloud-native applications and services.
Cloud-Native Cost Management: The use of cloud-native technologies and best practices to monitor and optimize the cost of cloud resources in a cloud-native environment.
Cloud-Native Data Management: The use of cloud-native technologies and architectures to manage the data of cloud-native applications and services, including data storage, data processing, and data analytics.
Cloud-Native Development Platform (CNDP): A platform that provides a set of tools and services to facilitate the development, deployment, and management of cloud-native applications and services.
Cloud-Native Development: A set of principles, practices and tools for building cloud-native applications, which are designed to be deployed and run on cloud infrastructure.
Cloud-Native DevOps: The use of cloud-native technologies and best practices to automate and streamline the processes of software development and operations in a cloud-native environment.
Cloud-Native Governance Automation: The use of automation and tools to enforce governance policies and procedures for cloud-native environments.
Cloud-Native Governance Platform (CNGP): A platform that provides a set of tools and services to implement governance policies and procedures for cloud-native environments.
Cloud-Native Governance: The use of cloud-native technologies and architectures to implement governance policies and procedures for cloud-native environments.
Cloud-Native Identity and Access Management (CIAM): The management of digital identities, roles and access rights, across an organization’s cloud-native environment, ensuring secure access to cloud-native applications and services.
Cloud-Native Infrastructure as Code (IaC): The use of code and automation to manage and provision cloud infrastructure, allowing for version control and efficient scaling.
Cloud-Native Integration: The use of cloud-native technologies and architectures to integrate cloud-native applications and services with existing systems, applications and data.
Cloud-Native Monitoring Platform (CNMP): A platform that provides a set of tools and services to monitor the performance and availability of cloud-native applications and services.
Cloud-Native Monitoring: The use of cloud-native technologies and architectures to monitor the performance and availability of cloud-native applications and services.
Cloud-Native Networking Platform (CNNP): A platform that provides a set of tools and services to build, manage and secure network infrastructure for cloud-native environments.
Cloud-Native Networking: The use of cloud-native technologies and architectures to build, manage and secure network infrastructure.
Cloud-Native Operational Visibility: The ability to monitor and understand the performance and behavior of cloud-native applications and services in real-time, and use this information to make informed decisions and take action.
Cloud-Native Operations: The use of cloud-native technologies and best practices to manage and maintain cloud-native environments, including monitoring, troubleshooting, and scaling.
Cloud-Native Performance Management: The use of cloud-native technologies and best practices to monitor, analyze and optimize the performance of cloud-native applications and services.
Cloud-Native Platform as a Service (PaaS): A cloud service that provides a platform for the development, deployment, and management of cloud-native applications and services.
Cloud-Native Resource Management: The process of managing and optimizing the use of cloud resources, such as computing power, storage, and network bandwidth, in a cloud-native environment.
Cloud-Native Security Automation: The use of automation and tools to enforce security policies and procedures for cloud-native environments.
Cloud-Native Security Operations (SecOps): The use of cloud-native technologies and best practices to manage and maintain the security of cloud-native environments, including threat detection, incident response, and compliance.
Cloud-Native Security Platform (CNSP): A platform that provides a set of tools and services to secure cloud-native applications, services and infrastructure.
Cloud-Native Security: The application of security best practices and technologies to protect cloud-native applications, services and infrastructure.
Cloud-Native Service Brokerage (CSB): A service that acts as an intermediary between an organization and one or more cloud service providers to help an organization find and manage cloud-native services.
Cloud-Native Service Catalog: A list of cloud-native services that are available to an organization and their associated policies, procedures, and guidelines.
Cloud-Native Service Integration: The process of integrating cloud-native services with an organization’s existing systems, applications and data in a cloud-native environment.
Cloud-Native Service Level Agreement (SLA): A contract between a cloud service provider and a customer that outlines the level of service that will be provided, such as availability, reliability, and response time, in a cloud-native environment.
Cloud-Native Service Management (CSM): The process of managing the entire lifecycle of cloud-native services, including planning, provisioning, scaling, monitoring, and decommissioning.
Cloud-Native Service Mesh: A configurable infrastructure layer for microservices application that makes communication flexible, reliable, and fast.
Cloud-Native Software as a Service (SaaS): A cloud service that provides software applications and services over the internet, in a cloud-native environment.
