Computer/System Terms - O
AuthOrization (OAuth) - (Industry standard for authorization and delegated authorization - most often used for delegating access control and authorization (delegated authorization) between services - handles authorization for Web, desktop, mobile and Internet of Things (IoT) services.)
Object Linking and Embedding (OLE) - (A process which allows different programs to communicate with each other and to share or transfer "objects" (data, graphics images, or other defined units) by embedding them inside a program or document. Linking is the capability of one program to call or communicate with another program. Embedding is the process or placing a piece of data, software code or package, or graphics files inside a foreign program or document. A website link or a spreadsheet file link located inside an e-mail would be examples of embedded data.)
Object Linking and Embedding Database (OLE DB) - (A low-level interface which links information accross different databases, allowing users to access information in any of the linked databases, even if the data is stored in different formats.)
Object Linking and Embedding Database Application Programming Interface (OLE DB API) - (Windows database interface)
Object Management Group (OMG) - (Professional organization of software vendors, developers, and users who seek a common architectural framework for object-oriented programming, which developed CORBA (Common Object Request Broker Architecture), an open object-oriented standard model framework which provides standards for building a distributed network.)
object-oriented analysis (OOA) - (The technique of analyzing a system using an object-oriented approach, which is an approach to problem-solving that defines the objects needed to accomplish a task and develops the objects so that each maintains its own data and carries out tasks when another object requests them.)
object-oriented analysis and design (OOA&D) - (The technique of analyzing a system using an object-oriented approach and designing a system incorporating object-oriented processes and components based on the analysis. Object-oriented analysis is a system problem-solving approach that defines the objects needed to accomplish a task and develops the objects so that each maintains its own data and carries out tasks when another object requests them. Designing a system using an object-oriented approach, involves breaking down a program coding project into individual tasks, which are grouped into self-contained modules, or "objects," which can be called to perform their specific tasks. )
object-oriented design (OOD) - (The technique of designing a system using an object-oriented approach, which breaks down a program coding project into individual tasks, which are grouped into self-contained modules, or "objects," which can be called to perform their specific tasks. In contrast to OOD, procedural programming consists of lines of code written as a single program, possibly hundreds or thousands of lines, which incorporates different procedural components.)
object-oriented programming (OOP) - (Programming method which involves analyzing a system in order to undertand the individual tasks involved, and then creating the programming needed to accomplish the individual tasks and organizing the task projects into self-contained modules or "objects.")
object-relational database (ORD) - (also known as an object-relational database management system (ORDBMS)) (A relational database with a software front end that is written in an object-oriented programming language, which allows multiple users to access the database, without requiring the users to maintain their own access procedures.)
object-relational database management system (ORDBMS) - (also known as an object-relational database (ORD)) (A relational database with a software front end that is written in an object-oriented programming language, which allows multiple users to access the database, without requiring the users to maintain their own access procedures.)
object request broker (ORB) - (A software component, or middleware, which manages communications between system components, receiving requests from clients for specific tasks and coordinating object responses by locating the object, submitting the request, and returning the result to the client.)
Observe, Orient, Decide, Act (OODA Loop) - (Methodology designed to determine the appropriate response to a problem, with the goal of learning from previous experience to achieve continuous improvement.)
Occupant Emergency Plan (OEP) - (A plan that describes the actions that employees/personnel must take to ensure their safety during emergencies.)
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) - (Federal agency, within the Department of Labor (DOL), created by the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, with responsibility for enforcing federal standards for workplace safety and health.)
Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) - (Agency serving as the principal intelligence adviser to the President - Established by the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (IRTPA), with the goal of coordinating intelligence activities of different agencies involving different threats to national security.)
Office of Government Commerce (OGC) - (UK agency which deals with standards for IT service management. OGC is controlled by Axelos, a joint venture between the government of the UK and the private firm Capita. A predecessor organization, the UK's Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency, developed ITIL (Information Technology Infrastructure Library) in the 1980s which provides a framework for coordinating an organization's business goals with its IT technoligical operations.)
One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) - (nonprofit organization)
one-time pad (OTP) - (A secure encryption method that involves using a key only once - the key is a randomly generated value that is used to encrypt the data and then never used again.)
one-time passcode (OTP) - (A method of providing guests or one-time users of a system with access without making them create a user name and password. The process involves sending them a passcode, or entry code, to their e-mail which they enter to sign in. It is a method used by Microsoft Azure.)
one-time password (OTP) - (Also called a dynamic password, it is a password which can be used only once. It is normally provided through a token device or password generator. Once the token is provided and used, it is no longer valid.)
One-Time Passwords in Everything (OPIE) - (A type of password which can only be used once, typically created using the user's actual password combined with other data and passed through a hashing algorithm.)
one-time programmable (OTP) - one-time programmable (PROM (Programmable Read Only Memory) chip)
Online Analytic Processing (OLAP) - (large database analysis)
Online Certificate Status (Security) Protocol (OCSP) - (A security protocol used by an organization which allows users to check the status of certificates to determine whether they are expired, suspended, revoked, or valid.)
online transaction processing (OLTP) - (A system function which provides a mechanism to deal with errors during database processing. Erroneous or invalid transactions can be detected and processing stopped until a correction is made or stopped entirely if no correction is possible, and a transaction log is kept of errors.)
Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) - (An application programming interface (API) that allows an application to commuicate with a database, either locally or remotely.)
Open Database Connectivity Application Programming Interface (ODBC API) - (The application programming interface (API) that allows an application to commuicate with a database, either locally or remotely.)
Open ID Connect (OIDC) - (Open Source Identification Connection) (Version of open source federated authentication standard which enables users to sign into multiple web sites using a single existing account, without requiring new passwords.)
Open Mobile Alliance (OMA) - (standards group)
Open Patent Alliance (OPA) - (wireless standards promotion)
Open Shortest Path First (OSPF) - (Network protocol used to determine packet routing information for data transmission.)
open sound system (OSS) - (audio)
Open source identification (Open ID) - (Open source standard for federated authentication, enabling users to sign into multiple web sites using a single existing account, without requiring new passwords.)
Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) - (Method of finding information about an individual or organization using publicly available resources, such as the Internet, newspapers, or public records.)
Open Source Security Testing Methodology (OSSTM) - (security testing implementation)
Open Source Security Testing Methodology Manual (OSSTMM) - (security testing standards/implementation)
Open Source Vulnerability Database Project (OSVDB) - (An independent and open source database created by the security community which provides information on security vulnerabilities.)
open system authentication (OSA) - (Method of authenticating wireless devices using the device Service Set ID (SSID).)
Open Systems for Communication in Realtime (OSCAR) - (AOL (America Online) instant messaging protocol)
Open Systems Interconnection reference model (OSI reference model) - (Standard developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) which serves as an abstract framework describing a network and its resources. The OSI model segments the networking tasks, protocols, and services into seven layers: 1) Application Layer; 2) Presentation Layer; 3) Session Layer; 4) Transport Layer; 5) Network Layer; 6) Data Link Layer; and 7) Physical Layer.)
Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP) - (Organization that deals with Web security issues - provides development guidelines, testing procedures, and code review steps, as well as listings of Web application security risks.)
operating system (OS) - (A program that controls a computer and makes it possible for users to enter and run their own programs.)
Operating System-directed configuration and Power Management (OSPM) - (hardware discovery/mapping system)
operational technology (OT) - (General term for the various technologies and devices used in industrial and infrastructure systems, including industrial control systems (ICS), technologies used in manufacturing, such as industrial robots, or utility infrastructure systems, such as electrical power, water, and waste water systems; programmable logic controllers (PLCs), mini-computers designed to control electromechanical processes, such as assembly lines, elevators, and nuclear centrifuges; distributed control systems (DCS), networks of control devices which operate in close proximity to operations or facilities; and supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems, involving large-scale operations covering over large geographical distances, such as state-wide or regional power grids. Operational technology (OT) does involve information technology (IT) - computers, systems, and networks - but is a term applied to distinguish industrial systems use from general personal or general business use of computers and systems.)
Operationally Critical Threat, Asset, and Vulnerability Evaluation (OCTAVE) - (A method or approach to assessing organizational risk, which focuses first on the most critical threats, and provides a framework for planning in ways to deal with vulnerabilities identified in the assessment.)
opposite track path (OTP) - (DVD (Digital Versatile Disk) recording)
optical carrier (OC) - (fiber-optic cable carrier lines - cable technology capable of carrying or transmitting light signals.)
optical character recognition (OCR) - (Computer scanning technology with the capability of recognizing printed or handwritten character (letter) images on a a piece of paper.)
Optical Storage Technology Association (OSTA) - (optical media standards organization)
organic light-emitting diode (OLED) - (non-semiconductor lighting)
Organization for the Advancement of Structured Information Standards (OASIS) - (Organization which develops and maintains the standards for the way various aspects of Web-based communications are to be built and maintained.)
Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) - (Group of 24 nations, including most of the major industrialized countries, that was formed in 1961 to coordinate economic and social policies among its members and to promote economic assistance to developing countries.)
Organizationally Unique Identifier (OUI) - (That portion - the first six hexadecimal digits - of a media access control (MAC) address )(address burned into a network card at manufacture, which identifies the manufacturer and the individual card) which can be used to identify an organization and the network system used.)
Original Design Manufacturer (ODM) - (A company that produces products for another firm that will sell them under its brand name.)
Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) -
orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) - (A wireless transmission mode which involves a digital multicarrier modulation scheme that compacts multiple modulated carriers tightly together, reducing the required bandwidth. The modulated signals are orthogonal (perpendicular) and do not interfere with each other.)
Output Feedback mode (OFB) - (A method of encrypting data that encrypts small amounts of data at a time to reduce the chance of creating and extending errors.)