Access Control List (ACL)
A table that tells a computer operating system which access rights each user has to a particular system object, such as a file directory or individual file. Each object has a security attribute that identifies its ACL.
Air Blown Fiber (ABF)
A scalable, easily configured fiber optic infrastructure that allows fiber to be blown through cabling pipes from one location to another. This system enables installers to update fiber in a matter of moments instead of hours or days.
Billing Account Code (BAC)
A code assigned to customers to facilitate the billing process for telephonic services.
Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA)
Contracting vehicles that enable agencies to obtain services using a single pricing structure, thereby simplifying the billing process and reducing the number of contracts.
Bridge
A bridge connects equipment at various locations, with various speeds and with various protocols – via a digital network. ITA’s video teleconferencing bridges provide a conduit to Defense Video Services-Global (DVS-G) for customer sites that do not have a requisite site ID.
Cold Transfer
A phone call that comes in without any warning or explanation from the person who transferred the call. In the context of a service call, this means that a customer is transferred to a higher service tier without any interaction or transfer of information between the current tier and the next highest tier.
Commercial Off-the-Shelf (COTS)
Software or hardware products that are ready-made and available for sale to the general public. COTS products are designed to be easily implemented into existing systems without the need for customization.
Common Information Technology (CIT)
A range of services typically provided by an IT service supplier to multiple organizations and customers. CIT includes Operation and Maintenance, technical upgrade, engineering, integration, architecture, and information assurance of the infrastructure needed to provide the services.
Computer Network Defense Service Provider (CNDSP)
Computer Network Defense is used to describe the actions taken (within the DoD) to protect, monitor, analyze, detect, and respond to unauthorized activity within DoD information systems and computer networks. The CND service providers are those entities providing these services.
Connection Approval Package (CAP)
Package required to obtain access to the Pentagon Unclassified or Classified backbone network (upon approval). Once granted access, the customer must provide ITA with any significant changes that affect the accuracy of the customer’s CAP.
Continuity of Operations (COOP)
An organization’s ability to survive and sustain critical core business operations and functions during an unforeseen Enterprise interruption event.
Core Service
Standalone services offered by ITA to its customers. Core Services are enhanced by additional services that complement the Core Service. (These services are intrinsic to the Core Service and are provided to all subscribing customers.) Additionally, ITA may offer Elective Services to complement each Core Service.
Customer Account Manager (CAM)
An organization’s primary point of contact with it’s customers. CAMs resolve service-related issues and sign-up customers for new services.
Defense Satellite Communications System (DSCS)
The workhorse of the U.S. Military’s super-high frequency communications. DSCS provides military communications to troops in the field as well as commanders at multiple locations. DSCS III, the most recent configuration, provides uninterrupted secure voice and high data rate communications to DoD users, essential tools in monitoring events, and deploying and sustaining forces anywhere in the world.
Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA)
A DoD combat support agency under the direction of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Networks and Information Integration [ASD (NII)]. DISA is responsible for planning, engineering, acquiring, fielding and supporting global net-centric solutions and operating the Defense Information System Network (DISN) to serve the needs of the President, Vice President, Secretary of Defense, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Combatant Commanders and other DoD components under all conditions of peace and war.
Defense Information Systems Network (DISN)
DoD’s worldwide, common-user telecommunications network. DISN interfaces with customer-owned equipment to deliver secure and non-secure information from desktop to foxhole. DISN supports the Defense Message System (DMS) and Electronic Commerce/Electronic Data Interchange (EC/EDI).
Defense Switch Network (DSN)
A worldwide private-line telephone network. Multilevel precedence and preemption capabilities on the DSN utilized by Command and Control (C2) users ensure that the highest-priority calls achieve connection quickly, especially during a crisis situation. The DSN also provides global data and video services using dial-up switched 56 kbps or 64 kbps Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) services.
Delegated Approval Authority (DAA)
The official with the authority to formally assume responsibility for operating a system at an acceptable level of risk.
Demilitarized Zone (DMZ)
A firewall configuration for securing local area networks (LANs).
Department of Defense Information Assurance Certification and Accreditation Process (DIACAP)
A streamlined and modern certification and accreditation (C&A) process that complies with FISMA, is more compatible with DOD’s IA controls-based approach for information systems security, and lends itself to the use of evolving automated C&A tools.
Elective Service
Optional services that enhance a given Core Service by adding features and/or increasing the capability of an existing service element.
Emergency Alert Services (EAS)
A system used by government to send alerts via broadcast stations and cable systems.
Enterprise Management System (EMS)
A Management System Platform that receives inputs from various, independent network and element management systems, and serves as a single monitoring point.
Federal Telecommunications Systems contract (FTS2001)
A contractual vehicle that enables agencies to get worldwide telecommunications solutions, including voice, data, wireless, and video. Flexibility is built into FTS2001 to provide access to new technologies as they become available.