Cloud-Native Storage Platform (CNSTP): A platform that provides a set of tools and services to provide storage for cloud-native applications and services.
Cloud-Native Storage: The use of cloud-native technologies and architectures to provide storage for cloud-native applications and services.
Cloud-Native: A term used to describe software and applications that are designed to be deployed and run on cloud infrastructure.
Collocation: The ability of a competitor to place equipment in the telephone company’s central office to provide services to its customers.
Competitive Local Exchange Carrier (CLEC): A company that competes with ILECs in providing local telephone service.
Compliance: The process of adhering to laws, regulations, standards, and policies that govern the handling of sensitive information and protect data privacy.
Containerization: A technology that allows for packaging and deploying software applications in a lightweight, portable, and self-sufficient container that can run on any infrastructure.
Cyber Insurance: A type of insurance that helps organizations financially recover from cyber incidents such as data breaches, network disruptions and cyber extortion.
Cybersecurity: The protection of internet-connected systems, including hardware, software and data, from cyber attacks.
Data Encryption: The process of converting plain text into a code to protect the confidentiality of data.
Data Privacy: The protection of personal data and ensuring it is handled in a way that complies with applicable laws and regulations.
DevOps: A set of practices and tools that aims to automate and streamline the processes of software development and operations.
Digital Subscriber Line (DSL): A technology that uses existing copper telephone lines to provide high-speed internet access.
Disaster Recovery (DR): The process of restoring an organization’s IT systems, networks and data after a disaster, to minimize the impact on business operations.
Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack: A type of cyber attack that aims to make a website or service unavailable by overwhelming it with traffic from multiple sources.
Dynamic Spectrum Access: A technology that allows wireless devices to access and use the available spectrum in an efficient and opportunistic way.
Edge computing: A distributed computing paradigm that brings computing and data storage closer to the devices or users that need them, rather than having everything centralized in the cloud.
Endpoint Security: The protection of devices that connect to a network, such as laptops, smartphones, and servers, from cyber threats.
Federal Communications Commission (FCC): A federal regulatory body that oversees the telecommunications industry and sets policies for telephone services.
Fiber to the Home (FTTH): A technology that uses fiber-optic cables to provide high-speed internet access directly to a customer’s home or residence.
Fiber to the Premises (FTTP): A technology that uses fiber-optic cables to provide high-speed internet access directly to a customer’s premises.
Firewall: A network security system that monitors and controls incoming and outgoing network traffic based on predetermined security rules.
General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR): A regulation introduced by the European Union (EU) to protect the privacy and personal data of EU citizens.
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA): A U.S law that regulates the handling of protected health information (PHI) to ensure it is kept private and secure.
Hybrid Cloud: An architecture that combines a private cloud and one or more public cloud services, allowing organizations to use the best of both worlds.
Identity and Access Management (IAM): The management of digital identities, roles and access rights, across an organization’s network and applications.
Incumbent Local Exchange Carrier (ILEC): The company that previously had a monopoly on providing local telephone service in a specific geographic region before the Telecommunications Act of 1996.
Interconnection: The ability of a competitor to connect its network to the telephone company’s network to provide services to its customers.
Interexchange Carrier (IXC): A long-distance telephone company that provides service between different local exchange areas.
Internet of Things (IoT): A network of devices and sensors that are connected to the internet and can communicate with each other to collect and share data.
Internet of Things security (IoT security): The protection of Internet of Things (IoT) devices and systems from unauthorized access and cyber threats.
Internet Protocol (IP): The set of rules and standards that govern the way data is transmitted over the internet.
Intrusion Detection and Prevention System (IDPS): A system that monitors network traffic for suspicious activity and alerts or blocks it in real-time.
Kubernetes: An open-source container orchestration system that allows for the management and scaling of containerized applications.
Local Loop: The physical connection between a telephone subscriber’s premises and the telephone company’s central office.
Malware: Short for malicious software, it refers to any software that is specifically designed to harm or exploit systems, networks or devices.
Microservices: An architectural style in which a single application is broken down into a collection of small, independent services that can be developed, deployed, and scaled independently.
Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO): A company that provides mobile telephone services using the infrastructure of another company.
Multi-Access Edge Computing (MEC): A technology that allows computing and storage resources to be placed at the edge of the network, close to the devices and users that need them.
