A-Z Glossary Index

Browse all 247+ cloud computing terms alphabetically. Find definitions for AWS, Azure, GCP, and OCI services with real-world examples.

419 Total Terms
27 Letters Covered

Browse by Letter

419 Terms

A

46 terms

ACID

advanced

Atomicity, Consistency, Isolation, Durability - properties that guarantee database transactions are processed reliably. ...

data

Active Directory

intermediate

Microsoft's identity and access management service. Like a master key system for all your digital doors - one login for ...

security

Active-Active

intermediate

Architecture where multiple systems run simultaneously and share the workload. Like having two engines powering one plan...

cloud

Active-Passive

intermediate

Architecture where one system actively handles traffic while backup systems wait on standby. Like having a backup quarte...

cloud

Agile

basic

Software development methodology emphasizing flexibility, collaboration, and rapid iteration. Like building something by...

software

AI Agent Platform

advanced

Oracle's service for building intelligent AI agents that can reason and execute complex tasks. Like creating AI employee...

ai & ml

AKS

advanced

Azure Kubernetes Service - Microsoft's managed Kubernetes platform for container orchestration. Like having a team of ex...

containers

Ambassador Pattern

advanced

Design pattern using proxy services to handle external communications. Like having diplomats who handle all internationa...

software

Ansible

advanced

Automation platform for configuration management, application deployment, and task automation. Like having a universal r...

software

Anthos

advanced

Google's hybrid and multi-cloud application platform for modernizing applications. Like having a universal translator th...

containers

Apache Kafka

advanced

Distributed streaming platform for building real-time data pipelines and streaming applications. Like a high-speed highw...

data

API

intermediate

Application Programming Interface - a way for different software applications to communicate with each other. Like a wai...

software

API Gateway

intermediate

Service that manages and routes API requests between clients and backend services. Like a receptionist that directs visi...

software

API Management

intermediate

A service that helps organizations publish, secure, and monitor APIs in a centralized platform....

integration

APM

intermediate

Application Performance Monitoring - tools that track how well your application performs and where bottlenecks occur. Li...

monitoring

App Engine

basic

Google Cloud's platform for building and hosting web applications without managing servers. Like renting a fully-managed...

cloud

App Service

basic

Azure platform for hosting web applications, REST APIs, and mobile backends. Like renting a fully-furnished office space...

cloud

Application

basic

A software program designed for end users to accomplish specific tasks. Like specialized tools - a calculator app for ma...

software

Application Gateway

intermediate

Azure web traffic load balancer with application-level routing and security. Like a smart bouncer that directs different...

networking

Application Insights

intermediate

Azure application performance management service for monitoring live applications. Like having a personal trainer for yo...

monitoring

Application Performance Monitoring

intermediate

Continuous tracking and analysis of application performance metrics to identify bottlenecks, errors, and optimization op...

monitoring

Archive Storage

intermediate

Low-cost storage for data that's rarely accessed but must be kept long-term. Like a storage unit in the basement - cheap...

data

Argo CD

advanced

GitOps continuous delivery tool for Kubernetes supporting multi-cluster deployments. Like having an automated deployment...

software

Artificial Intelligence

intermediate

Computer systems that can perform tasks typically requiring human intelligence. Like teaching machines to think and lear...

ai & ml

Athena

intermediate

AWS interactive query service for analyzing data in S3 using SQL. Like having a powerful search engine that can instantl...

data

Aurora

advanced

AWS high-performance database that's compatible with MySQL and PostgreSQL but up to 5x faster. Like a race car version o...

data

Auto Scaling

intermediate

Automatically adjusting the number of servers based on demand. Like a restaurant that opens more tables during busy hour...

cloud

Automatic Updates

basic

Software that updates itself without you having to manually install new versions. Like having a car that automatically g...

software

Autonomous Database

advanced

Oracle's self-managing database that uses machine learning to automate maintenance, security, and performance tuning. Li...

data

Availability Zone

intermediate

Isolated data centers within a cloud region that provide backup and redundancy. Like having multiple bank branches in th...

cloud

AWS

basic

Amazon Web Services - Amazon's cloud computing platform that provides over 200 different services. Like a massive digita...

cloud

AWS Config

advanced

AWS service for monitoring and evaluating AWS resource configurations. Like having an audit system that tracks all chang...

software

AWS Organizations

advanced

AWS service for centrally managing multiple AWS accounts. Like having a corporate headquarters that manages all branch o...

software

Azure

basic

Microsoft's cloud computing platform offering hundreds of services for building, deploying, and managing applications. L...

cloud

Azure Bot Service

intermediate

Microsoft's platform for building intelligent chatbots that work across multiple channels. Like having the tools to crea...

ai & ml

Azure Computer Vision

intermediate

Microsoft's AI service for analyzing images and extracting information from visual content. Like having AI eyes that can...

ai & ml

Azure Container Instances

intermediate

Microsoft's serverless container service for running containers without managing servers. Like ordering takeout containe...

containers

Azure Container Registry

intermediate

Microsoft's private Docker registry for storing and managing container images. Like having a secure private library for ...

containers

Azure Language Service

intermediate

Microsoft's unified natural language processing service for understanding text. Like having an AI that can read and unde...

ai & ml

Azure Machine Learning

intermediate

Microsoft's cloud platform for building, training, and deploying machine learning models. Like having a complete AI labo...

ai & ml

Azure Monitor

intermediate

Azure service for collecting and analyzing telemetry data from cloud and on-premises environments. Like having a compreh...

monitoring

Azure OpenAI Service

advanced

Microsoft's enterprise-grade access to OpenAI's powerful language models like GPT-4. Like having the world's most advanc...