Fiber Channel
A technology for transmitting data between computer devices at data rates of up to 4 Gbps . A fiber channel is especially suited for connecting computer servers to shared storage devices and for interconnecting storage controllers and drives.
Fiber Channel Transport (FCT)
A high-speed transport technology used to build storage area networks (SANs). Although fiber channel can be used as a general-purpose network carrying ATM, IP and other protocols, it has primarily been used for transporting SCSI traffic from servers to disk arrays.
Fortezza Certificate
Fortezza is a set of security algorithms used by the U.S. government.
Global Information Grid (GIG)
A net-centric system operating in a global context to provide processing, storage, management, and transport of information to support all DoD, national security, and related Intelligence Community missions and functions (strategic, operational, tactical, and business) in war, in crisis, and in peace.
Information Assurance Vulnerabilities (IAV)
Computer application software or operating system vulnerabilities, determined by NetDefense or DoD-Cert, a division of the Global Network Operations Center, of the JTF-GNO. These selected vulnerabilities are the mandated baseline, or minimum configuration of all hosts residing on the GIG framework.
Information Assurance Vulnerability Alert (IAVA)
The comprehensive distribution process for notifying the Components about vulnerability alerts and countermeasures information.
Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL)
A globally recognized collection of best practices for IT service management.
International Organization of Standards (ISO 9001-2000)
Specifies requirements for a Quality Management System overseeing the production of a product or service. It is not a standard for ensuring a product or service is of quality; rather, it attests to the process of production, and how it will be managed and reviewed.
Intrusion Detection System (IDS)
IDSs inspect all inbound and outbound network activity and identify suspicious patterns that may indicate a network or system attack from someone attempting to break into or compromise a system.
Intrusion Prevention System (IPS)
An IPS keeps systems safe by identifying and blocking suspicious traffic.
Joint Task Force-Global Network Operations (JTF-GNO)
Directs the operation and defense of the Global Information Grid (GIG) across strategic, operational, and tactical boundaries in support of the U.S. DoD’s full spectrum of war fighting, intelligence, and business operations.
Joint Worldwide Intelligence Communications System (JWICS)
A network designed to meet the requirements for secure (TS/SCI) multi-media intelligence communications worldwide. JWICS replaces the DDN DSNET3 as the Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) component of the Defense Information System Network (DISN).
Lean Six Sigma
Lean Six Sigma combines the industry best practice principles of Lean manufacturing and Six Sigma. Six Sigma is a system of practices originally developed to systematically improve processes by eliminating defects. Lean is a generic process management philosophy renowned for its focus on reduction of waste in order to improve overall customer value.
Local Area Network (LAN)
A group of computers and associated devices that share a common communications line or wireless link. Typically, connected devices share the resources of a single processor or server within a small geographic area.
Malware Behavioral Analysis
Malware Behavioral Analysis examines how the malicious programs interact with their environment: the file system, the registry (for Windows programs only), and the network.
Mean Opinion Score (MOS)
In voice communications, particularly Internet telephony, the mean opinion score provides a numerical measure of the quality of human speech at the destination end of the circuit.
Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)
A network that interconnects users with computer resources in a geographic area or region larger than that covered by a large local area network (LAN), but smaller than the area covered by a wide area network (WAN).
Move, Add, or Change (MAC)
The capability to move, add, or change a specific aspect of a service. (e.g. Moving a network port from one office to another)
National Capital Region (NCR)
The District of Columbia; Montgomery, Prince George’s, and Frederick Counties in Maryland; Arlington, Fairfax, Loudon, and Prince William Counties in Virginia; and all cities within the outer boundaries of the combined area of the aforementioned counties. The NCR is defined in Executive Order 13150 (21 Apr 2000).
National Communications System (NCS)
The mission of the NCS is to assist the President, the National Security Council, the Homeland Security Council, the Office of Science and Technology Policy and the Office of Management and Budget in the coordination of planning for, and provisioning of, national security and emergency preparedness communications for the Federal Government (under all circumstances, including crisis or emergency, attack, recovery and reconstitution).
Network Access Point (NAP)
A major point of access to the internet.
Network Systems Management Center (NSMC)
A 24 x 7 service desk providing support to customers receiving Cable Television service.
Non-Global Information Gig Services (Non-GIG)
Circuit Transport Services provided by ITA (or locally procured by an organization) that are not considered part of DISA’s GIG. Non-GIG services provided by ITA ride over ITA’s managed backbone and other associated transport equipment.
Operations and Maintenance (O&M)
The range of activities and services provided for the upkeep and preservation of the existing systems and facilities.
Operations Support
Operations-oriented service elements that are provided in support of (or as an enhancement to) each ITA customer’s IT service.
Penetration Testing
Security-oriented probing of a computer system or network to seek out vulnerabilities that an attacker could exploit.
Pentagon Area
Includes the Pentagon and Swing Space.
