Cyber security glossary
Understand key cyber security terms, so you know about common forms of cyber attacks and how you can protect your school or trust against them.
Understand the key terms
Find a list below of core terms for you to be familiar with from the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) glossary.
Antivirus: software designed to detect, stop and remove malicious software and viruses
Breach: when data, systems or networks are accessed or changed in a non-authorised way
Cloud: where you can store and access your resources (including data and software) via the internet, instead of locally on physical devices
Cyber attack: an attempt to access, damage or disrupt your computer systems, networks or devices maliciously
Cyber incident: where the security of your system or service has been breached
Cyber security: the protection of your devices, services and networks (and the information they contain) from theft or damage
Firewall: hardware or software that uses a set of rules to constrain