ai & ml

Azure Speech Service

intermediate

Microsoft's AI service for speech-to-text, text-to-speech, and speech translation. Like having a universal voice assista...

ai & ml

Azure SQL

intermediate

Microsoft's cloud-based relational database service that provides managed SQL Server capabilities....

database

Azure Synapse Analytics

advanced

Microsoft's unified analytics platform combining big data and data warehousing. Like having a super-powered data analysi...

data

Azure Translator

basic

Microsoft's neural machine translation service supporting 100+ languages. Like having a world-class interpreter availabl...

ai & ml
B

16 terms

Backup

basic

Making copies of important data in case the original gets lost or damaged. Like keeping photocopies of important documen...

data

Backup Service

basic

Automated system for creating, storing, and managing copies of data to protect against data loss and enable recovery....

data & protection

Bandwidth

basic

How much data can travel through an internet connection at once. Like the width of a highway - more lanes mean more cars...

networking

Battery Life

basic

How long a device can operate on a single battery charge before needing to be plugged in again. Like the fuel tank capac...

hardware

Bedrock

advanced

AWS service for building generative AI applications using foundation models from leading AI companies. Like having acces...

ai & ml

BGP

advanced

Border Gateway Protocol - routing protocol used to exchange routing information between different networks on the intern...

networking

Big Data

advanced

Extremely large datasets that require special tools to store, process, and analyze. Like trying to organize all the book...

data

BigQuery

advanced

Google Cloud's serverless data warehouse for analyzing massive datasets quickly. Like having a super-computer that can a...

data

BigTable

advanced

Google Cloud's NoSQL wide-column database for real-time analytics. Like having a massive spreadsheet that can handle bil...

data

Blob Storage

intermediate

Azure's object storage service optimized for storing massive amounts of unstructured data like images and videos....

data

Block Storage

intermediate

Storage that divides data into fixed-size blocks, like a traditional hard drive. Like having a parking garage with numbe...

data

Blockchain

advanced

Distributed ledger technology that maintains a continuously growing list of records secured using cryptography, enabling...

emerging & tech

Blue-Green Deployment

advanced

Deployment strategy using two identical environments where you switch traffic from old version to new version instantly....

software

Bluetooth

basic

Wireless technology that connects devices over short distances without cables. Like an invisible cord that lets devices ...

networking

Bulkhead

advanced

Design pattern that isolates critical resources to prevent total system failure. Like having watertight compartments on ...

software

Business Continuity

basic

Strategy for keeping critical business operations running during and after disasters or disruptions. Like having backup ...

software
C

59 terms

Caching

basic

Storing frequently accessed data in a fast-access location to improve performance. Like keeping your most-used tools on ...

networking

Canary Deployment

advanced

Gradual deployment strategy that releases changes to a small subset of users first before rolling out to everyone. Like ...

software

CapEx

intermediate

Capital Expenditure - upfront costs for buying physical equipment like servers and data centers that you own. Like purch...

business

CDK

advanced

Cloud Development Kit - framework for defining cloud infrastructure using familiar programming languages. Like writing c...

software

CDN

intermediate

Content Delivery Network - network of servers worldwide that store copies of your content close to users. Like having pr...

networking

Centralized Logging

intermediate

Collecting and storing log data from multiple applications and systems in one central location for easier searching, mon...

monitoring

Chaos Engineering

advanced

Practice of intentionally introducing failures to test system resilience. Like conducting fire drills to ensure everyone...

software

CI/CD

intermediate

Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment - automated process for testing and deploying code changes quickly and safe...

software

CIDR

advanced

Classless Inter-Domain Routing - method for allocating IP addresses and routing internet traffic efficiently. Like havin...

networking

Circuit Breaker

advanced

Design pattern that prevents cascading failures by stopping calls to failing services. Like having electrical breakers t...

software

Cloud App

basic

Applications that run on cloud servers instead of entirely on your device. Like using a tool that exists in a workshop y...

cloud

Cloud Armor

intermediate

Google Cloud security service that provides DDoS protection and web application firewall. Like having a digital security...

security

Cloud Bursting

advanced

Temporarily shifting workloads from private cloud to public cloud during peak demand periods. Like a restaurant opening ...

cloud

Cloud Collaboration

basic

Working together on projects using cloud-based tools that let multiple people edit and share files in real-time. Like ha...

communication

Cloud Computing

basic

Using someone else's computers over the internet instead of buying and maintaining your own hardware. Like renting a car...

cloud

Cloud Dataflow

advanced

Google Cloud's stream and batch data processing service. Like having a factory assembly line that can process both stead...

data

Cloud Endpoints

intermediate

Google Cloud service for developing, deploying, and managing APIs. Like having a professional receptionist service that ...

software

Cloud Functions

intermediate

Google Cloud's serverless compute service that runs code in response to events. Like having helpers that automatically s...

cloud

Cloud Integration

basic

Different cloud services working together seamlessly to create a better user experience. Like having all your home appli...

cloud

Cloud Interconnect

advanced

Google Cloud service that provides private connectivity between your on-premises network and Google's network. Like buil...

networking

Cloud Load Balancing

intermediate

Google's global load balancing service that distributes traffic across regions. Like having a worldwide traffic manageme...

networking

Cloud Monitoring

intermediate

Google's service for monitoring performance and health of cloud applications. Like having a dashboard that shows the vit...

monitoring

Cloud Provider

basic

Companies that own massive computer centers and rent out computing power. Think of them as tech landlords....

cloud

Cloud Router

advanced

Google's service for dynamic routing in virtual networks using BGP. Like having an intelligent GPS system for network tr...

networking

Cloud Run

intermediate

Google Cloud serverless platform for running containerized applications. Like having a hosting service that automaticall...