Pentagon Computer Incident Response Team (PENTCIRT)
Assists with minimizing the consequences of computer incidents, including malicious logic, and facilitates the return of compromised network resources to acceptable levels of confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
Pentagon Renovation (PENREN)
A multi-year, multi-phased program to renovate the Pentagon building.
Pentagon Technical Control Facilities (PTCF)
Provides the U.S. Army with operation and maintenance services for Pentagon telecommunications circuits.
Protected Distribution System (PDS)
A wireline or fiber-optics telecommunication system that includes terminals and adequate acoustical, electrical, electromagnetic, and physical safeguards to permit its use for the unencrypted transmission of classified information.
Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID)
A method for storing the same data in different places (thus, redundantly) on multiple hard disks. By placing data on multiple disks, input/output (I/O) operations can overlap in a balanced way, improving performance.
Remedy
An incident management ticketing system used to track reported issues from inception to resolution.
Remote Access Service (RAS)
Provides state-of-the-art remote access connectivity to Pentagon network resources via dial-up or broadband connections.
Resource Situational Awareness Center (RSAC)
Pentagon facility that provides for the collaboration of effort between the four services in supporting the joint staff and the service’s Title 10 function. RSAC integrates the operations and intelligence divisions of the four services within a single area to coordinate efforts and share information in the event of a crisis (to include tsunamis, hurricanes, and attacks against the United States and its allies).
Resumption Point Objective (RPO)
The maximum acceptable level of data loss following an unplanned “event”, like a disaster (natural or man-made), act of crime or terrorism, or any other business or technical disruption that could cause such data loss. The RPO represents the point in time, prior to such an event or incident, to which lost data can be recovered (given the most recent backup copy of the data).
Resumption Time Objective (RTO)
A period of time within which business and/or technology capabilities must be restored following an unplanned event or disaster.
Reverse Engineering
The process of discovering the technological principles of a device, object, or system through analysis of its structure, function and operation. Reverse engineering often involves taking something (e.g. a mechanical device, an electronic component, a software program) apart and analyzing its workings in detail, usually to try to make a new device or program that does the same thing without copying anything from the original.
Sensitive but Unclassified (SBU)
A designation given to information that is generally restricted from public disclosure, but which is not classified.
Service Offering
A functional area of IT services that is comprised of interrelated Core Services, Elective Services and Operations Support. ITA has divided its Core Services into 13 Service Offerings.
Service Restoral
The mean time to restore service following system failures that result in a service outage. The time to restore includes all time from the occurrence of the failure until the restoral of service.
Storage Area Network (SAN)
A high-speed sub-network of shared storage devices. A storage device is a machine that contains nothing but a disk or disks for storing data
Strategic Command (STRATCOM)
Headquartered at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, STRATCOM is one of nine U.S. unified commands under the DoD.
Swing Space
Temporary space provided by the Renovation Program (PENREN) for those displaced by the renovation effort. Swing Apace outside of the Pentagon includes: FOB2, Navy Annex, 1500 Wilson Blvd; 1777 N. Kent St. Rosslyn (Rosslyn Plaza North) and Presidential Towers in Crystal City
Technical Analysis Cost Estimate (TACE)
An estimate outlining the costs associated with a project. TACEs typically exceed the parameters of a MAC.
Telecommunications Service Order (TSO)
The authorization from a DISA Allocation and Engineering (A&E) activity to start, change, or discontinue circuits, trunks, links, or systems; to amend previously issued TSOs; and to effect administrative changes. It is a document in most cases, although a verbal TSO may be issued.
Telecommunications Service Priority (TSP)
A Federal Communications Commission (FCC) program used to identify and prioritize telecommunications services that support National Security Emergency Preparedness (NS/EP) missions.
Tivoli Storage Manager (TSM)
A tool that automates data backup and restore functions, and centralizes storage management operations.
Type 1 Encryption Device
A Type 1 encryption device is a device or system certified by the National Security Agency (NSA) for use in cryptographically securing classified U.S. Government information.
Uninterruptable Power Supply (UPS)
A power supply that includes a battery to maintain power in the event of a power outage.
Virtual Machine (Ware) (VM)
Used to partition x86-based workstations and servers into separate virtual machines, each containing its own copy of the OS. Supporting Windows, Linux and NetWare, VMware resides as a layer between the hardware and the virtual machine partitions.
Virtual Private Network (VPN)
A network that uses a public telecommunication infrastructure, such as the Internet, to provide remote offices or individual users with secure access to their organization’s network.
War Dialing
A method of automatically scanning telephone numbers using a modem, usually dialing every telephone number in a local area to find where computers or fax machines are available, then attempting to access them by guessing passwords.
Warm Transfer
The practice of transferring escalated service calls by actively engaging the technician at the next highest tier prior to transferring the call. Typically, a warm transfer also includes the transfer of information gathered from the customer, so that the customer is not required to provide the same information twice.
Washington Interagency Telecommunications Services (WITS2001)
The Washington Interagency Telecommunications Services contract through which ITA provides local telecommunications services for its customers.