Annex 2 - Glossary

Access - The process of obtaining data from, or placing data into a computer system or storage device.

Anonymous - With respect to data, the condition of not being able to identify data or information with an individual person.

Archiving - The process of saving data for later reference or use.

Asset - Any item that has value.

Audit - An independent examination of a work product or set of work products to assess compliance with specifications, standards, contractual agreements, or other criteria.

Availability - The condition of being useable on demand to support business functions (teaching, research, administration, etc.).

Collection - The process of gathering data from a number of individuals or sources.

Communication - The process of transmitting data or information from one point to another.

Computer Program - A combination of computer instructions and data definitions that enable computer hardware to perform computational or control functions.

Confidentiality - The responsibility of an individual to safeguard the secrecy of data concerning another individual.

CQU - Acronym for the Central Queensland University.

Data - A representation of facts, concepts, or instructions in a manner suitable for communication, interpretation, or processing by humans or by automatic means.

Database - A collection of logically related data stored together in one or more computerised files.

Destruction - The process of rendering an asset completely unusable.

Disclosure - The process of making data or information known.

Electronic Mai - The generation, transmission, and display of correspondence and documents by electronic means.

Employee - An individual employed by Central Queensland University.

Encryption - The process of enciphering or encoding data.

Firewall - A security technique that prevents unauthorised access to information systems and local area networks from external networks.

Hardware - Physical equipment used to process, store, or transit computer programs or data.

Information - The meaning that humans assign to data by means of known conventions that are applied to the data.

Information System - A mechanism used for acquiring, filing, storing and retrieving an organised body of knowledge.

Integrity - (1) The degree to which a system or component prevents unauthorised access to, or modification of, computer programs or data. (2) The accuracy and completeness of data and information.

LAN - Acronym for Local Area Network.

Maintenance - (1) The process of modifying a software system or component after delivery to correct faults, improve performance or other attributes, or adapt to a changed environment. (2) The process of retaining a hardware system or component in, or restoring it to, a state in which it can perform its required functions.

Modification - The process of changing the contents or logical structure of a database or program.

Password - A sequence of characters required for access to a computer system.

Privacy - An individual's right to protection of the data regarding him/her against misuse or unauthorised disclosure.

Release - The authorised disclosure of data or information to an individual or third party.

Removal - The process of changing the location of an asset.

Retention - The process of holding data or information in a secure or intact manner.

Risk Assessment - An evaluation of the chance of vulnerabilities being exploited, based on the effectiveness of existing or proposed safeguards.

Safeguards - Actions or measures taken to offset a particular security concern or threat.

Secure Area - An area where university data is processed and/or stored, or an area housing utilities or service facilities supporting university information equipment

Security - The degree to which data , databases or other assets are protected from exposure to accidental or malicious disclosure, interruption, modification, removal or destruction.

Software - Computer programs, procedures, and associated documentation and data pertaining to the operation of a computer system.

Storage - The process of placing data or information in a location (eg. computer memory, storage device, secure area) for later use or disposal.

Student/client - Any individual who receives a university product or service from a university staff member or university agent. Often referred to as client.

Threat - Any potential event or act that could cause one or more of the following to occur: unauthorised disclosure, destruction, removal, modification or interruption of sensitive information, assets or services, or injury to people. A threat may be deliberate or accidental.

Threat Assessment - An evaluation of the nature, likelihood and consequence of acts or events that could place sensitive data and assets at risk.

University - Any organisation engaged in the planning, funding, management, development or delivery of university services and products.

University Data - Facts that apply to the university status of an individual and/or to the service provided to that individual.

University Staff Member - Any individual employed or engaged in the direct delivery of university services or products to students/clients/staff members.

User - One who uses the services of a computer system.

WAN - Acronym for Wide Area Network.


Contents
Background: [1] [2] [3] _Section: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] _Annex: [1] [2] [3] [4] [Index]
Guidelines for Computer Security at CQU, A C Lynn Zelmer, PhD; Editor/Adaptor
Copyright © 1996 CQU Computer Security Committee

Central Queensland University Home Page