Hardware and device security terms

The Spectre vulnerability is a security flaw in modern microprocessors that allows attackers to access sensitive information through a process known as “speculative execution”.

Solid-state drive refers to a type of non-volatile storage device that stores persistent data on solid-state flash memory.

A serial port is a type of interface that allows the transfer of data one bit at a time, in contrast to a parallel port which allows multiple bits to be transferred simultaneously.

Secure print is a feature that enables users to print confidential documents securely.

A secure enclave represents a feature embedded in contemporary computing hardware, offering an additional security level to protect data.

Rowhammer is a security exploit in certain types of dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) chips.

A root of trust, or RoT, is a foundational component in a trusted computing system that establishes the initial level of trust.

An RFID tag is an electronic tag or tracking device that uses radio frequency technology to exchange information with an RFID reader.

Redundant hardware means having extra backup equipment in a system or network to prevent problems and keep things running smoothly.

Read-only memory is a type of non-volatile memory used in computers and electronic devices.

Random access memory (RAM) is a form of volatile computer memory that stores data and machine code currently being used by a computer's processor.

Protected mode is an operational mode for x86-compatible central processing units (CPUs).

The power-on self-test (POST) is an automated check a computer does when powered on to make sure all hardware components are working properly.

A power distribution unit (PDU) is a device that provides power to IT equipment in data centers, such as computers, servers, and other networking devices.

A peripheral device is hardware attached to a computer system that provides the system with extra functions but does not contribute to its primary function.

The PCI bus is a rapid hardware interface that facilitates the attachment of diverse peripheral components to a computer's motherboard.

A network on a chip (often shortened to simply “NoC”) is a communication infrastructure model where multiple components are integrated into a single chip.

In simple words, Microarchitecture is the design and layout of various processor components at the hardware level.

Memory refresh refers to a process where data stored in temporary memory, specifically in dynamic random-access memory (DRAM), is regularly rewritten or refreshed to ensure that it doesn't disappear or get corrupted over time.

A memory cache is a data storage layer that temporarily stores frequently accessed data and instructions to speed up the performance of a computer system.

A memory bottleneck is like a traffic jam in a computer.

MAR, or “Memory Address Register,” is part of a computer’s central processing unit (CPU).

A mean time to failure (also known as MTTF) is a metric that estimates the average time a device, system, or product is expected to last before its first failure.

Level 3 cache is a type of cache memory used in computer processors to store frequently accessed data and instructions.

L2 cache, is a type of static RAM memory used by the central processing unit.

L1 cache refers to a type of high-speed static RAM (SRAM) that a processor uses to store information it will likely need to access immediately.

A keypunch machine is an early form of data entry device that was used to produce punched cards, which enabled users to input data into early computers.

Java Card is a technology that allows Java programs (applets) to run securely on smart cards and similar small memory devices.

An I/O controller refers to a hardware element or chip that oversees the input and output interactions between a computer's central processing unit (CPU) and peripheral devices like storage drives, keyboards, and printers.

Integrated drive electronics (IDE) refers to a popular standard interface for connecting storage devices.

An integrated circuit is a system of electrical circuits embedded on a small, usually silicon wafer.

A hybrid hard drive is a computer storage device that combines elements of both traditional hard disk drives (HDDs) and solid-state drives (SSDs).

Hardware identification is a method utilized by the Windows operating system (OS) to determine what kind of computer hardware is running the OS.

Hardware acceleration is the process of offloading certain computing tasks from the central processing unit (CPU) onto specialized hardware components, improving performance, efficiency, and user experience.

Halt and Catch Fire is a computer machine code instruction that was originally meant to make a computer's central processing unit (CPU) stop working, but in some cases could cause it to overheat and physically damage the hardware.

Green computing is environmentally responsible use of computers and related resources.

Firmware is a type of software that provides low-level control over the hardware it is embedded into.

Execute Disable Bit is a proprietary no-execute (NX) bit technology found in Intel CPUs.

An endpoint device is end-user hardware that communicates across a computer network.

A dumb terminal is a display screen and input device (often a keyboard) that has little to no processing capabilities.

A dongle is a small hardware device that connects to another, such as a computer or a smartphone, to provide it with additional functionality or to enable a specific software application to run.

Direct memory access is a process that enables specific hardware subsystems, like peripheral devices, to access a computer's primary memory (RAM) directly without requiring the involvement of the CPU.

A device hash is a unique identifier based on the attributes of a computing device's hardware components.

Device agnostic is the ability of software or applications to work seamlessly across various devices, regardless of its make, model, operating system, or other characteristics.

A data center rack is a physical structure that houses multiple server units, storage devices, and other equipment used in data centers.

Data bus is a computer subsystem that facilitates the exchange of information between various components on a motherboard or system board or between separate computers.

CPU contention refers to a situation where multiple virtual machines (VMs) or processes compete for the central processing unit's (CPU) resources, causing performance degradation.

A control unit is a fundamental part of a computer's central processing unit (CPU).

The control bus manages the communication between the computer's CPU and its other components.

Consumer electronics is a broad term referring to any type of electronics intended for purchase and use by customers in their daily lives, both personal and professional.

Commodity computing refers to the use of standardized, off-the-shelf hardware components for computing, which are widely available and interchangeable among various systems.

A chipset is a set of integrated circuits that manage the communication between the computer's processor and other hardware.

A cache hit is an event in which the requested content is successfully found and served from the cache memory.

Cache coherence is used in shared memory multiprocessor systems to provide uniformity of the data that is stored across multiple local caches.

A bullet camera is a type of surveillance camera that is designed to be small, cylindrical, and easy to install.

The first software that runs when we turn computers on is a basic Input/Output System or BIOS.

A baseboard management controller is a small specialized processor on a server's, network’s, or computer’s motherboard.

ARM processors are a family of low-power, high-performance microprocessors designed by ARM Ltd.

The arithmetic logic unit (ALU) is a crucial element of a computer's central processing unit (CPU).