home/glossary/software

software

nounverified·updated May 9, 2026

A collection of instructions that tell a computer how to operate. Software may be both internally developed and purchased from vendors and can include both application software (for example, user applications and database management systems) and system software (for example, operating systems, drivers, utilities, programming software, and interfaces).

TSP Section 100

Senses

SANS Glossary of Security Terms

Computer programs (which are stored in and executed by computer hardware) and associated data (which also is stored in the hardware) that may be dynamically written or modified during execution.

FFIEC Cybersecurity Assessment Tool, Baseline, May 2017

Computer programs and associated data, within the cryptographic boundary and usually stored on erasable media, that may be dynamically written or modified during execution. (e.g., Erasable media may include but are not limited to hard drives.).

NISTIR 7298: Glossary of Key Information Security Terms, Revision 2

Computer programs and associated data that may be dynamically written or modified during execution.

Wordset Dictionary

(computer science) written programs or procedures or rules and associated documentation pertaining to the operation of a computer system and that are stored in read/write memory

Classifications

Entity Type

Asset100%manual reviewaxis_review_queue.v1
?unassignedlast reviewed

Sensitivity

unclassified

Information Class

unclassified

Variants

synonym
packagesoftware program
alternatephrasing
Software
possessive
software's