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Vocabulary

Foundation Track - Key Terms You Should Know

Cloud Computing Terms​

Cloud Computing​

Using other people's computers (servers) over the internet instead of buying your own

SaaS (Software as a Service)​

Ready-to-use applications accessed through a web browser
Examples: Gmail, Salesforce, Microsoft 365

IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service)​

Rent basic computer resources like virtual servers and storage
Examples: Amazon EC2, Microsoft Azure VMs

PaaS (Platform as a Service)​

Rent development tools and environments for building applications
Examples: Google App Engine, Microsoft Azure App Service

Public Cloud​

Cloud services available to anyone on the internet
Examples: AWS, Google Cloud, Microsoft Azure

Private Cloud​

Cloud services used exclusively by one organization
Example: Company's own data center with cloud technology

Hybrid Cloud​

Combination of public and private cloud services
Example: Sensitive data in private cloud, general apps in public cloud

Networking Terms​

IP Address​

Unique address for every computer, like a postal address
Example: 192.168.1.100

Router​

Device that directs internet traffic between networks
Like a digital post office that sorts and delivers data

DNS (Domain Name System)​

System that converts website names to IP addresses
Like a phone book: google.com → 172.217.14.206

Firewall​

Security system that blocks dangerous internet traffic
Like a security guard checking IDs at a building entrance

LAN (Local Area Network)​

Network connecting devices in the same building or office
Example: Your office WiFi network

WAN (Wide Area Network)​

Network connecting different locations across large distances
Example: The internet connecting networks worldwide

Switch​

Device that connects multiple computers in the same network
Like a power strip that provides more network connections

Access Point​

Device that provides wireless (WiFi) access to a wired network
Like a radio station broadcasting network access

Virtualization Terms​

Virtual Machine (VM)​

Software-based computer running inside a physical computer
Like having multiple apartments in one building

Hypervisor​

Software that manages and controls virtual machines
Like a property manager overseeing multiple office suites

Snapshot​

Save point of a virtual machine's exact state at a specific time
Like a save point in a video game

vMotion​

Moving running virtual machines between physical servers without downtime
VMware's technology for seamless VM migration

VMware vSphere​

Professional virtualization platform used by businesses
Industry standard for enterprise virtualization

Microsoft Hyper-V​

Microsoft's virtualization platform built into Windows Server
Good for Windows-focused business environments

Oracle VirtualBox​

Free virtualization software good for learning and testing
Popular choice for students and personal use

Business Terms​

Server​

Powerful computer that provides services to other computers
Like a central office that serves multiple departments

Data Center​

Building full of servers and networking equipment
Where cloud companies house their computer infrastructure

Uptime​

Percentage of time a system is working properly
99.9% uptime = very reliable, only 8.8 hours downtime per year

Scalability​

Ability to easily add more computing power when needed
Growing your IT resources as your business grows

ROI (Return on Investment)​

Financial measure of how much money you save or make from an investment
Comparing costs vs. benefits of new technology

TCO (Total Cost of Ownership)​

All costs associated with owning and operating a technology solution
Including purchase price, maintenance, electricity, staff time

SLA (Service Level Agreement)​

Contract defining the level of service a provider guarantees
Example: 99.9% uptime guarantee with penalties for outages

Technical Acronyms​

CPU​

Central Processing Unit - the "brain" of a computer

RAM​

Random Access Memory - temporary storage for active programs

GB/TB​

Gigabyte/Terabyte - units for measuring data storage capacity

Mbps/Gbps​

Megabits/Gigabits per second - units for measuring network speed

DHCP​

Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol - automatically assigns IP addresses

HTTP/HTTPS​

HyperText Transfer Protocol - how web browsers communicate with websites

SSH​

Secure Shell - encrypted method for remote server management

VPN​

Virtual Private Network - secure connection over the internet

Study Tips​

How to Learn These Terms​

  1. Create flashcards with term on one side, definition and example on other
  2. Use terms in context - try to use each term in a sentence about business
  3. Connect to real examples - identify these technologies in businesses you know
  4. Practice explaining - teach these concepts to friends or family members

Memory Techniques​

  • Acronyms: Remember "SaaS PaaS IaaS" as "Software Platform Infrastructure"
  • Analogies: Always connect technical terms to familiar concepts
  • Visual learning: Draw simple diagrams showing how technologies relate
  • Real-world connections: Find examples of these technologies in your daily life

Self-Assessment Questions​

  • Can I explain each term to someone with no technical background?
  • Do I understand how these terms relate to each other?
  • Can I give real business examples for each concept?
  • Am I using the terms correctly in sentences?

Practical Application​

  • Identify technologies when visiting businesses (What kind of network do they use?)
  • Read tech news and look for these terms in articles
  • Ask questions about IT systems at your workplace or school
  • Practice scenarios - How would you explain cloud computing to a small business owner?