cloud

Cloud Security

basic

Protection measures and technologies used to keep data and applications safe when stored or processed in the cloud. Like...

security

Cloud Service

basic

Using someone else's computers over the internet for specific tasks instead of doing everything on your own device. Like...

cloud

Cloud Spanner

advanced

Google Cloud's globally distributed database that combines the benefits of relational databases with horizontal scaling....

data

Cloud SQL

intermediate

Google Cloud's fully managed relational database service for MySQL, PostgreSQL, and SQL Server....

database

Cloud Storage

basic

Saving your files on someone else's computers via the internet instead of on your device. Like a safety deposit box for ...

data

Cloud Sync

basic

Automatically keeping your files updated and identical across all your devices through the cloud. Like having magic fili...

cloud

Cloud VPN Gateway

intermediate

Google Cloud service that creates secure VPN connections between your on-premises network and your Google Cloud VPC. Lik...

networking

CloudFormation

advanced

AWS Infrastructure as Code service that lets you define your infrastructure using templates. Like having blueprints that...

software

CloudFront

intermediate

AWS Content Delivery Network that delivers content from locations closest to users. Like having copies of your store in ...

networking

CloudTrail

intermediate

AWS service that records all API calls made in your account for security and compliance. Like a detailed security log th...

security

CloudWatch

intermediate

AWS monitoring service that collects and tracks metrics, logs, and events from your applications and infrastructure. Lik...

monitoring

CloudWatch Logs

intermediate

AWS service for monitoring, storing, and accessing log files from EC2 instances and other AWS services. Like having a ce...

monitoring

CNCF

intermediate

Cloud Native Computing Foundation - organization that promotes cloud-native technologies and open source projects. Like ...

software

CodeBuild

intermediate

AWS service that compiles source code, runs tests, and produces software packages. Like having a dedicated worker that t...

software

CodeCommit

basic

AWS managed Git repository service for storing and versioning code. Like a secure digital filing cabinet for your code t...

software

CodePipeline

advanced

AWS continuous integration and deployment service that automates your software release process. Like a factory assembly ...

software

Cold Standby

intermediate

Backup system that's not running and requires manual setup to activate. Like spare equipment in storage that needs insta...

cloud

Column Family

advanced

NoSQL database model that stores data in column families rather than rows. Like organizing information by categories whe...

data

Compliance

intermediate

Meeting regulatory and industry standards for data security, privacy, and business practices. Like following building co...

security

Comprehend

intermediate

AWS natural language processing service that analyzes text for insights and relationships. Like having a literary expert...

ai & ml

Compute Engine

intermediate

Google Cloud's virtual machine service that provides scalable, high-performance virtual machines....

compute

Compute Instance

basic

Oracle's virtual machine service providing scalable compute resources. Like renting a powerful computer in Oracle's data...

cloud

Computer Vision

intermediate

AI field that enables computers to interpret and understand visual information from images and videos. Like giving compu...

ai & ml

Connectivity

basic

The ability of devices to connect and communicate with each other or the internet. Like having good cell phone reception...

networking

Container

intermediate

A package that contains an application and everything it needs to run, making it easy to move between different computer...

containers

Container Registry

intermediate

Google's service for storing and managing Docker container images. Like having a private warehouse for your containerize...

containers

Control Tower

advanced

AWS service for setting up and governing secure, multi-account AWS environments. Like having an automated system that se...

software

CORS

intermediate

Cross-Origin Resource Sharing - mechanism that allows web pages to access resources from other domains. Like having perm...

security

Cosmos DB

advanced

Azure globally distributed NoSQL database service. Like having identical copies of your database instantly available wor...

data

Cost Management

basic

Tools and practices for monitoring, analyzing, and optimizing cloud spending to prevent budget overruns and identify cos...

financial

CPU

basic

Central Processing Unit - the brain of a computer that performs calculations and makes decisions....

hardware

CQRS

advanced

Command Query Responsibility Segregation - pattern that separates read and write operations for data stores. Like having...

software

CRUD

basic

Create, Read, Update, Delete - the four basic operations for managing data in databases. Like the essential actions you ...

software

CSRF

intermediate

Cross-Site Request Forgery - attack that tricks users into performing unwanted actions on websites. Like someone forging...

security
D

31 terms

Data Catalog

intermediate

A centralized repository that stores metadata and helps users discover, understand, and manage data assets across the or...

big & data

Data Center

basic

A building full of servers and networking equipment. Think of it as a giant computer warehouse....

hardware

Data Factory

intermediate

Azure cloud-based data integration service for creating data-driven workflows. Like having a data assembly line that mov...

data

Data Integration

intermediate

The process of combining data from different sources into a unified view for analysis and applications....

analytics

Data Lake

advanced

Centralized repository that stores all types of raw data at any scale. Like a massive digital reservoir that holds data ...

data

Data Redundancy

basic

Keeping multiple copies of important data in different locations to prevent loss. Like having photocopies of important d...

data

Data Replication

intermediate

Creating and maintaining duplicate copies of data across multiple locations or servers for reliability and performance. ...

data

Data Warehouse

advanced

Structured storage system optimized for analysis and reporting of organized business data. Like a well-organized library...

data

Database

basic

An organized collection of information stored electronically. Like a digital filing cabinet with super-fast search....

data

DataBrew

intermediate

AWS visual data preparation service for cleaning and normalizing data without writing code. Like having a smart assistan...

ai & ml

Dataproc

advanced

Google Cloud's managed Apache Spark and Hadoop service for big data processing. Like renting a supercomputer cluster tha...

data

DDoS

intermediate

Distributed Denial of Service - attack that overwhelms a service with traffic from many sources. Like having thousands o...

