Security Acronyms Explained

“Experts like to keep technology wrapped up in a mystique and an aura that makes them the expert and makes you feel that you are not connected with it.”

So says Peter Mason, lead IP Tutor at Tavcom Training, and it’s hard to disagree. The physical-security industry – in which Tavcom Training is the leading training provider – is awash with impenetrable acronyms and technical jargon.

Mason, who has taught courses on security technology at Tavcom Training for more than a decade, will attempt to demystify technical security terms at IFSEC International 2016, which takes place 21-June at ExCeL London (Register here to attend). Called ‘Alphabet soup’, his presentation will explain many of the three-letter abbreviations (ironically with their own acronym, TLAs), extended three-letter abbreviation (ETLAs) and jargon like subnet, subnet masks and IP version 6.

“The job of Alphabet Soup is to unwrap the techno babble, the jargon, the terminology, and to give you a simple, straightforward understanding of what it is all about,” he says in the video below. “I’m going to try and unravel those so you don’t feel like you are having the wool pulled over your eyes all the time.”

In the video below Peter also previews another presentation – ‘Network Performance? It’s easy when you know how!’ – that he will deliver at IFSEC.

Security jargon demystified

• Subnet. Short for ‘subnetwork’ a subnet is a logical, visible subdivision of an IP network. Computers on a subnet are addressed with a common, identical, most-significant bit-group in their IP address.
• IP version 6.  Shortened to IPv6 this is the most recent version of the Internet Protocol (IP), which gives networked computers an identification and location system and routes traffic across the internet.
• VLAN. This is a way of separating sections of a local area network for security reasons, whilst preserving bandwidth for each section.

For much better explanations of what these and many other security terms mean and the contexts for their correct use, check out Peter Mason’s presentation at IFSEC International 2016. Register here to attend IFSEC International.

Peter will present ‘Alphabet Soup’ in the Tavcom Training Theatre once a day at these times:

• Tuesday 21 June, 11.50am-12.20pm
• Wednesday 22 June, 2.40pm-3.10pm
• Thursday 23 June, 11.50am-12.20pm

Peter is presenting ‘Network Performance? It’s easy when you know how!’ – where he will explain how to use simple and readily-available tools to conduct network measurement and testing – at these times:

• Tuesday 21 June, 13.50pm-2.30pm
• Wednesday 22 June, 11am-11.40am
• Thursday 23 June, 13.50pm-2.30pm

And a presentation called ‘Li-Fi – have you seen the light?’ where he discusses a new alternative to Wi-Fi, how it works and its relevance to CCTV systems, on Tuesday 21 June at 3.20pm-4pm.

Browse the full programme for the Tavcom Training Theatre.

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