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Glossary · Nouns · A

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TermTypeDefinitionClassificationsUpdated
Audit Reduction ToolsnounMWEPreprocessors designed to reduce the volume of audit records to facilitate manual review. Before a security review, these tools can remove many audit records known to have little security significance. These tools generally remove records generated by specified classes of events, such as records generated by nightly backups.CapabilityMay 12, 2026
audit reportnounMWEA report issued by an independent Auditor that expresses an opinion about whether the financial statements present fairly a company's financial position, operating results, and cash flows in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.ArtifactRegulatedMay 12, 2026
audit resourcenounMWEThe materials that are used by auditors to conduct an audit.ArtifactConfidentialMay 12, 2026
Audit ReviewnounMWEThe assessment of an information system to evaluate the adequacy of implemented security controls, assure that they are functioning properly, identify vulnerabilities, and assist in implementation of new security controls where required. This assessment is conducted annually or whenever significant change has occurred and may lead to recertification of the information system.ProcessRegulatedCUIMay 12, 2026
audit schedulenounMWEThe dates on which a planned, official examination of a system or equipment will be performed.ArtifactInternalMay 12, 2026
audit scopenounMWEDetermination of the range of the activities and the period (months or years) of records that are to be subjected to an audit examination.RequirementInternalMay 12, 2026
audit staffnounMWEAll people who are employed by an organization to perform audit activities.RoleMay 12, 2026
audit standardnounMWERules prescribed for auditors by various national and international organizations such as the Auditing Practices Board (in the UK) and the Auditing Standards Board (in the US).FrameworkRegulatedMay 12, 2026
Audit trailnounMWEA chronological record that reconstructs and examines the sequence of activities surrounding or leading to a specific operation, procedure, or event in a security relevant transaction from inception to final result.ArtifactRegulatedMay 12, 2026
audit universenounMWEAn inventory of audit areas that is compiled and maintained to identify areas for audit during the audit planning process.ArtifactInternalMay 12, 2026
audit vendornounMWEA provider of audit services.OrganizationMay 12, 2026
Audit Work PapernounMWEThis record category contains records of working papers that are vital to the successful accomplishment of all audit assignments performed.ArtifactRegulatedMay 12, 2026
Audited AccountnounMWEan inspection of the accounting procedures and records by a trained accountant or CPAverifiedMay 18, 2026
AuditingnounAuditing is the information gathering and analysis of assets to ensure such things as policy compliance and security from vulnerabilities.ProcessMay 9, 2026
auditornounA person who conducts audits from either inside or outside of the organization being audited.RoleMay 9, 2026
Auditoriumnounthe area of a theater or concert hall where the audience sitsverifiedMay 18, 2026
Auditory AgnosianounMWEinability to recognize or understand the meaning of spoken wordsverifiedMay 18, 2026
Auditory AphasianounMWEan impairment in understanding spoken language that is not attributable to hearing lossverifiedMay 18, 2026
Auditory ApparatusnounMWEall of the components of the organ of hearing including the outer and middle and inner earsverifiedMay 18, 2026
Auditory AreanounMWEthe cortical area that receives auditory information from the medial geniculate bodyverifiedMay 18, 2026
Auditory CanalnounMWEeither of the passages in the outer ear from the auricle to the tympanic membraneverifiedMay 18, 2026
Auditory CenternounMWEthe part of the brain (in a fold of the cerebral cortex of the temporal lobe on both sides of the brain) that receives impulses from the ear by way of the auditory nerveverifiedMay 18, 2026
Auditory CommunicationnounMWEcommunication that relies on hearingverifiedMay 18, 2026
Auditory CortexnounMWEthe cortical area that receives auditory information from the medial geniculate bodyverifiedMay 18, 2026
Auditory HallucinationnounMWEillusory auditory perception of strange nonverbal soundsverifiedMay 18, 2026