Multi-cloud: The use of multiple cloud services or providers by an organization to meet different needs and minimize vendor lock-in.
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): A method of access control that requires users to provide multiple forms of authentication to gain access to a system or application.
Network Analytics: The collection, analysis and reporting of network data to gain insights and optimize network performance.
Network Automation: The use of software and algorithms to automate the configuration, management and optimization of network devices and services.
Network Function Virtualization (NFV): A technology that allows network functions, such as firewalls and load balancers, to be implemented in software rather than specialized hardware.
Network Neutrality: A principle that advocates for all internet traffic to be treated equally, without any discrimination or preference given to certain types of traffic.
Network Orchestration: The management and coordination of multiple network functions, devices and resources to provide a specific service or application.
Network Security: A set of technologies and practices that protect networks and devices from unauthorized access, threats and attacks.
Network slicing: The ability to create multiple virtual networks on top of a shared physical infrastructure, each with different characteristics and Quality of Service (QoS) requirements.
Next Generation Network (NGN): Refers to the network infrastructure that is being developed to support new and emerging technologies such as high-speed internet, IP telephony, and multimedia services.
Number Portability: The ability of a telephone subscriber to retain their telephone number when switching to a different telephone company.
Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS): A set of security standards that organizations that handle credit card transactions must adhere to.
Penetration Testing: The process of simulating a cyber attack on a system or network to identify vulnerabilities and assess the effectiveness of security measures.
Phishing: A type of social engineering attack that aims to trick users into providing sensitive information or clicking on a malicious link.
Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN): The traditional telephone network that uses circuit-switched technology to complete calls.
Public Utility Commission (PUC): A state regulatory body that oversees the telephone industry and sets rates for telephone services.
Quality of Service (QoS): The set of parameters that determine the level of service provided by a network, such as bandwidth, delay, and jitter.
RBOC Terminology Definitions
Regional Bell Operating Company (RBOC): One of the seven companies created in 1984 as a result of the breakup of AT&T. The RBOCs were tasked with providing local telephone service in specific geographic regions of the United States.
Security Information and Event Management (SIEM): A security management system that collects, analyzes, and correlates log data from various devices and systems to identify security threats and breaches.
Security Operations Center (SOC): A centralized location where an organization’s security team monitors and responds to security incidents and threats.
Serverless computing: A model of cloud computing in which the cloud provider is responsible for managing and scaling the servers required to run an application, allowing the developer to focus on writing code.
Service Level Agreement (SLA): A contract between a service provider and a customer that outlines the level of service that will be provided, such as availability, reliability, and response time.
Single Sign-On (SSO): A method of access control that allows users to authenticate once and gain access to multiple systems or applications without being prompted to enter separate usernames and passwords.
Small Cell: Low-powered wireless access points that are deployed in densely populated areas to improve coverage and capacity of mobile networks.
Software-Defined Networking (SDN): A network architecture that uses software to control the configuration and management of network devices.
Special Access: A term used to describe high-capacity circuits that are used to connect a customer’s premises to the telephone company’s network.
Subscriber Line Charge (SLC): A charge assessed by the telephone company to recover the costs of providing local telephone service.
Switched Access: The service provided by a telephone company that allows a long-distance carrier to complete a call to a local telephone subscriber.
Telecommunications Act of 1996: A law passed by the U.S Congress that aimed to deregulate the telephone industry and promote competition.
Toll Charge: A charge assessed by a telephone company for completing a long-distance call.
Transport: The service provided by a telephone company that allows a long-distance carrier to transport a call across the telephone company’s network.
Triennial Review: A review conducted by the FCC every three years to assess the state of competition in the telephone industry and make adjustments to regulations as necessary.
Unbundled Network Element (UNE): A specific component of a telephone company’s network that is made available to competitors at a regulated price.
Universal Service: A term used to describe the principle that all Americans should have access to affordable telephone service.
Virtual Network Operator (VNO): A company that provides internet and telephone services using the infrastructure of another company.
Virtual Private Network (VPN): A technology that creates a secure, encrypted connection between two devices over a public or untrusted network.
Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP): A technology that allows telephone calls to be made over the internet using packet-switched technology.
Vulnerability Management: The process of identifying, assessing, and mitigating vulnerabilities in systems, networks, and applications.
Wireless broadband: High-speed internet access that is provided through wireless technology, such as cellular networks or Wi-Fi.
