Network Security Acronyms and Abbreviations

September 25, 2019

The cybersecurity market is becoming saturated with numerous acronyms representing technologies and concepts that may be alien to many. Read on for a breakdown of some of the most common security acronyms.

  • 2FA: Two-Factor Authentication
  • AES: Advanced Encryption Standard
  • CD: Compact Disc
  • CIS: Center for Internet Security
  • DHCP: Digital Host Control Protocol
  • DNS: Domain Name System
  • DSL: Digital Subscriber Line
  • DVD: Digital Versatile Disc
  • FTC: Federal Trade Commission
  • FTP: File Transfer Protocol
  • GHz: Gigahertz
  • HTTP: Hypertext Transfer Protocol 
  • HTTPS: HTTP Secure
  • IoT: Internet of Things
  • IP: Internet Protocol
  • ISP: Internet Service Provider
  • IT: Information Technology
  • MAC: Media Access Control
  • NAT: Network Address Translation
  • NIST: National Institute of Standards and Technology
  • PII: Personally Identifiable Information
  • SoHo: Small Office / Home Office
  • SP: Special Publication
  • SSH: Secure Shell
  • SSID: Service Set Identifier
  • SSL: Secure Sockets Layer
  • TCP: Transmission Control Protocol
  • TLS: Transport Layer Security
  • UDP: User Datagram Protocol
  • UPnP: Universal Plug and Play
  • USB: Universal Serial Bus
  • VPN: Virtual Private Network
  • WAP: Wireless Access Point
  • WEP: Wired Equivalent Privacy
  • WiFi: Wireless Fidelity
  • WPA: WiFi Protected Access
  • WPA2: WiFi Protected Access Version 2
  • WPA3: WiFi Protected Access Version 3
  • WPAN: Wireless Personal Area Network
  • WPA-PSK: WiFi Procted Access – Pre-Shared Key
  • WPS: WiFi Protected Setup


Contact ALTA at 202-296-3671 or communications@alta.org.