Cloud Computing For Dummies®

Glossary

access control:

Determining who or what can have access to what, and when and how they can access it.

ACID:

atomicity, consistency, isolation, and durability. These are the main requirements for proper transaction processing.

API:

application programming interface. A collection of subroutine calls that allow computer programs to use a software system.

application hosting:

It comes in several models. One model requires the vendor to run an entire application for a customer. Software as a Service (SaaS) is another form of application hosting.

architecture:

In information processing, the design approach taken in developing a program or system.

archiving:

The process by which a database or file data that is seldom used or is outdated, but is required for historical or audit reasons, is copied to a cheaper form of storage. The storage medium may be online, tape, or optical disc.

ASP.NET:

This is a Web application framework, from Microsoft, that programmers use to build Web applications and Web services. It's versatile because it allows programmers to write ASP.NET code using any supported .NET language.

asset management:

Software that allows organizations to record all information about their hardware and software. Most such applications capture cost information, license information, and so on. Such information belongs in the configuration management database. See also CMDB.

audit:

A check on the effectiveness of a task or set of tasks and how the tasks are managed and documented.

audit trail ...