Glossary · Nouns · S
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TermTypeDefinitionClassificationsUpdated
Signal BoxnounMWEa building from which signals are sent to control the movements of railway trainsverified
Signal CallernounMWE(American football) the position of the football player in the backfield who directs the offensive play of his teamverified
Signal Detection TheorynounMWEa framework for interpreting data from experiments in which accuracy is measured.Framework
Signal TowernounMWEa building from which signals are sent to control the movements of railway trainsverified
Signals AnalysisnounMWEGaining indirect knowledge of communicated data by monitoring and analyzing a signal that is emitted by a system and that contains the data but is not intended to communicate the data.CapabilityRegulated
Signals IntelligencenounMWEintelligence information gathered from communications intelligence or electronics intelligence or telemetry intelligenceverified
signaturenounA recognizable, distinguishing pattern associated with an attack, such as a binary string in a virus or a particular set of keystrokes used to gain unauthorized access to a system.Artifact
Signature CertificatenounMWEA public key certificate that contains a public key intended for verifying digital signatures rather than encrypting data or performing any other cryptographic functions.Credential
Signature GenerationnounMWEThe process of using a digital signature algorithm and a private key to generate a digital signature on data.ProcessRegulated
Signature RecognitionnounMWEbiometric identification by automatically scanning a person's signature and matching it electronically against a library of known signaturesverified
Signature TunenounMWEa melody used to identify a performer or a dance band or radio/tv programverified
Signature ValidationnounMWEThe (mathematical) verification of the digital signature and obtaining the appropriate assurances (e.g., public key validity, private key possession, etc.).ControlRegulated
Signature VerificationnounMWEThe process of using a digital signature algorithm and a public key to verify a digital signature on data.Process
Significant firmsnounMWEFirms that process a significant share of transactions in critical financial markets.OrganizationRegulated
Significant OthernounMWEa person with whom you cohabit and share a long-term sexual relationship, but not necessarily a spouseverified
significant risknounMWEA classification or threshold judgment applied during risk assessment that identifies a risk whose combination of likelihood and potential impact — including harm to individuals (financial, reputational, physical, or rights-related), to organizational operations, or to both — is severe enough to compel a mandatory response: escalated controls, a formal impact assessment, breach notification, or cessation of the activity. Risk is commonly calculated as a function of likelihood and impact, and in privacy and security contexts a primary consideration is harm to individuals, not just organizational impact. Under HIPAA/HITECH, for example, the concept is operationalized as a breach that "poses a significant risk of financial, reputational, or other harm to the individual," making the threshold determination a prerequisite for breach-notification obligations. In U.S. state privacy law, the parallel trigger is "significant risk to consumers' privacy," which requires a formal risk assessment before the activity may begin. Across frameworks the expression functions as a gate: risks below the threshold may be accepted or mitigated in the ordinary course, while risks that meet or exceed it trcandidate
significant security risknounMWEA risk-level characterization applied in security, privacy, and compliance contexts to a threat source, vulnerability, configuration, or actor whose assessed likelihood and potential impact together exceed an organization's or regulator's stated risk tolerance threshold — placing it in a priority tier that mandates active mitigation, escalation, or control action rather than acceptance or deferral. The concept underpins risk prioritization: quantifying or qualifying which risks must be addressed first, ensuring resources focus on the most consequential exposures. Frameworks including NIST RMF, FISMA, and CISA operational directives use the phrase descriptively — for example, CISA's Binding Operational Directive BOD 22-01 is titled "Reducing the Significant Risk of Known Exploited Vulnerabilities," treating it as a threshold marker, not a defined term — and the same pattern appears across HIPAA, ISO 27001, and CIS guidance, where "significant" functions as a calibrated severity qualifier aligned to each framework's impact and likelihood scales.FindingRegulated
Signifiernounthe phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify somethingverified
Silagenounfodder harvested while green and kept succulent by partial fermentation as in a siloverified
Sildenafilnounvirility drug used to treat erectile dysfunction in men, commonly known under its trade name Viagraverified
Sildenafil CitratenounMWEvirility drug (trade name Viagra) used to treat erectile dysfunction in menverified
Silencernouna tubular acoustic device inserted in the exhaust system that is designed to reduce noiseverified
Silent PartnernounMWEa partner (who usually provides capital) whose association with the enterprise is not public knowledgeverified
Silenusnounany of the minor woodland deities who were companions of Dionysus (similar to the satyrs)verified
Silicidenounany of various compounds of silicon with a more electropositive element or radicalverified
Silicon CarbidenounMWEan extremely hard blue-black crystalline compound (SiC) used as an abrasive and a heat refractory materialverified
Silicon ChipnounMWEelectronic equipment consisting of a small crystal of a silicon semiconductor fabricated to carry out a number of electronic functions in an integrated circuitverified
Silicon ValleynounMWEa region in California to the south of San Francisco that is noted for its concentration of high-technology industriesverified
Siliconenounany of a large class of siloxanes that are unusually stable over a wide range of temperaturesverified
Silicone PolymernounMWEany of a large class of siloxanes that are unusually stable over a wide range of temperaturesverified
Silk OaknounMWEany of several Australian timber trees having usually fernlike foliage and mottled wood used in cabinetry and veneeringverified
Silk Screen PrintnounMWEa print made using a stencil process in which an image or design is superimposed on a very fine mesh screen and printing ink is squeegeed onto the printing surface through the area of the screen that is not covered by the stencilverified
Silk TreenounMWEattractive domed or flat-topped Asiatic tree having bipinnate leaves and flowers with long silky stamensverified
Silk VinenounMWEdeciduous climber for arches and fences having ill-scented but interesting flowers and poisonous yellow fruitsverified