security

Deep Learning

advanced

Subset of machine learning using neural networks with many layers to analyze data. Like having a computer brain with man...

ai & ml

Desktop Computer

basic

A personal computer designed to stay in one location, typically consisting of a separate monitor, keyboard, and main uni...

hardware

DevOps

intermediate

Development and Operations combined - practices that unify software development and IT operations for faster, more relia...

software

DHCP

intermediate

Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol - automatically assigns IP addresses to devices on a network. Like having an automat...

networking

Digital Assistant

intermediate

Oracle's platform for building conversational AI interfaces and chatbots. Like having the tools to create intelligent cu...

ai & ml

Digital Payment

basic

Paying for goods and services electronically instead of using cash or checks. Like having a digital wallet that can inst...

business

Direct Connect

advanced

AWS service that creates a dedicated, private network connection from your office or data center directly to AWS. Like h...

networking

Disaster Recovery

basic

Plans and processes to restore technology systems after catastrophic events like fires, floods, or cyberattacks. Like ha...

software

DNS

basic

Domain Name System - translates human-readable website names into computer addresses. Like a phone book that converts 'P...

networking

Docker

intermediate

A popular platform for creating and managing containers. Like a factory for making shipping containers for applications....

containers

Document AI

intermediate

Google's service for extracting structured data from documents using machine learning. Like having an AI assistant that ...

ai & ml

Document Database

intermediate

NoSQL database that stores data in document format, typically JSON-like structures. Like having a flexible filing system...

data

Document Understanding

intermediate

Oracle's AI service for extracting text, tables, and key information from documents. Like having an AI assistant that ca...

ai & ml

Domain-Driven Design

advanced

Software development approach that focuses on modeling software to match business domains. Like designing software to mi...

software

Download

basic

Copying files from the internet to your device. Like bringing items from a store to your home - the file moves from some...

networking

DR Site

basic

Disaster Recovery Site - alternate location where operations can continue if the primary site becomes unavailable. Like ...

cloud

DR Testing

basic

Regularly practicing disaster recovery procedures to ensure they work when needed. Like fire drills that prepare you for...

software

Dynamic Routing Gateway

advanced

Oracle's central hub for connecting virtual cloud networks and on-premises networks. Like having a central switchboard t...

networking

DynamoDB

intermediate

AWS NoSQL database service that scales automatically and provides fast performance. Like a super-fast filing system that...

data
E

26 terms

EBS

intermediate

Elastic Block Store - AWS persistent storage that attaches to EC2 instances. Like having a dedicated hard drive that you...

data

EC2

basic

Elastic Compute Cloud - Amazon's service for renting virtual computers in the cloud. Like renting a computer by the hour...

cloud

ECR

intermediate

Elastic Container Registry - AWS service for storing and managing Docker container images. Like having a secure warehous...

containers

ECS

intermediate

Elastic Container Service - AWS service for running Docker containers without managing servers. Like having someone else...

containers

Edge Computing

advanced

Processing data closer to where it's generated rather than in centralized data centers. Like having small convenience st...

cloud

EFS

intermediate

Elastic File System - AWS shared file storage that multiple servers can access simultaneously. Like a shared network dri...

data

EKS

advanced

Elastic Kubernetes Service - AWS managed Kubernetes service that handles the complexity of running Kubernetes clusters. ...

containers

Elastic Beanstalk

basic

AWS platform service that handles deployment and management of web applications. Like having a personal assistant handle...

cloud

Elastic Load Balancer

intermediate

AWS service that distributes incoming traffic across multiple servers to prevent overload. Like a traffic cop directing ...

networking

ElastiCache

intermediate

AWS in-memory caching service for improving application performance. Like having a high-speed memory bank that stores fr...

data

Elasticity

intermediate

The ability to dynamically and automatically adjust cloud resources up or down based on actual demand in real-time. Like...

cloud

Elasticsearch

advanced

Distributed search and analytics engine for storing, searching, and analyzing large volumes of data quickly. Like having...

data

Email

basic

Electronic messages sent over the internet from one person to another. Like traditional mail but delivered instantly thr...

communication

EMR

advanced

Elastic MapReduce - AWS big data platform using open source tools like Apache Spark and Hadoop. Like renting a supercomp...

data

Encryption

basic

Scrambling data so only authorized people can read it. Like writing in a secret code that only you and your friend know....

security

Encryption at Rest

intermediate

Protecting stored data by encrypting it while it sits on storage devices. Like keeping sensitive documents in a locked s...

security

Encryption in Transit

intermediate

Protecting data while it's being transmitted between systems or locations. Like sending sensitive mail in armored vehicl...

security

ETL

advanced

Extract, Transform, Load - process of moving data from various sources to a data warehouse. Like sorting, cleaning, and ...

data

Event Grid

intermediate

Azure event routing service that connects event sources to event handlers. Like a smart mail sorting system that automat...

communication

Event Hubs

advanced

Azure big data streaming platform for receiving and processing millions of events per second. Like a massive digital fun...

data

Event Sourcing

advanced

Pattern of storing all changes to application state as a sequence of events. Like keeping a detailed diary of everything...

software

Event Streaming

advanced

Real-time processing of data events as they happen. Like a live news feed that processes and responds to events as they ...

data

Event-Driven Architecture

advanced

Software design where components communicate through events rather than direct calls. Like a newspaper where different d...

software

EventBridge

intermediate

AWS serverless event bus service for connecting applications using events. Like a central message router that delivers e...

communication

Exadata

advanced

Oracle's high-performance database machine optimized for running Oracle databases. Like a sports car specifically design...

