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IT Glossary

IT and Microsoft 365 terms explained simply for non-technical teams in nonprofits, cooperatives and social economy organizations in Quebec.

Last updated April 17, 2026

Antivirus

Software that detects and neutralizes malicious programs on a device before they cause damage.

Audit Log

A history of actions performed in a system, useful for investigations, tracking, and compliance.

Backup

A security copy of your data stored separately, allowing full recovery in the event of a failure, accidental deletion, or incident.

Cloud

Infrastructure of remote servers accessible via the internet. Your files and applications are stored and managed there without additional local hardware.

Conditional Access

Security rules that allow or block a connection based on certain criteria, such as location, device, or risk level.

Data Breach

A situation where confidential information is exposed, shared, or stolen without authorization.

Data Protection

The set of measures taken to ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information.

Disaster Recovery

The plan and means to restore systems and data after a major incident.

DNS

A service that translates a domain name into an IP address to allow access to a website or service.

Document Library

A location in SharePoint where files are stored, organized, and shared.

Domain Name

The address used to access a website or for an organization's emails.

EDR (Endpoint Detection & Response)

An advanced security tool that monitors devices in real time, detects suspicious behavior, and automatically responds to threats — beyond a simple antivirus.

Encryption

A process that makes data unreadable to anyone unauthorized, even if it is intercepted or stolen.

Entra ID

Microsoft's identity and access management service. It manages user accounts, logins, and certain security rules.

External Sharing

A feature that allows sharing files or collaboration spaces with people outside the organization.

Firewall

A device or software that filters incoming and outgoing network traffic according to security rules, blocking unauthorized connections.

IP Address

A number assigned to a device on a network to identify it and enable communications.

IT Ticket

A support request logged in a management system, allowing the progress of a problem or request to be tracked until resolution.

Law 25 / Bill 64

Quebec law on personal information protection imposing obligations on organizations regarding confidentiality, incident reporting, and data governance.

Malware

Software designed to damage, spy on, or take control of a device or network without the user's consent.

Microsoft 365 (M365)

Microsoft's cloud office suite grouping Teams, Outlook, Word, Excel, SharePoint, OneDrive and other collaboration tools.

Microsoft 365 Group

A group that connects multiple Microsoft tools like Outlook, Teams, and SharePoint to facilitate collaboration.

Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

A login method that requires an additional verification beyond your password, such as a code sent by SMS or an app (e.g. Microsoft Authenticator).

OneDrive

Microsoft's cloud storage service integrated with M365, for saving and sharing files from any device.

Outlook

Microsoft's email application used to send and receive emails, manage calendars, contacts, and meetings.

Password Manager

A tool that allows you to store and generate passwords securely.

Patch

A software update that fixes a security vulnerability or functional issue. Not applying patches exposes the organization to attacks.

Permissions

Rights granted to a person or group to view, edit, or share a file or system.

Phishing

A fraudulent attempt via email or message impersonating a trusted source (bank, Microsoft, colleague) to get you to click a link or reveal your credentials.

Privileged Access

A higher level of access than standard, often reserved for administrators or technical leads.

Ransomware

Malicious software that encrypts all of an organization's files and demands a ransom to unlock them. One of the most costly cyberthreats.

Remote Access

The ability to connect to an organization's resources without being physically at the office.

RMM (Remote Monitoring & Management)

A tool allowing an IT team to monitor, manage, and fix devices remotely, without having to travel on site.

Router

Equipment that directs traffic between a local network and the internet.

Security Incident

An event that may compromise an organization's systems, data, or access.

Server

A computer or service that hosts data, applications, or resources accessible to other devices.

SharePoint

Microsoft's collaborative platform integrated with M365 for storing, organizing, and sharing documents across an organization or team.

Sharing Link

A link that gives others access to a file or folder.

Single Sign-On (SSO)

A method that allows a user to log in once to access multiple applications.

Social Engineering

A manipulation technique used to push a person into disclosing information or taking a risky action.

Strong Password

A password that is difficult to guess, generally long and composed of multiple character types.

Synchronization

A feature that keeps the same files up to date between a computer and the cloud.

Teams (Microsoft Teams)

Microsoft's communication and collaboration app: instant messaging, calls, video conferences, and file sharing all in one interface.

Teams Channel

A discussion space within a Teams team, often used to organize exchanges by topic, project, or department.

Remote Work

A work mode where employees complete their tasks remotely using digital tools.

Administrator Account

An account with advanced rights to modify systems, settings, or access.

Versioning

A feature that keeps previous versions of a file so you can revert to an earlier state in case of an error.

VPN (Virtual Private Network)

A secure, encrypted connection between a device and a remote network, protecting data in transit — especially when working remotely or on public Wi-Fi.

Wi-Fi

Wireless connection technology that allows devices to access a network and the internet.

Zero Trust

A security model where no user or device is considered trusted by default, even inside the organization's network. Every access is verified.