Glossary

IT, Microsoft & cloud terms, in plain English

The acronyms and jargon that come up across Microsoft cloud, security and application delivery, explained clearly and linked to the guidance, services and resources that go deeper.

AiTM (Adversary-in-the-Middle): A phishing technique that sidesteps multi-factor authentication by proxying the login and stealing the resulting session token, so the attacker inherits an already-authenticated session. Defended with phishing-resistant MFA, device-bound Conditional Access and token protection.See: Microsoft 365 security gaps · Security Services
App Attach: A Windows feature that streams MSIX-packaged applications into Azure Virtual Desktop or Windows 365 sessions on demand, instead of baking them into every image, giving a lighter, faster-to-update base image.See: Application Packaging & MSIX · CI/CD packaging workflows
App-V (Application Virtualization): A Microsoft technology that virtualises applications into isolated packages so they run without being fully installed on the OS. Microsoft is retiring App-V in favour of MSIX, and Systech migrates App-V estates to MSIX.See: App-V to MSIX migration · Application Packaging & MSIX
Application Modernisation: Moving the applications a business relies on onto modern, supported platforms, incrementally rather than via a risky big-bang rewrite, often replatforming onto Azure and the Microsoft stack.See: Development & Application Modernisation · Modernisation without a rewrite
Azure: Microsoft's public cloud platform for hosting virtual machines, storage, databases, networking and more. Systech helps businesses migrate to, optimise and control the cost of their Azure estate.See: Cost Management & Azure Optimisation · Cutting Azure waste
Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD): Microsoft's cloud virtual desktop (VDI) service, delivering a full Windows desktop from Azure to any device. AVD supports multi-session and is flexible and cost-effective at scale.See: End-User Computing · Windows 365 vs AVD · AVD cost optimisation
Backup (3-2-1 & immutable): Keeping recoverable copies of servers, endpoints and Microsoft 365 data. Good backup is monitored and regularly restore-tested, and keeps immutable, ransomware-resilient copies that an attacker cannot alter or delete.See: Backup Services
BEC (Business Email Compromise): A targeted attack where a criminal impersonates a trusted person, often an executive or supplier, to trick staff into transferring money or data. Impersonation protection and email security defend against it.See: Email Security & Archive · Microsoft 365 security gaps
CI/CD (Continuous Integration / Delivery): An automated pipeline that builds, tests and deploys software, or application packages, repeatably, replacing slow, manual, person-dependent work. Systech builds CI/CD packaging workflows for customers.See: CI/CD packaging workflows · Application Packaging & MSIX
Compliance Policy (Intune): An Intune rule set defining what a 'healthy' device looks like (encryption, OS version, security settings). Paired with Conditional Access, it ensures only compliant, managed devices can reach company data.See: Intune management & reporting · Intune device management checklist
Conditional Access: Microsoft Entra policies that control who can access Microsoft 365 and under what conditions, for example requiring MFA, a compliant device or a trusted location. The backbone of a strong identity security posture.See: Microsoft 365 security gaps · Security Services
Copilot (Microsoft 365 Copilot): Microsoft's AI assistant embedded across Microsoft 365 apps. Copilot inherits each user's existing access, so a readiness assessment of data and permissions is essential before switching it on.See: AI Solutions · Copilot readiness · Copilot Readiness Assessment

Showing 1–12 of 46 terms

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