ITterms,inplainEnglish.
No jargon, no condescension. Here is what the common IT words actually mean for a small business owner.
- Managed IT services
- An arrangement where an outside company handles your business technology day to day, usually for a predictable recurring fee, instead of you fixing things one emergency at a time.
- Help desk
- The support line you contact when something is not working, staffed by people who troubleshoot and fix your computer, software, and account issues.
- Active Directory
- A Microsoft system that manages user accounts, passwords, and permissions across a business network, so the right people get access to the right things.
- Microsoft 365
- Microsoft's subscription bundle of business email (Outlook), Office apps (Word, Excel), file storage (OneDrive, SharePoint), and Teams.
- Google Workspace
- Google's business bundle of email (Gmail), Docs, Drive storage, and Meet, an alternative to Microsoft 365.
- Multi-factor authentication (MFA)
- A second step beyond your password, like a code from your phone, that stops someone from getting in even if they steal your password.
- Phishing
- A scam email or message that tricks someone into clicking a bad link or sharing a password, often the first step in a breach.
- Ransomware
- Malicious software that locks up your files and demands payment to release them. Good backups are the best defense.
- Endpoint protection
- Security software on each computer and device that detects and blocks threats, a modern step up from basic antivirus.
- Firewall
- A barrier between your network and the internet that controls what traffic is allowed in and out, blocking unwanted access.
- VPN
- A secure, encrypted connection that lets staff safely reach business systems from home or the road.
- Backup and recovery
- Keeping copies of your important data so you can restore it quickly after a failure, mistake, or attack.
- Patch management
- Keeping software and systems up to date with the latest fixes, which closes the security holes attackers use.
- Cloud
- Software and storage that run on servers you reach over the internet, instead of equipment you own and maintain in your office.
- MSP
- Managed Service Provider, the industry term for a company like ours that manages a business's IT.
Get in touch
Talk with Noah
Tell me about your business and what is getting in the way. A recurring problem, an upcoming project, or a setup you would like a second opinion on.
noah@coastalgrowthco.comNoah Stegman · Coastal Growth Co.
check_circle
Thanks for getting in touch.
Your message was submitted. I will review it and reply by email.