If you have a phone, then you’re already familiar with many common acronyms. You know that BRB means “be right back” and that LOL means “laugh out loud.” If you spend any time around teenagers, you might be learning new acronyms every day. For instance, did you know that IMHO means “in my humble opinion”?
While a quick Google search can decode the average text message acronym, these abbreviations in the world of IT can be a little more complex. But don’t worry — as always, we’re here to help!
We’re going to give you the full run-down of every need-to-know IT acronym out there. In an industry with so much shorthand, it’s easy to feel lost and overwhelmed. So the next time you feel like screaming “OMG, IDK!”, turn to this handy cheat sheet instead.
AI
In today’s digital world, AI (or Artificial Intelligence) is growing increasingly popular. For instance, take the currently trending ChatGPT tool. In the IT space, AI and other automation can help you generate scripts and escape mundane tasks in order to focus your department’s energy on what’s really important: creating innovative solutions and fixing complex problems.
CPU
This acronym refers to the Central Processing Unit, also known as simply a processor, a main processor, or a central processor. In other words, a CPU is the primary part of any digital computer system. On a broad level, it’s usually composed of an arithmetic-logic unit, a control unit, and a main memory. It carries out instructions specified in programs.
CRM
Remember SaaS that we were talking about a second ago? Well, Salesforce’s initial SaaS offering was a CRM tool – which stands for Customer Relationship Management. It’s a technology used to manage all your company’s relationships and interactions with both customers and potential customers.
CRM is especially relevant for MSPs who work with a number of different clients. But it’s important for in-house IT departments too because CRM tools can help IT providers manage contacts, agent productivity, users, and more. It can span the whole customer relationship lifecycle from marketing to sales to digital commerce and customer service.
DNS
This acronym stands for Domain Name System — in other words, the internet’s process of converting alphanumeric names into numeric IP addresses. DNS allows computers to translate human-readable language into a machine-readable form.
As most IT professionals know, every server that’s connected to the internet has a public IP address. When a user types a web address (URL) into a browser, DNS servers return the public IP address associated with the domain name in the URL. That allows the computer to connect to the specified server and access web pages according to the URL.
IT
It seems remiss not to include the titular acronym of our field, but we really hope you know this one already. IT stands for Information Technology. It refers to the processes of creating, processing, storing, securing, and exchanging all forms of electronic data through computers, storage, networking, and any other physical or cloud-based infrastructure or devices.
Now that we’ve gotten the obvious one out of the way, let’s move on to some of the more specific acronyms that abound in the IT field.
RMM
One of the most crucial computer networking acronyms out there is RMM, which stands for Remote Monitoring and Management. IT professionals commonly use software with RMM functions in order to remotely manage computers, networks, and related services.
A top-tier RMM software package will allow for scripting, automation, patch management, reporting, and more. If you choose an effective RMM option, you’ll be able to lower your overhead, making it possible for you to provide services that are more reliable at an increasingly competitive price point.
MSP
This one is debatably the most important acronym in the IT world! MSP stands for Managed Service Provider. MSPs allow companies to outsource certain services – like IT, for example – to a business that specializes in that area. In the field of IT, providers usually fall into one of two categories: internal IT departments and MSPs.
MSPs in the IT space provide IT expertise to an organization. Working with an MSP instead of creating an internal IT department is one way for companies to cut costs. For that reason, MSPs will typically have a number of clients, as they’re often not on staff full-time with any one company.
NMS
NMS, or Network Monitoring Software, can help you monitor and manage the traffic flow over a network. You can use NMS to monitor both the hardware and software components in any given network, which can help you learn more about clients’ networks and devices and troubleshoot when problems arise. You may also be able to put proactive fixes in place.
NSS
An NSS, or Network Security Scan, is an important security protocol that can help keep your network safe from various threats. It’s an important piece of vulnerability management that scans an entire network as well as its nodes, checking for security vulnerabilities and loopholes.
PSA
If you’re thinking that PSA means “public service announcement,” you’re not entirely wrong. But when it comes to IT, PSA stands for Professional Service Automation. It’s a type of technology that gives IT service providers the ability to manage and automate administrative tasks like billing, invoicing, time tracking, and more.
SaaS
Salesforce is often considered the original SaaS, or Software as a Service. It’s a distribution model through which customers can access software over the internet, either through a web browser or an application. For instance, Atera’s software offerings can be considered SaaS.
WAN/LAN
These two very similar acronyms are paired together for good reason. WAN stands for Wide Area Network, which is a big network of information that’s not tied to one specific location. On the other hand, LAN stands for Local Area Network. That refers to a collection of devices that are connected within one physical location – for example, an office building or a home.
VPN
Another common acronym in the IT space, VPN stands for Virtual Private Network. It’s a secure way to extend a private network across a public network using what’s known as a “tunnel.” This helps you access your work data in a secure way.
A brand-new acronym: PWA
Alright, you caught us. This isn’t actually an acronym in the IT space – but maybe it should be! PWA stands for Partner With Atera, which is exactly what you should do if you’d like to harness the power of automation and take your IT department or MSP’s work to the next level. Learn more about everything we can offer today!