Auditory HyperesthesianounMWEabnormal acuteness of hearing due to increased irritability of the sensory neural mechanismverifiedMay 18, 2026
Auditory ImagenounMWEa mental image that is similar to an auditory perceptionverifiedMay 18, 2026
Auditory MeatusnounMWEeither of the passages in the outer ear from the auricle to the tympanic membraneverifiedMay 18, 2026
Auditory ModalitynounMWEthe ability to hearverifiedMay 18, 2026
Auditory NervenounMWEa composite sensory nerve supplying the hair cells of the vestibular organ and the hair cells of the cochleaverifiedMay 18, 2026
Auditory OssiclenounMWEossicles of the middle ear that transmit acoustic vibrations from the eardrum to the inner earverifiedMay 18, 2026
Auditory PerceptionnounMWEthe perception of sound as a meaningful phenomenonverifiedMay 18, 2026
Auditory SensenounMWEthe ability to hearverifiedMay 18, 2026
Auditory SystemnounMWEthe sensory system for hearingverifiedMay 18, 2026
Auditory TubenounMWEeither of the paired tubes connecting the middle ears to the nasopharynxverifiedMay 18, 2026
Auf WiedersehennounMWEa farewell remarkverifiedMay 18, 2026
Augendnouna number to which another number (the addend) is addedverifiedMay 18, 2026
Augernouna long flexible steel coil for dislodging stoppages in curved pipesverifiedMay 18, 2026
Aughtnouna quantity of no importanceverifiedMay 18, 2026
Augitenoundark-green to black glassy mineral of the pyroxene group containing large amounts of aluminum and iron and magnesiumverifiedMay 18, 2026
Augmentationnounthe statement of a theme in notes of greater duration (usually twice the length of the original)verifiedMay 18, 2026
Augurynounan event that is experienced as indicating important things to comeverifiedMay 18, 2026
Auknounblack-and-white short-necked web-footed diving bird of northern seasverifiedMay 18, 2026
Aukletnounany of several small auks of the northern Pacific coastsverifiedMay 18, 2026
Auld LangsynenounMWEpast times remembered with nostalgiaverifiedMay 18, 2026
Auntnounthe sister of your father or motherverifiedMay 18, 2026
Auntienounthe sister of your father or motherverifiedMay 18, 2026
Auntynounthe sister of your father or motherverifiedMay 18, 2026
Auranouna sensation (as of a cold breeze or bright light) that precedes the onset of certain disorders such as a migraine attack or epileptic seizureverifiedMay 18, 2026
Aureolenounan indication of radiant light drawn around the head of a saintverifiedMay 18, 2026
Auriclenouna small conical pouch projecting from the upper anterior part of each atrium of the heartverifiedMay 18, 2026
Auriculanouna pouch projecting from the top front of each atrium of the heartverifiedMay 18, 2026
Auricula AtriinounMWEa small conical pouch projecting from the upper anterior part of each atrium of the heartverifiedMay 18, 2026
Auricular AppendagenounMWEa pouch projecting from the top front of each atrium of the heartverifiedMay 18, 2026
Auricular AppendixnounMWEa pouch projecting from the top front of each atrium of the heartverifiedMay 18, 2026
Auricular ArterynounMWEartery that supplies blood to the earverifiedMay 18, 2026
Auricular PointnounMWEthe craniometric point at the center of the opening of the external acoustic meatusverifiedMay 18, 2026
Auricular VeinnounMWEone of two veins serving the ear regionverifiedMay 18, 2026
Auricularenounthe craniometric point at the center of the opening of the external acoustic meatusverifiedMay 18, 2026
Auriscopenounmedical instrument consisting of a magnifying lens and lightverifiedMay 18, 2026
AurochsnounEuropean bison having a smaller and higher head than the North American bisonverifiedMay 18, 2026
Auroranounan atmospheric phenomenon consisting of bands of light caused by charged solar particles following the earth's magnetic lines of forceverifiedMay 18, 2026
Aurora AustralisnounMWEthe aurora of the southern hemisphereverifiedMay 18, 2026
Aurora BorealisnounMWEthe aurora of the northern hemisphereverifiedMay 18, 2026
Auroscopenounmedical instrument consisting of a magnifying lens and lightverifiedMay 18, 2026
Auscultationnounthe process of listening to sounds within the body, usually with a stethoscopeverifiedMay 18, 2026
Auspexnoun(ancient Rome) a religious official who interpreted omens to guide public policyverifiedMay 18, 2026
Auspicesnounkindly endorsement and guidanceverifiedMay 18, 2026
Auspiciousnessnounthe favorable quality of strongly indicating a successful resultverifiedMay 18, 2026