data

ExpressRoute

advanced

Azure's service for creating private, high-speed connections between your on-premises networks and Microsoft's cloud. Li...

networking
F

14 terms

FaaS

advanced

Function as a Service - running individual code functions in the cloud without managing servers. Like hiring a specialis...

cloud

Failback

intermediate

Returning operations to the primary system after it has been restored. Like moving back home after evacuation when it's ...

cloud

Failover

intermediate

Automatically switching to a backup system when the primary system fails. Like a backup generator kicking in instantly w...

cloud

Fargate

intermediate

AWS serverless container platform - run containers without managing servers or clusters. Like ordering takeout without n...

containers

FastConnect

advanced

Oracle Cloud's dedicated network connection service that links your data center directly to Oracle Cloud. Like having a ...

networking

Feature Flag

intermediate

Technique for enabling or disabling application features without deploying new code. Like having light switches for diff...

software

File

basic

A collection of data stored on a computer with a specific name and format. Like a digital document, photo, or song that ...

data

Firebase

intermediate

Google's mobile and web application development platform with real-time database and hosting. Like having a complete bac...

cloud

Firewall

intermediate

Security software that blocks unauthorized access to your computer or network. Like a security guard for your digital da...

security

Folder

basic

A container that organizes and groups related files together. Like a digital filing cabinet drawer where you keep simila...

data

Form Recognizer

intermediate

Azure AI service for extracting text, key-value pairs, and tables from documents. Like having an AI secretary that can r...

ai & ml

Front Door

advanced

Azure application delivery service with global load balancing and site acceleration. Like having express lanes on highwa...

networking

FTP

basic

File Transfer Protocol - standard network protocol for transferring files between computers. Like having a specialized m...

networking

Functions

intermediate

Azure serverless compute service that runs code in response to events. Like having a helper that automatically does spec...

cloud
G

16 terms

Game Backend Services

advanced

Specialized cloud infrastructure for multiplayer games providing dedicated servers, matchmaking, session management, and...

gaming

GDPR

intermediate

General Data Protection Regulation - European law governing data protection and privacy. Like having strict rules about ...

security

Geo-Redundancy

intermediate

Storing copies of data in multiple geographic locations to protect against regional disasters. Like keeping important do...

data

Geospatial Services

intermediate

Location-based cloud services that provide mapping, geocoding, routing, and spatial analytics for applications....

location

GitOps

advanced

Deployment approach where infrastructure and application changes are managed through Git version control. Like using a b...

software

GKE

advanced

Google Kubernetes Engine - Google's managed Kubernetes service for container orchestration. Like having Google's contain...

containers

Glacier

intermediate

AWS long-term archival storage service for data you rarely access. Like putting old documents in a warehouse - cheaper t...

data

Glue

advanced

AWS fully managed ETL service for preparing data for analytics. Like having a data processing factory that automatically...

data

Google Cloud Platform

basic

Google's cloud computing services that help you build, deploy, and scale applications using Google's infrastructure. Lik...

cloud

Google Cloud Storage

basic

Google Cloud's object storage service for storing and retrieving any amount of data. Like having unlimited digital stora...

data

GPS

basic

Global Positioning System - technology that uses satellites to determine your exact location on Earth. Like having a dig...

networking

Grafana

intermediate

Open-source platform for monitoring and observability with customizable dashboards. Like having a mission control center...

monitoring

Graph Database

advanced

Database designed for storing and querying data with complex relationships. Like having a map that shows how everything ...

data

GraphQL

intermediate

Query language and runtime for APIs that allows clients to request specific data. Like having a restaurant where you can...

software

gRPC

advanced

High-performance Remote Procedure Call framework that can run in any environment. Like having a super-fast telephone sys...

software

GuardDuty

intermediate

AWS intelligent threat detection service that continuously monitors for malicious activity. Like having a 24/7 security ...

security
I

13 terms

IaaS

intermediate

Infrastructure as a Service - renting basic computing resources like servers and storage from cloud providers. Like leas...

cloud

IAM

intermediate

Identity and Access Management - AWS service that controls who can access what resources. Like a bouncer at a club who c...

security

IDE

basic

Integrated Development Environment - software application providing comprehensive facilities for software development. L...

software

Immutable Infrastructure

advanced

Infrastructure approach where servers are never modified after deployment, only replaced. Like using disposable plates i...

software

In-Memory Caching

intermediate

High-performance data storage that keeps frequently accessed information in RAM for extremely fast retrieval and reduced...

performance

Infrastructure as Code

advanced

Managing and provisioning cloud infrastructure using code files instead of manual configuration. Like having a recipe th...

cloud

Internet

basic

A global network connecting billions of computers and devices. Like a worldwide postal system for digital information....

networking

Internet Gateway

intermediate

AWS component that allows resources in a VPC to connect to the internet. Like the main door of a building that connects ...

networking

Internet Speed

basic

How fast data can travel between your device and the internet. Like the speed limit on a highway - higher speeds mean fa...

networking

IoT

basic

Internet of Things - network of physical devices connected to the internet that collect and share data. Like giving ever...

hardware

IPSec Connection

intermediate

Oracle Cloud's secure VPN service that creates encrypted network tunnels over the internet. Like sending mail in a locke...

networking

Istio

advanced

Service mesh platform that provides traffic management, security, and observability for microservices. Like having a sma...

software

Istio Service Mesh

advanced

Open-source service mesh providing traffic management and security for microservices across any Kubernetes cluster. Like...

containers
L

11 terms

Lambda

intermediate

AWS's serverless computing service that runs your code without managing servers. Like having a helper who appears whenev...

cloud

Laptop

basic

A portable computer with a built-in screen, keyboard, and battery that can be used anywhere. Like having a desktop compu...

