Connections in Technology

Bluetooth is a short-range wireless connection technology.
Near Field Communication (NFC) is a short-range wireless communication technology that requires physical contact.
Universal Serial Bus (USB) is a standard interface for connecting computers and electronic devices.
Firewire is a high-speed serial bus interface standard, also known as IEEE 1394.
Thunderbolt is a high-speed interface technology originally developed by Intel for Apple products, now using a USB-C connector.
Radio Frequency (RF) is a type of wireless communication that uses radio waves.
High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) is a digital interface standard that transmits both video and audio signals.
DisplayPort is a digital display interface standard using a 20-pin connector.
Video Graphics Array (VGA) is a analog video interface standard using a 15-pin connector, most common.
Digital Visual Interface (DVI) is a digital video interface standard.

Firmware is software embedded in hardware to control its basic operations.
Random Access Memory (RAM) is a temporary storage location for data and programs that the CPU is actively using. It is volatile, meaning data is lost when power is turned off.
Central Processing Unit (CPU) is the "brain" of a computer, responsible for executing instructions and processing data.
Advanced RISC Machine (ARM) is a type of CPU architecture commonly used in mobile devices.
Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) is a specialized electronic circuit that accelerates the creation of images, videos, and other visual content.
Storage refers to the devices used to store data permanently.
Hard Drive is a magnetic storage device with moving parts, used for long-term data storage.
Solid State Drive (SSD) is a flash memory-based storage device with no moving parts, offering faster performance and durability.
Cooling systems prevent overheating in electronic devices.
Network Interface Card (NIC) allows a computer to connect to a network.
Onboard components are integrated into the motherboard.
Add-on cards are devices connected to the motherboard via expansion slots.

Fiber Optic is a high-speed internet connection technology that uses light signals transmitted through glass fibers.
Hybrid Fiber Coax (HFC) is a cable internet service that uses a combination of fiber optic and coaxial cables.
Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) is a high-speed internet connection service that uses existing telephone lines. Typically used in Small Office/Home Office (SOHO) environments.
Radio Frequency (RF) is used for local wireless networks, based on Wi-Fi standards.
Satellite internet provides broader coverage and is used for home internet services.
Cellular internet uses radio transmitters (mobile phone networks), relying on cell towers and base stations.
Network Attached Storage (NAS) is a specialized storage device that provides network file access protocols.
File Server is a central computer that manages and shares files on a network.
Cloud Storage is a way to store data remotely on servers owned and maintained by a third party.
Domain Name System (DNS) translates human-readable domain names into numerical IP addresses.

Local Area Network (LAN) connects computers and devices within a limited geographical area, such as a home, office, or building.
Wide Area Network (WAN) connects computers and devices over a large geographical area, like college campuses, data centers, or across countries.
Wireless Access Point (WAP) is a wireless device that connects to a wired network and serves as a central hub for wireless communication.
Internet Protocol (IP) address is a numerical label assigned to devices on a network, enabling communication.
Media Access Control (MAC) address is a unique identifier that identifies a device on a network.

Modem is a device that converts digital data into analog signals for transmission over telephone lines or other communication channels.
Bit is the smallest unit of data, representing a 0 or a 1.
Byte is made up of 8 bits.
Kilobyte (KB) is 1000 bytes (1 thousand).
Megabyte (MB) is 1,000,000 bytes (1 million).
Gigabyte (GB) is 1,000,000,000 bytes (1 billion).
Terabyte (TB) is 1,000,000,000,000 bytes (1 trillion).
Petabyte (PB) is 1,000,000,000,000,000 bytes (1 quadrillion).
Kilobits per second (Kbps) is 1000 bits per second.
Megabits per second (Mbps) is 1,000,000 bits per second (1 million).
Gigabits per second (Gbps) is 1,000,000,000 bits per second (1 billion).
Terabits per second (Tbps) is 1,000,000,000,000 bits per second (1 trillion).
Megahertz (MHz) is 1,000,000 cycles per second (1 million).
Gigahertz (GHz) is 1,000,000,000 cycles per second (1 billion).
Integer a whole number.
Floating Point a number that can have a decimal.
Boolean a logical value that can be either true or false (1 or 0).
Character any symbol.
String a sequence of characters.
Unicode is an international character encoding standard that assigns a unique numeric value to every character used in different languages.

Data is a valuable asset that needs protection.
Security Control is a mechanism designed to protect data assets.
Return on Security Investment (ROSI) measures the cost of data loss and the likelihood of it occurring.
Data Exfiltration is the unauthorized removal of data from a network.
Data Breach is the exposure of private data to the public.
Examples of security controls include:
- Backup: Ensuring data copies are available and easily accessible.
- Access Control: Restricting who can access data.
- Permissions: Determining what actions users are authorized to perform on data (e.g., edit, view, suggest).

Wired connections physically link devices using cables.
- RJ-11 telephone cable has four wires (black, red, green, yellow).
- RJ-45 ethernet cable has eight wires (white/orange, orange, white/green, blue, white/blue, green, white/brown, brown).
Wireless connections use radio waves to connect devices without physical cables.