Starting with the basics
Technology is now the biggest player impacting businesses in every industry. That means everyone — not just the IT department — needs to have working knowledge of key concepts. The result: more meaningful collaboration across every department to drive organizations forward.
We recognize that everyone’s tech literacy level is different, which is why our sales and technical specialists put together this guide to give you foundational knowledge on the must-know terms.
Agile
Agile is a software development model dedicated to creating functioning software fast with self-organized, cross-functional teams. Agile teams approach projects in an adaptive, efficient and iterative way to ensure effective implementation. Successful Agile practices require an organization-wide commitment.
Learn moreAnything as a Service (XaaS)
Anything as a Service (XaaS) is defined by a technology or service being delivered on consumption payment models — you pay for what you use. There are many popular “as a service” technologies, including Software as a Service (SaaS), Device as a Service (DaaS) and Data Center as a Service (DCaaS). A service provider owns the asset and will handle management tasks as part of a packaged deal.
Learn moreArtificial Intelligence (AI)
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is software that’s programmed to complete tasks that were traditionally accomplished by people. This includes language processing, image recognition and data analysis. Organizations use AI to automate tasks and identify insights within large data sets.
Learn moreBig data
Big data describes the increasing creation and collection of data from digital devices. Nearly everything digital produces data, from thermostats to light bulbs, and businesses can collect and analyze it to support product development, customer service, operations and more.
Learn moreBusiness Intelligence (BI)
Business Intelligence (BI) refers to analytics tools that process raw data from sales, finance, marketing and operations, turning it into meaningful information that guides decision-making. BI tools, intuitive dashboards and reporting helps organizations identify trends and opportunities faster.
Learn moreCloud
The cloud is a remote data center that houses data and applications, which are accessible from any location or device using the internet. Cloud resources can be used alongside or independently of an on-premises data center. Public clouds are administered by a third-party, helping organizations save on IT ownership and management costs. As an on-demand service, cloud usage can scale up or down fast to match IT needs as they change.
Learn moreDevOps
DevOps is a software development methodology and approach designed to launch products and improvements faster. Using shorter development cycles and publishing updates more frequently, DevOps takes an iterative approach — which in turn reduces risk to the organization. The DevOps name comes from the increased collaboration between development and operations teams.
Learn moreIntelligent edge
An intelligent edge is an on-premises Internet of Things (IoT) system that collects, processes and acts upon data close to the source where the data was collected. This contrasts other IoT devices that must send data to the cloud for processing. Because edge devices can make decisions near the source, it reduces response times, bandwidth needs and security risks.
Learn moreE-procurement
E-procurement is the online sale of technology or services. Often, these transactions are business to business or business to government. An e-procurement platform supports sales by hosting catalogs, user accounts, order tracking, transaction capabilities and more.
Learn moreHybrid workforce
A hybrid workforce has a mix of on-site and remote staff. To support hybrid work, businesses typically use cloud-based voice, video, messaging and content-sharing platforms. The cloud enables anytime, anywhere data and application access.
Learn moreInternet of Things (IoT)
The Internet of Things (IoT) refers to the increasing number of devices that are connected to the internet. They are used to send, receive, record and act upon data. Businesses use IoT to automate tasks or increase operational visibility. Popular use cases include temperature monitoring, smart sensors and inventory tracking.
Learn moreOn-premises
On-premises hardware and software is hosted on site in contrast to a remote location, like the cloud. Businesses have more ownership and control of on-premises IT assets and must handle maintenance. Most IT assets used to be on-premises, but environments are now increasingly hosted remotely and accessed via the cloud.
Learn moreSystems integrator
A systems integrator simplifies IT environments by building comprehensive solutions from disparate hardware and software subsystems. Organizations work closely with systems integrators to outline future goals, identify existing technology and implement an adaptable system. The end product simplifies management and security, while also supporting future innovation.
Learn moreTransformation services
Transformation services are a range of technology services that help businesses enhance products, service delivery, development and processes. These services can involve Agile or DevOps adoptions and aim to help organizations adapt alongside modern technology.
Learn moreUser Experience (UX)/User Interface (UI)
User Experience (UX) and User Interface (UI) explain a user’s feelings toward and interactions with a system or application. Although they’re separate concepts, UX and UI are frequently used together. Designers develop applications so the UX and UI are simple, effective and accessible — critical components to a digital product’s success.
Workload
A workload describes how much storage, processing power and speed are required to support an application or execute a task. Workloads use an organization’s IT infrastructure and computational resources (either virtual or on-premises) to operate. The weight of a workload is a critical factor to decide what IT resources are required to support it.
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