hardware

Latency

basic

The delay between sending a request and receiving a response. Like the time it takes between asking a question and getti...

networking

LDAP

advanced

Lightweight Directory Access Protocol - standard for accessing and maintaining distributed directory services. Like a ph...

networking

Lex

advanced

AWS service for building conversational chatbots and voice assistants. Like having the technology behind Alexa available...

ai & ml

Link

basic

A clickable connection that takes you from one webpage to another. Like a doorway or bridge that connects different room...

networking

Load Balancer

intermediate

A device or service that distributes incoming network traffic across multiple servers. Like a traffic director ensuring ...

networking

Load Testing

intermediate

Testing how well a system performs under expected user load. Like seeing how many people can fit in an elevator before i...

software

Log Analytics

advanced

Azure service for collecting and analyzing log data from various sources. Like having a detective that can analyze clues...

monitoring

Logging

basic

Recording events and activities that happen in your application for debugging and monitoring. Like keeping a detailed di...

monitoring

Logic Apps

intermediate

Azure service for creating workflows that integrate apps, data, and services across organizations. Like having a digital...

software
M

14 terms

Machine Learning

intermediate

Teaching computers to recognize patterns and make predictions without explicitly programming every step. Like teaching a...

ai & ml

Message Queue

intermediate

A system that allows applications to communicate by sending messages to a waiting line. Like a post office where letters...

communication

MFA

intermediate

Multi-Factor Authentication - security method requiring two or more verification methods. Like needing both a key and fi...

security

Microservices

advanced

Building applications as small, independent services that work together. Like a restaurant where different stations hand...

software

Middleware

intermediate

Software that connects different applications, services, or systems to help them communicate and share data. Like a tran...

software

Migration

intermediate

Moving applications, data, or infrastructure from one environment to another, such as from on-premises servers to the cl...

cloud

Mobile App

basic

An application specifically designed to run on smartphones and tablets. Like pocket-sized tools that you can use anywher...

software

Mobile Backend as a Service

intermediate

Cloud service that provides backend infrastructure for mobile applications, including user authentication, push notifica...

mobile

MongoDB

intermediate

Popular NoSQL document database that stores data in flexible, JSON-like documents. Like a filing system that can store d...

data

MQTT

intermediate

Message Queuing Telemetry Transport - lightweight messaging protocol designed for IoT devices with limited bandwidth. Li...

communication

MTBF

intermediate

Mean Time Between Failures - average time between system failures. Like measuring how long equipment typically works bef...

software

MTTR

intermediate

Mean Time To Recovery - average time needed to restore service after a failure. Like measuring how long it typically tak...

software

Multi-Cloud

advanced

Using services from multiple cloud providers to avoid vendor lock-in and optimize performance. Like shopping at differen...

cloud

Multi-Device Access

basic

Using the same service or accessing the same files from different devices like phones, tablets, and computers. Like havi...

cloud
O

22 terms

OAuth

intermediate

Open Authorization - standard for secure API access without sharing passwords. Like giving a valet key that only works f...

security

Object Storage

intermediate

Storage system that manages data as objects (files with metadata) rather than traditional file systems. Like a massive d...

data

Observability

advanced

Ability to understand what's happening inside a system by examining its outputs like logs, metrics, and traces. Like hav...

monitoring

OCI

basic

Oracle Cloud Infrastructure - Oracle's comprehensive cloud platform offering compute, storage, networking, and database ...

cloud

OCI Container Instances

intermediate

Oracle's serverless compute service for running containers without managing servers. Like ordering delivery containers -...

containers

OCI Container Registry

intermediate

Oracle's managed Docker registry for storing and sharing container images. Like having a secure private library for your...

containers

OCI Data Science

advanced

Oracle's collaborative platform for building, training, and deploying machine learning models. Like having a complete AI...

ai & ml

OCI File Storage

intermediate

Oracle's enterprise-grade network file system with NFS support. Like having a shared network drive that all your cloud a...

data

OCI Functions

intermediate

Oracle's serverless compute service for running code without managing servers. Like having helpers that automatically ap...

cloud

OCI Generative AI

advanced

Oracle's service for accessing large language models for text generation and AI applications. Like having access to high...

ai & ml

OCI Language

intermediate

Oracle's natural language processing service for analyzing text. Like having an AI that can read and understand human la...

ai & ml

OCI Load Balancer

intermediate

Oracle's service for distributing traffic across multiple compute instances. Like having a traffic director that ensures...

networking

OCI Service Mesh

advanced

Oracle's managed service mesh for microservices communication and security. Like having an intelligent traffic control s...

containers

OCI Speech

basic

Oracle's service for converting speech to text and text to speech. Like having a universal translator between spoken wor...

ai & ml

OCI Vision

intermediate

Oracle's computer vision service for analyzing images with pre-trained AI models. Like giving applications the ability t...

ai & ml

OKE

advanced

Oracle Container Engine for Kubernetes - Oracle's managed Kubernetes service. Like having Oracle's container experts han...

containers

OLAP

advanced

Online Analytical Processing - database systems optimized for complex queries and data analysis. Like a research library...

data

OLTP

advanced

Online Transaction Processing - database systems optimized for handling many small transactions quickly. Like a busy cas...

data

Online Shopping

basic

Buying products and services over the internet instead of visiting physical stores. Like having access to every store in...

business

Operating System

basic

The main software that manages your computer and runs other programs. Like the manager of a building who makes sure ever...

software

OpEx

intermediate

Operational Expenditure - ongoing costs for services you use and pay for regularly, like cloud subscriptions. Like renti...

business

Orchestration

advanced

Automated coordination and management of multiple cloud services, containers, or workflows to work together efficiently....

