IT Acronyms Decoded: A Plain English Guide

Ever felt lost in a conversation about IT? You're not alone. The technology world loves its acronyms, and whilst we try to speak in plain English, sometimes these terms are unavoidable.

This guide translates the most common IT acronyms you'll hear when working with us. You don't need to memorise them—just bookmark this page for when you need a quick reference.

The Essential Five (You'll Hear These Most)

These are the acronyms that come up in nearly every IT conversation:

M365 – Microsoft 365

What it is: The suite of tools your team probably uses every day—Outlook for email, Teams for calls and chat, Word, Excel, and more.

Why it matters: It's the backbone of most modern offices. When we talk about M365, we're talking about the tools that keep your business running.

MFA – Multi-Factor Authentication

What it is: When you log in with your password, then confirm it's really you with a code on your phone or an app.

Why it matters: This simple step stops 99% of automated cyber attacks. Think of it as a deadbolt on your digital front door.

Real-world example: Like when your bank sends you a text code before you can transfer money.

VPN – Virtual Private Network

What it is: A secure, encrypted connection that protects your data when you're working remotely or using public Wi-Fi.

Why it matters: Without a VPN, anyone on the same Wi-Fi network could potentially see what you're doing online.

Real-world example: Think of it as a secure tunnel for your internet traffic—like sending documents in a locked briefcase instead of an open envelope.

SLA – Service Level Agreement

What it is: A formal agreement that spells out exactly what IT support you'll receive and how quickly we'll respond.

Why it matters: It sets clear expectations. You'll know when to expect help and what's covered.

Real-world example: Like a warranty that specifies what's covered and how fast repairs will happen.

 

Backups (BaaS – Backup as a Service)

What it is: Your business data automatically copied to a secure location, usually in the cloud.

Why it matters: If your systems crash, get flooded, or hit by ransomware, your data is safe and can be restored.

Real-world example: Like having copies of your important documents in a fireproof safe at a different location.

When We Talk About Security

These terms come up when we're discussing how to protect your business from cyber threats:

EDR – Endpoint Detection and Response

In plain English: Advanced security software on your computers and devices that spots suspicious activity and stops threats before they cause damage.

Why you need it: Traditional antivirus isn't enough anymore. EDR is like having a security guard who doesn't just check IDs at the door, but actively patrols your building.

 

SOC – Security Operations Centre

In plain English: A team of security experts who monitor your systems 24/7, looking for threats.

Why it matters: Cyber criminals don't work 9-to-5. A SOC means someone's always watching your back.

Firewall

In plain English: A barrier between your internal network and the internet that blocks unauthorised access.

Real-world example: Like a security checkpoint that examines everything coming in and going out of your building.

When Your Team Works Remotely

These acronyms relate to keeping your team connected and secure when they're not in the office:

Cloud Storage (SaaS – Software as a Service)

In plain English: Software and storage you access through a web browser instead of installing on your computer.

Why it matters: Your team can access files and applications from anywhere, on any device.

Examples you already use: OneDrive, Gmail, Dropbox, Xero, or any software you log into via a website.

LAN vs WAN

LAN (Local Area Network): The network inside your office that connects your computers, printers, and phones.

WAN (Wide Area Network): Connects different office locations together over the internet.

Real-world example: LAN is like the internal phone system in one building. WAN is like the system that connects your head office to your branch offices.

When Something Goes Wrong

These terms come up during incident response or disaster recovery:

DRaaS – Disaster Recovery as a Service

In plain English: A plan and system that gets your business back up and running quickly after a major disruption—whether that's a flood, fire, cyber attack, or system failure.

Why it matters: Downtime costs businesses thousands per hour. DRaaS gets you back online quickly, minimising lost revenue and productivity.

RTO & RPO (Recovery Time Objective & Recovery Point Objective)

In plain English:

• RTO: How long can your business survive without systems? (e.g., 4 hours)

• RPO: How much data can you afford to lose? (e.g., 1 hour's worth)

Why it matters: These numbers determine your backup and disaster recovery strategy.

Advanced Terms (For When You're Feeling Technical)

You might hear these in more detailed IT discussions:

DNS – Domain Name System

In plain English: The internet's phone book. It translates website names (like acomputing.com.au) into the numerical addresses computers use.

Why it matters: When DNS isn't working, you can't access websites or send emails.

SSO – Single Sign-On

In plain English: Log in once, access everything. Instead of remembering 20 different passwords, you log in once and automatically access all your business applications.

Why it matters: More secure (fewer passwords to manage) and more convenient for your team.

MDM – Mobile Device Management

In plain English: Software that lets IT teams manage and secure the smartphones and tablets your team uses for work.

Why it matters: If someone loses their phone, we can remotely wipe company data without touching their personal photos or apps.

SIEM – Security Information and Event Management

In plain English: A system that collects security alerts from all your different tools and analyses them in one place to spot threats faster.

Real-world example: Like having one dashboard that shows alerts from your door locks, security cameras, motion sensors, and alarm system, instead of checking each separately.

The Bottom Line

You don't need to become an IT expert. That's our job.

When we use these terms, it's because they're the clearest way to describe what we're doing for your business. But if something doesn't make sense, just ask. We're always happy to explain things in whatever way works best for you.

Your Account Manager knows which of these acronyms are most relevant to your specific business. If you'd like a personalised walkthrough of your IT systems and what these terms mean for you, just get in touch.

Have a question about an acronym we haven't covered? Contact us here or speak with your Account Manager, we're here to help.