Austenitenouna solid solution of ferric carbide or carbon in ironverifiedMay 18, 2026
Austenitic Manganese SteelnounMWEa steel with a relatively large component (10-14%) of manganeseverifiedMay 18, 2026
Austenitic SteelnounMWEsteel that has enough nickel and chromium or manganese to retain austenite at atmospheric temperaturesverifiedMay 18, 2026
Austerenessnounextreme plainnessverifiedMay 18, 2026
Austeritynounthe trait of great self-denial (especially refraining from worldly pleasures)verifiedMay 18, 2026
Autacoidnounany physiologically active internal secretion especially one of uncertain classificationverifiedMay 18, 2026
Autarchynouna political system governed by a single individualverifiedMay 18, 2026
Autarkynouneconomic independence as a national policyverifiedMay 18, 2026
Auteurnouna filmmaker who has a personal style and keeps creative control over his or her worksverifiedMay 18, 2026
AuthenticationnounThe process of verifying the identity or other attributes claimed by or assumed of an entity (user, process, or device), or to verify the source and integrity of data.CapabilityMay 9, 2026
Authentication CodenounMWEA cryptographic checksum based on an Approved security function (also known as a Message Authentication Code [MAC]).CredentialRegulatedMay 12, 2026
authentication controlnounMWEOne of several systems which restrict user access to a network.ControlRegulatedMay 9, 2026
authentication mechanismnounMWEHardware or software-based mechanisms that forces users, devices, or processes to prove their identity before accessing data on an information system.ControlMay 9, 2026
authentication methodnounMWEA method of Verifying the identity of a user, such as a challenge password or a digital certificate.ControlRegulatedMay 12, 2026
Authentication ModenounMWEA block cipher mode of operation that can provide assurance of the authenticity and, therefore, the integrity of data.ControlMay 9, 2026
Authentication PeriodnounMWEThe maximum acceptable period between any initial authentication process and subsequent reauthentication processes during a single terminal session or during the period data is being accessed.RequirementRegulatedCUIMay 12, 2026
authentication procedurenounMWEThe documented steps necessary to authenticate the identity of an entity through the use of credentials in order to gain access to the system.RequirementMay 9, 2026
Authentication ProtocolnounMWEA defined sequence of messages between a Claimant and a Verifier that demonstrates that the Claimant has possession and control of a valid token to establish his/her identity, and optionally, demonstrates to the Claimant that he or she is communicating with the intended Verifier.ProcessRegulatedMay 12, 2026
Authentication TagnounMWEA pair of bit strings associated to data to provide assurance of its authenticity.ArtifactMay 12, 2026
Authentication TokennounMWEAuthentication information conveyed during an authentication exchange.CredentialMay 9, 2026
AuthenticatornounThe means used to confirm the identity of a user, process, or device (e.g., user password or token).CredentialMay 12, 2026
AuthenticitynounThe property of being genuine and being able to be verified and trusted; confidence in the validity of a transmission, a message, or message originator. See Authentication.CapabilityMay 9, 2026
Author's NamenounMWEthe name that appears on the by-line to identify the author of a workverifiedMay 18, 2026
Authoressnouna woman authorverifiedMay 18, 2026
Authoring LanguagenounMWEsoftware that can be used to develop interactive computer programs without the technically demanding task of computer programmingverifiedMay 18, 2026
Authorisationnounthe act of conferring legality or sanction or formal warrantverifiedMay 18, 2026
Authorisernounan authority who authorizes (people or actions)verifiedMay 18, 2026
Authoritarian RegimenounMWEa government that concentrates political power in an authority not responsible to the peopleverifiedMay 18, 2026
Authoritarian StatenounMWEa government that concentrates political power in an authority not responsible to the peopleverifiedMay 18, 2026
Authoritarianismnouna form of government in which the ruler is an absolute dictator (not restricted by a constitution or laws or opposition etc.)verifiedMay 18, 2026
AuthoritynounPerson(s) or established bodies with rights and responsibilities to exert control in an administrative sphere.OrganizationMay 9, 2026