software
R

16 terms

RAM

basic

Random Access Memory - temporary storage that helps your computer work on multiple things at once. Like your desk worksp...

hardware

RBAC

intermediate

Role-Based Access Control - security approach that assigns permissions based on job roles rather than individual users. ...

security

RDBMS

intermediate

Relational Database Management System - software for managing databases that organize data in tables with relationships....

data

RDS

intermediate

Relational Database Service - AWS managed database service that handles maintenance, backups, and scaling. Like having a...

data

Redis

intermediate

In-memory data structure store used as database, cache, and message broker. Like having extremely fast memory storage th...

data

Redshift

advanced

AWS data warehouse service for analyzing large amounts of data quickly. Like having a super-powerful calculator designed...

data

Region

basic

A geographic location where cloud providers have data centers. Like different cities where a company has branch offices ...

cloud

Rekognition

intermediate

AWS image and video analysis service powered by machine learning. Like having a super-smart assistant that can instantly...

ai & ml

Remote Access

basic

Accessing your files, programs, or computer from a different location using the internet. Like being able to use your ho...

cloud

Replication

intermediate

Creating copies of data across multiple database servers for availability and performance. Like having backup copies of ...

data

REST

intermediate

Representational State Transfer - a set of rules for building web APIs that are simple and scalable. Like having a stand...

software

Reverse Proxy

advanced

A server that sits in front of web servers and forwards requests to them, providing load balancing and security. Like a ...

networking

Route 53

intermediate

AWS DNS service that routes internet traffic to your applications. Like a phone book that directs people to the right ph...

networking

Router

basic

A device that directs internet traffic between devices and the internet. Like a traffic controller for data....

networking

RPO

intermediate

Recovery Point Objective - maximum acceptable amount of data loss measured in time. Like deciding you can afford to lose...

software

RTO

intermediate

Recovery Time Objective - maximum acceptable time to restore service after a failure. Like setting a goal to reopen a st...

software
S

46 terms

S3

basic

Simple Storage Service - Amazon's service for storing files in the cloud. Like having an unlimited digital storage unit ...

data

SaaS

basic

Software as a Service - using software applications over the internet without installing them on your computer. Like usi...

cloud

Saga Pattern

advanced

Design pattern for managing distributed transactions across multiple services. Like coordinating a complex group project...

software

SageMaker

advanced

AWS machine learning platform that helps data scientists and developers build, train, and deploy ML models. Like having ...

ai & ml

SAML

advanced

Security Assertion Markup Language - standard for exchanging authentication data between systems. Like having a standard...

security

Scalability

basic

The ability to automatically get more computing power when needed and less when not needed. Like a restaurant that can i...

cloud

Scrum

intermediate

Agile framework for managing software development with defined roles, events, and artifacts. Like having a structured ga...

software

SDK

basic

Software Development Kit - collection of tools, libraries, and documentation for building applications. Like a toolbox w...

software

Search Engine

basic

A website that helps you find information on the internet by typing keywords. Like a librarian who can instantly find an...

software

Search Service

intermediate

Managed service that provides full-text search capabilities, allowing applications to quickly find and retrieve relevant...

data & management

Secrets Management

intermediate

Secure storage and automatic rotation of sensitive information like passwords, API keys, certificates, and tokens used b...

security

Secrets Manager

intermediate

AWS service for managing, retrieving, and rotating database credentials, API keys, and other secrets. Like having an aut...

security

Security Hub

intermediate

AWS unified security dashboard that aggregates security alerts from multiple services. Like having a central command cen...

security

Server

basic

A powerful computer that provides services to other computers. Like a restaurant kitchen that serves food to customers....

hardware

Server Migration

advanced

Process of moving applications, data, and workloads from on-premises servers to cloud infrastructure with minimal downti...

migration

Serverless Architecture

advanced

Building applications using cloud services that automatically manage servers and scaling. Like focusing on cooking while...

cloud

Serverless Computing

intermediate

Running code without managing servers yourself - the cloud provider handles all the server management. Like ordering tak...

cloud

Service Bus

intermediate

Azure messaging service that enables reliable communication between distributed applications. Like a postal service spec...

communication

Service Fabric

advanced

Azure platform for building and managing microservices and container applications. Like a framework for building complex...

software

Service Mesh

advanced

Infrastructure layer that manages service-to-service communication in microservices architectures. Like having a smart p...

software

Service Reliability

basic

How consistently a cloud service stays available and working properly. Like how dependable your electricity or water ser...

cloud

SFTP

intermediate

Secure File Transfer Protocol - encrypted version of FTP for secure file transfers. Like FTP but with all packages sent ...

security

Sharding

advanced

Database architecture pattern that distributes data across multiple database instances. Like splitting a large library i...

data

Sidecar Pattern

advanced

Design pattern where helper components are deployed alongside main applications. Like having a personal assistant that h...

software

SLA

intermediate

Service Level Agreement - a commitment between service provider and customer defining expected performance and reliabili...

software

SLO

intermediate

Service Level Objective - specific measurable target for service performance. Like setting a goal to answer customer cal...

software

Smartphone

basic

A mobile phone with advanced computing capabilities that can run applications and connect to the internet. Like having a...

hardware

SNMP

advanced

Simple Network Management Protocol - standard for monitoring and managing network devices. Like having a universal dashb...

networking

SNS

intermediate

Simple Notification Service - AWS messaging service for sending notifications to multiple subscribers. Like a broadcast ...

communication

SOC 2

advanced

Service Organization Control 2 - auditing standard for security, availability, and confidentiality of customer data. Lik...

