Top Cybersecurity Acronyms You Need to Know in 2024

When reviewing your IT stack and ensuring that your cybersecurity posture is strong, it is important to be able to identify common terminology so you can better understand potential issues and what they mean. Building a solid knowledge base about your cybersecurity needs is just as important as having a strong cybersecurity plan in place. Below are the cybersecurity acronyms you should know:

• CNAPP – Cloud Native Application Protection Platform: Cloud Native Application Protection Platform refers to a security platform designed specifically for the protection of cloud-native applications. It addresses the unique security challenges posed by applications built using microservices and deployed in containerized environments. As more workloads move to the cloud, 2024 is the right time to develop a plan to implement more cloud-native security solutions.
• CSMA – Cybersecurity Mesh Architecture: A Cybersecurity Mesh Architecture can bridge critical gaps by integrating isolated solutions through two-way connections, pulling data into the mesh and enabling actions across a diverse array of tools including secure email gateways, endpoint detection and response systems, and SOAR and SIEM platforms. This is expected to be a key initiative in 2024 for many organizations who are trying to better leverage the tools they already have.
• CTEM – Continuous Threat Exposure Management: Threat Exposure Management involves identifying, assessing, and managing an organization’s exposure to cybersecurity threats. This includes evaluating vulnerabilities, understanding potential attack surfaces, and implementing measures to reduce the risk of exploitation. Recent advances in autonomous penetration testing have made the “Continuous” aspect of CTEM more feasible and will help proactively address and mitigate security risks.
• LLM – Large Language Models: Large language models refer to advanced artificial intelligence models that are designed to understand and generate human-like text on a large scale. These models are typically based on deep learning architectures, and they are trained on vast amounts of textual data to develop a broad understanding of language patterns, context, and semantics. Due to its wide availability online, cyber criminals often use LLM to launch fully automated cyberattacks that are presenting new threats to the cybersecurity landscape. This trend is expected to continue as the models become more and more powerful.
• MTTD – Mean Time to Detect: Mean Time to Detect (MTTD) is a key metric in cybersecurity that represents the average amount of time it takes for an organization to identify and recognize a security incident or a breach. It is a critical component of the overall incident response process and is often used to evaluate the efficiency of a cybersecurity program. “Detection Times” refers to the time it takes to detect and identify each individual security incident. The sum of these detection times is then divided by the total number of incidents to obtain the average. Typically, the lower the detection time, the better, as it indicates your organization is better equipped to respond to incidents and mitigate large amounts of downtime.
• SASE – Secure Access Service Edge: Secure Access Service Edge is a cybersecurity framework expected to see high interest in 2024 as remote work has taken off. SASE combines network security functions with WAN capabilities to support the dynamic, secure access needs of organizations. Networking and security services are delivered primarily from the cloud to provide secure access for users, regardless of their location.
• XDR – Extended Detection and Response: Extended Detection and Response (XDR) is a cybersecurity concept that goes beyond traditional endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions. XDR integrates and correlates data from various security tools and sources across an organization to provide a more comprehensive view of potential threats. It aims to improve threat detection, investigation, and response capabilities.
• ZTA –  Zero Trust Architecture: Zero Trust Architecture is a cybersecurity framework based on the principle of “never trust, always verify.” With users and data residing almost anywhere, the old-fashioned perimeter security will be less relevant than ever in 2024. ZTA challenges the traditional model of trusting entities within a network perimeter and instead requires continuous verification of users, devices, and applications, regardless of their location or network status. 

With a cybersecurity landscape that is constantly evolving, staying updated on new acronyms and technologies is crucial. Working with a trusted, experienced managed IT service provider can help relieve the burden of having to constantly keep a pulse on new security trends and vernacular. Contact Thrive today to learn more about how our experts can help you keep up with your cybersecurity needs and stay on top of the latest regulatory changes and technologies needed in your IT stack.