THE SMALL BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY CHEAT SHEET Cloud Computing Cloud computing is simply Internet-based computing where different services like file backup or email are delivered to an individual’s or company’s computers and devices through the Internet. Browser WWW. Short for Web browser, a browser is a software application used to locate, retrieve and display content on the World Wide Web, including standard web pages, images, videos and other file types. A router is a device that sends data along networks. You may have a router in your home that connects your computer and other devices to the Internet. Modem Application A computer application, such as Microsoft Word or Excel is a software program in which you do your work. 10101010101 01101010010 11010101010 10101010101 Router Data The word data is used to describe distinct pieces of information, often formatted in a particular way. All software is divided into two general categories: data and programs. Programs (or applications) are collections of instructions for manipulating data. For example, the numbers in a Microsoft Excel document can be viewed as data. When you ask Excel to add a row of numbers together you are asking a program to manipulate this data. The term modem is short for modulator-demodulator. A modem lets a computer to transmit data over telephone or cable lines. Network A network is a group of two or more computers that link together. LocalArea-Networks (LANs) are computers that are close together. Wide-Area-Networks (WANS) are computers that are farther apart and may be connected by telephone or cable lines. Firewall A firewall is a protective system between your computer network and the Internet. A firewall prevents unauthorized use and access to your network. 1 Server Ethernet Cable Ethernet cables connect devices such like modems, routers, and computers to each other. Bytes A byte is a combination of the words binary and term, a unit of storage capable of holding a single character. For most computers, a byte is equal to 8 bits. Large amounts of memory are indicated in terms of kilobytes (1,024 bytes), megabytes (1,048,576 bytes), and gigabytes (1,073,741,824 bytes). Bandwidth The term bandwidth is used to describe the amount of data that can be mbps transmitted in a fixed amount of time. For digital devices, the bandwidth is usually expressed in bits per second(bps) or bytes per second. Cookies A cookie is a message given to a Web browser by a Web server. The browser stores the message in a text file. The message is then sent back to the server each time the browser requests a page from the server. The main purpose of a cookie is to identify users and possibly prepare customized web pages for them. A server is a dedicated device on a network that performs a specific task. A file server is a computer dedicated to storing files while a print server managers printers on a network. Portal A Web portal or public portal refers to a Web site or service that offers a broad array of resources and services, such as e-mail, forums, search engines, and online shopping malls. The first Web portals were online services, such as AOL, that provided access to the Web, but by now most of the traditional search engines have transformed themselves into Web portals to attract and keep a larger audience. Remote Desktop Software Remote Desktop, a function included with Windows XP Professional, enables you to connect to your computer across the Internet from virtually any computer, Pocket PC, or smartphone. Client A client program is an application that runs on a personal computer or workstation client and relies on a server to perform some operations. Many database programs allow to install client software on numerous computers but keep their data on a single server. server 2