Certified - CompTIA CYSA+

In this final glossary-focused episode, we complete our exploration of the key cybersecurity acronyms and terms you must know for the certification and for professional success as a cybersecurity analyst. Each term introduced today contributes to the foundation of detection, prevention, analysis, and recovery in security operations. Whether referencing protocols, standards, or technologies, this list of definitions solidifies the technical fluency needed to understand exam questions and translate knowledge into practical awareness. These are the concepts that often appear not just as direct questions but also as embedded references in logs, tools, or case-based scenarios.
O T stands for Operational Technology. It refers to hardware and software systems that monitor and control physical devices, processes, and infrastructure in environments such as manufacturing plants, energy grids, or transportation systems. Unlike traditional information technology, O T systems prioritize availability and real-time performance over confidentiality. The certification may include questions about securing O T systems, recognizing their vulnerabilities, or distinguishing them from I T environments.
O S V D B stands for Open-source Vulnerability Database. It was a project that aimed to catalog and maintain an open, comprehensive list of security vulnerabilities in software and systems. Although no longer active, O S V D B helped shape how vulnerabilities were tracked and published in public databases. The term may still appear on the exam as part of legacy references or to differentiate open-source vulnerability tracking from vendor-maintained systems.
O WASP refers to the Open Web Application Security Project. It is a nonprofit foundation focused on improving the security of software. O WASP is best known for its regularly updated Top Ten list of the most critical web application security risks. Analysts should understand the common vulnerabilities O WASP outlines, such as cross-site scripting, injection flaws, and broken authentication. The certification may present scenarios requiring you to identify or mitigate these common issues.
P A M stands for Privileged Access Management. It involves policies and tools designed to control and monitor the use of elevated privileges by users, applications, and systems. PAM solutions help prevent misuse of administrative access by enforcing least privilege, session tracking, and credential rotation. On the exam, PAM may be tested in scenarios that involve protecting sensitive systems, managing root or admin accounts, or detecting privilege escalation.
P C I D S S stands for Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard. It is a set of security standards created to protect cardholder data and ensure secure payment processing. Organizations that handle credit card transactions must comply with P C I D S S by implementing controls such as encryption, access restrictions, and regular security assessments. Questions on the certification may ask about compliance requirements, scope of protection, or how P C I D S S fits into broader governance.
P H P is the recursive acronym for Hypertext Preprocessor. It is a popular server-side scripting language used to develop dynamic web pages and applications. Because of its flexibility and wide usage, P H P has been the source of many web application vulnerabilities, including injection flaws and insecure configurations. The exam may refer to P H P when discussing application security, development environments, or the detection of vulnerable server components.
P I D stands for Process Identifier. It is a unique number assigned by the operating system to each active process. P I Ds help analysts track program activity, detect anomalies, and investigate malicious behavior. Understanding how to interpret P I Ds in system logs and process monitoring tools is important for host-based analysis. On the certification, questions may involve interpreting suspicious process behavior or identifying unauthorized software execution using P I D data.
P I I stands for Personally Identifiable Information. It includes any data that can be used to identify an individual, such as names, Social Security numbers, addresses, or biometric records. Protecting P I I is a central concern in security operations and compliance programs, especially with regulations like G D P R and C C P A. The certification often includes questions where you must identify P I I in datasets, apply proper controls, or prioritize the protection of sensitive records.
P K I refers to Public Key Infrastructure. It is a framework that manages digital keys and certificates to secure communications and verify identities. P K I supports encryption, digital signatures, and secure key distribution. Analysts need to understand components such as certificate authorities, key pairs, and revocation mechanisms. On the exam, P K I may be presented in scenarios involving secure email, authentication protocols, or encrypted web traffic.
P L C stands for Programmable Logic Controller. These are specialized computers used to automate industrial processes within O T environments. P L Cs are commonly found in manufacturing lines, traffic systems, and energy infrastructure. Because of their legacy design and operational constraints, they often lack strong native security. The exam may ask about P L C risks, detection strategies, or the importance of segmentation in protecting industrial assets.
P O C refers to Proof of Concept. In cybersecurity, a P O C is a demonstration that a particular vulnerability or attack technique can be successfully executed. This is often used during penetration testing or in research to validate theoretical risks. While not always weaponized, P O Cs can confirm the presence of exploitable flaws. On the certification, you may need to evaluate the purpose of a P O C in risk assessments or understand how it fits within the vulnerability management process.
R C E stands for Remote Code Execution. It describes a critical vulnerability that allows attackers to run arbitrary code on a target system without physical access. R C E flaws are among the most dangerous because they can lead to full system compromise. Detection, prevention, and patching of R C E vulnerabilities are high priorities in security programs. Expect the exam to include scenarios where you must identify R C E conditions or determine their impact on system security.
R D P stands for Remote Desktop Protocol. It enables users to connect to and control a remote computer over a network. R D P is widely used in enterprise environments for administration and support tasks. However, it is also a frequent target for brute-force attacks and unauthorized access. On the exam, R D P may be referenced in questions about remote access controls, port filtering, or credential protection.
R E S T means Representational State Transfer. It is an architectural style used for designing networked applications, typically accessed via H T T P. REST is commonly used in application programming interfaces, allowing clients to perform actions such as retrieving or modifying data. From a security perspective, REST endpoints must be protected against injection attacks, improper authentication, and data leakage. The exam may include questions on securing REST A P Is or interpreting traffic from them.
R F I stands for Remote File Inclusion. This vulnerability allows attackers to include files from remote servers into a web application. Like local file inclusion, R F I can lead to code execution, data exposure, or complete compromise of the application server. The exam may test your ability to recognize signs of R F I in logs, understand its root cause, or determine how to prevent it through secure coding practices.
R P O stands for Recovery Point Objective. It is a measure of how much data loss is acceptable during an incident or disaster. R P O defines the point in time to which data must be restored to resume operations. This concept is important in backup and disaster recovery planning, where businesses must align technical capabilities with continuity goals. You may encounter R P O in scenarios about backup frequency, business impact analysis, or selecting the appropriate restoration strategy.
R S A refers to Rivest, Shamir, and Adleman, the creators of a widely used public-key encryption algorithm. The R S A algorithm supports secure data transmission through key pairs and is a cornerstone of many secure communication protocols. On the certification, you may see R S A referenced in questions about encryption, digital signatures, or the underlying math behind key exchange.
R T O stands for Recovery Time Objective. It represents the maximum acceptable time that a system, service, or process can be offline after a disruption. R T O is closely tied to business continuity and disaster recovery planning. A lower R T O means a faster recovery requirement, which may involve more investment in high availability systems. On the exam, you may need to identify R T O requirements in relation to recovery strategies or match them to appropriate technologies.
R X S S stands for Reflected Cross-site Scripting. This is a type of injection attack where malicious scripts are embedded in a link and reflected back to the user by a vulnerable web application. Unlike stored cross-site scripting, reflected attacks do not persist on the server and typically require social engineering to deliver the payload. On the certification, you may be tested on how R X S S works, how to detect it, or how to mitigate it through input validation and output encoding.
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With this final set of glossary terms, your foundational vocabulary for the certification is now complete. These acronyms and concepts are more than exam content—they are the operational language of cybersecurity. As you move forward in your preparation, return to these definitions as reference points when navigating tools, scenarios, and technical explanations. In upcoming episodes, we will resume our detailed walkthrough of each domain, diving deeper into the analysis and application skills required to pass the exam and succeed as a security analyst.