security

Social Media

basic

Online platforms where people share content, communicate, and connect with friends and communities. Like digital town sq...

communication

Software

basic

Computer programs and applications that tell hardware what to do. Like instructions or recipes that make computers perfo...

software

Speech-to-Text

basic

Google's service for converting audio to text with high accuracy. Like having a professional transcriptionist that works...

ai & ml

SQL

intermediate

Structured Query Language - standard language for managing and querying relational databases. Like having a universal la...

data

SQS

intermediate

Simple Queue Service - AWS message queuing service for decoupling application components. Like a digital post office whe...

communication

SRE

advanced

Site Reliability Engineering - approach that applies software engineering principles to infrastructure and operations. L...

software

SSL

intermediate

Secure Sockets Layer - security protocol that encrypts data between web browsers and servers. Like sending mail in a loc...

security

SSL/TLS

intermediate

Secure Sockets Layer/Transport Layer Security - encryption protocols that secure data transmitted over the internet. Lik...

security

SSO

intermediate

Single Sign-On - authentication system that allows users to log in once and access multiple applications. Like having a ...

security

Stateless

intermediate

Architecture where each request is completely independent with no memory of previous requests. Like a vending machine th...

software

Step Functions

advanced

AWS service for coordinating multiple AWS services into serverless workflows. Like a conductor orchestrating different m...

software

Stream Analytics

advanced

Azure real-time analytics service for processing streaming data. Like having a smart analyst that can spot patterns and ...

data

Streaming

basic

Watching or listening to content over the internet without downloading it first. Like turning on a radio or TV - the con...

networking

Streaming Service

advanced

A real-time data processing service that handles continuous streams of data for analytics and applications....

analytics

Subnet

intermediate

A subdivision of an IP network that groups related devices together for security and organization. Like dividing a build...

networking

Systems Manager

intermediate

AWS service for managing and configuring Amazon EC2 instances and on-premises servers. Like having a universal remote co...

software
T

16 terms

Tablet

basic

A portable computer with a touchscreen interface, larger than a smartphone but smaller than a laptop. Like a digital not...

hardware

TCP

intermediate

Transmission Control Protocol - ensures reliable, ordered delivery of data over networks. Like registered mail that guar...

networking

Technical Debt

intermediate

Cost of additional rework caused by choosing quick solutions instead of better approaches. Like taking shortcuts when bu...

software

Terraform

advanced

Open-source Infrastructure as Code tool for building, changing, and versioning infrastructure. Like having blueprints an...

software

Text-to-Speech

basic

Google's service for converting text into natural-sounding spoken audio. Like having a professional voice actor that can...

ai & ml

Textract

intermediate

AWS service that extracts text and data from documents using machine learning. Like having an AI assistant that can read...

ai & ml

Throughput

intermediate

The amount of data that can be processed or transmitted in a given time period. Like the number of cars that can pass th...

networking

Time Series Database

intermediate

Database optimized for storing and querying time-stamped data like sensor readings or metrics. Like a specialized filing...

data

TLS

intermediate

Transport Layer Security - the newer, more secure version of SSL for encrypting internet communications. Like an upgrade...

security

Touchscreen

basic

A display that responds to finger touches, allowing you to interact directly with what you see on screen. Like being abl...

hardware

Traffic Manager

intermediate

Azure DNS-based traffic load balancer for global application availability. Like a traffic director that routes users to ...

networking

Transactional Email

basic

Automated email service for sending individual, triggered messages like order confirmations, password resets, and accoun...

communication

Transcribe

basic

AWS speech-to-text service that converts audio to accurate text transcriptions. Like having a professional transcription...

ai & ml

Transit Gateway

advanced

AWS networking hub that connects multiple networks together through a central point. Like a major highway interchange wh...

networking

Translate

basic

AWS neural machine translation service for real-time language translation. Like having a universal translator that insta...

ai & ml

Translation AI

basic

Google's advanced neural machine translation service. Like having Google Translate's power available for your applicatio...

ai & ml
V

14 terms

Vendor Lock-in

intermediate

When you become dependent on a specific cloud provider's proprietary services and switching to another provider becomes ...

business

Vertex AI

advanced

Google's unified machine learning platform for building, deploying, and scaling AI models. Like having Google's AI exper...

ai & ml

Video Streaming

intermediate

Technology that delivers video content over the internet in real-time, allowing users to watch videos without downloadin...

media

Virtual Cloud Network

intermediate

Oracle's software-defined networking service providing isolated cloud environments. Like having your own private section...

networking

Virtual Desktop

intermediate

Cloud-based desktop computing environment that allows users to access their desktop, applications, and files from any de...

virtualization

Virtual Machine

basic

A fake computer that runs inside a real computer. It's like having multiple phones running on one device....

cloud

Virtual Network

intermediate

A logically isolated network section within a cloud provider that allows secure communication between resources....

networking

Virtual WAN

advanced

Azure's networking service that provides optimized and automated branch-to-branch connectivity through Azure....

networking

Virtual WAN Hub

advanced

Azure's central networking point that connects multiple networks, branch offices, and VPN connections. Like a grand cent...

networking

Vision AI

intermediate

Google's machine learning service for image analysis and computer vision. Like giving applications the ability to see an...

ai & ml

VPC

intermediate

Virtual Private Cloud - Your own private section of AWS that's isolated from other users. Like having your own private n...

networking

VPC Network

intermediate

Google Cloud's Virtual Private Cloud network that provides global connectivity for your cloud resources....

networking

VPN

basic

Virtual Private Network - creates a secure connection over the internet between your device and a private network. Like ...

security

VPN Gateway

intermediate

Azure service that creates secure, encrypted connections over the internet between your networks and Azure. Like setting...

networking