GovWare Reviews Glossary

Below is a list of often-used abbreviations and phrases.

A

API – Application Programming Interface: A set of rules that lets software components communicate and share data.

AWS – Amazon Web Services: Amazon’s cloud computing platform offering on‑demand infrastructure and managed services.

 

B

BYOD – Bring Your Own Device: Policy allowing employees to use their personal devices to access organizational systems.

 

C

CAD – Computer‑Aided Dispatch: Software that dispatches and tracks field units and logs incidents in real time.

CapEx – Capital Expenditure: Funds spent to acquire, upgrade, or maintain physical assets.

CJIS – Criminal Justice Information Services: FBI division and security policy governing criminal justice data handling.

CMMS – Computerized Maintenance Management System: Software that schedules, tracks, and documents asset maintenance activities.

COTS – Commercial Off‑The‑Shelf: Ready‑made software or hardware procured as‑is, rather than custom‑built.

CRM – Customer Relationship Management: Platform for managing interactions with customers or constituents.

CSP – Cloud Service Provider: Company that delivers cloud computing services such as IaaS, PaaS, or SaaS.

CSS – Cascading Style Sheets: Language used to describe the presentation of HTML documents.

 

D

DMS – Document Management System: Software that stores, tracks, and controls electronic documents and images.

DR – Disaster Recovery: Strategies and processes to restore IT systems and data after an outage.

 

E

EDR – Endpoint Detection and Response: Security technology that monitors endpoints and responds to threats.

ERP – Enterprise Resource Planning: Suite that integrates core business processes such as finance, HR, and procurement.

 

F

FedRAMP – Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program: U.S. framework for authorizing cloud services for federal use.

FISMA – Federal Information Security Management Act: U.S. law requiring federal agencies to develop security programs.

 

G

GIS – Geographic Information System: System for capturing, storing, analyzing, and visualizing spatial data.

GRC – Governance, Risk & Compliance: Integrated approach to aligning IT and business objectives with risk management and compliance requirements.

 

I

IaaS – Infrastructure as a Service: Cloud model providing virtualized computing resources over the internet.

IAM – Identity and Access Management: Framework for ensuring the right individuals have appropriate access to resources.

IoT – Internet of Things: Network of physical devices embedded with sensors and connectivity.

ITIL – Information Technology Infrastructure Library: Best‑practice framework for delivering IT services.

 

K

KPI – Key Performance Indicator: Quantifiable measure used to evaluate success toward objectives.

 

M

MFA – Multi‑Factor Authentication: Security method requiring two or more verification factors.

MS4 – Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System: Regulatory designation for stormwater systems requiring permits under the Clean Water Act.

 

N

NIST – National Institute of Standards and Technology: U.S. agency that develops technology, metrics, and standards.

NIST CSF – NIST Cybersecurity Framework: Voluntary framework of standards and guidelines for managing cybersecurity risk.

 

P

PaaS – Platform as a Service: Cloud model delivering runtime environment and tools to develop and deploy applications.

PCI – Pavement Condition Index: Numeric rating of roadway surface condition based on visual inspection.

PII – Personally Identifiable Information: Any data that can be used to identify a specific individual.

PM – Preventive Maintenance: Scheduled maintenance intended to reduce the likelihood of equipment failure.

 

R

RACI – Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, Informed: Matrix clarifying roles in a project or process.

RFP – Request for Proposal: Document soliciting proposals from suppliers to provide goods or services.

ROI – Return on Investment: Metric comparing the gain from an investment to its cost.

 

S

SaaS – Software as a Service: Cloud model delivering software applications over the internet.

SCADA – Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition: Systems that monitor and control industrial processes.

SDLC – Software Development Life Cycle: Process for planning, creating, testing, and deploying software.

SLA – Service Level Agreement: Contract defining the expected level of service between provider and customer.

SOC 2 – System and Organization Controls 2: Audit framework evaluating a service organization’s controls for security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy.

SSO – Single Sign‑On: Authentication scheme allowing users to access multiple systems with one set of credentials.

 

T

TCO – Total Cost of Ownership: Comprehensive assessment of all costs associated with acquiring and operating an asset.

 

U

UI – User Interface: Space where interactions between humans and machines occur.

UX – User Experience: Overall experience of a user interacting with a product or system.

 

V

VPN – Virtual Private Network: Encrypted connection that allows secure remote access over the internet.

 

Z

Zero Trust – Zero Trust Security: Model that assumes no implicit trust and verifies every access request.