NinjaOne Terminology

3PP

ABM

AAD

AAP

AD

ADB

ADE

ADK

AES

AFC

AMAPI

API

APNS

APT

ARM

AWS

BAA

BIOS

CD

CFS

CLI

CMD

CPU

CRM

CRUD

CSP

CVE

CVSS

"Common Vulnerability Scoring System"
 

DFS

DHCP

DLP

DMG

DNF

DNS

DPC

DTO

DUNS

EDR

Enum

EPP

ESXi

FRP

GA

GPO

GSM

HDD

HIPAA

HTTP

HTTPS

IaaS

IAM

IdP

IDS

IMEI

IP

ISO

JSON

LAN

LibTIFF

MASQ

MFA

MBR

MDM

MDR

MFA

MIB

MSI

MSP

MSSP

NAS

NAT

NDP

NFC

NIC

NMS

NTFS

OAuth

OEM

OID

OOB

OS

OST

OU

PKG

PHI

QR

PaaS

PSA

PSK

RAID

RBAC

RDP

RDS

REST

RMM

RPM

SaaS

SAM

SAML

SAN

SDK

SIEM

SMB

SMTP 

SNMP

SPM

SQL

SSD

SSH

SSL

SSO

TCP

Telnet

TLD

TLS

TOTP

TPM

TTL

UAC

UDF

UDP

UEFI

URL

USB

UUID

VHDX

VLAN

VM

VMDK

VNC

VSS

WAMP

WAN

WinPE

WMI

WPA

WPM

WSUS

WYSIWYG

XDR

YUM

Azure Active Directory

A Microsoft technology used to provide SSO, MFA, and other types of access to improve security against cybersecurity attacks. 

Related documentation: 

• NinjaOne Ticketing: SMTP Microsoft 365 Configuration
• SAML/SSO
• Mass Deployment of NinjaOne Installer

Active Directory

A Microsoft technology used to manage users, computers and other devices on a network. It is a primary feature of Windows Server, an operating system that runs both local and Internet-based servers.

Related documentation: 

• Active Directory User Management
• Active Directory Discovery and Deployment

Advanced Package Tool

A collection of tools that work with core libraries to install and manage software packages for Linux devices. 

Related documentation: Dashboards: Patching Software Inventory

Agent

The remote tool (service or daemon, depending on the OS) on a device that allows end users to monitor the device's health and activity from the NinjaOne console.

Agents that are installed on a device transmit the device's information to the NinjaOne console for monitoring and management. Simply put, it is a type of computer program that acts on behalf of a user or other program. 

The NinjaOne agent can take action on managed devices based on conditions being triggered or scheduled automations/tasks running. Other delegates can also be instantiated for optional functionality (e.g., VMware).

Related documentation: Ninja Agent Installation

Allowlist

Amazon Web Services

Cloud provider used by NinjaOne to host data. 

Related documentation: Cloud Computing Services - Amazon Web Services (AWS)

Antivirus/Antimalware

Terms generally used interchangeably to indicate software that can be used to detect and prevent the installation of computer malware and, in some cases, quarantine affected computers or eradicate the malware and restore the operation of the system.

Related documentation:

• Articles tagged as Antivirus
• Antivirus Integration App articles

Application programming interface

Defined rules for software communication; allows applications to communicate with each other and automates workflows between software tools. 
 

Related documentation: 

• API OAuth Token Configuration
• Autotask: API Integration Guide
• NinjaOne Onboarding Guide
• Custom Fields: Device Role Fields

Backup

Data backup is the process of storing a copy of files/data to a separate storage location so that they can be restored in the event the files/data are lost or damaged. 

Related documentation: NinjaOne Backup

Basic Input Output System

BitLocker

A Windows encryption software designed to protect data for entire volumes. 

Related documentation: BitLocker/FileVault Encryption Key Management

Branding

The ability to customize the NinjaOne interface with your own styling elements.

Related documentation: 

• Branding: Systray Icon
• Branding: Environment Variables via Systray Icon

Breadcrumb navigation

Breadcrumb navigation is used in web design as a secondary path scheme.

The trail of text links shows users the path to the page that they are currently on—for example, if you look at the top of this page right above the article title, you will see "NinjaOne Dojo > Documentation > New To NinjaOne > Getting Started". "Getting Started" is the section in which this article is located, which is a subfolder of the NinjaOne Dojo landing page.

You can click any of the hypertext links to navigate to that specific folder from this page. 

Central Processing Unit

Also referred to as "central processor" or "main processor", this electronic component executes a sequence of instructions to control various computer program operations. 
 

Related documentation: Agents Failing / High CPU / WMI Issues
 

Chassis

(the) Cloud

An IT paradigm that refers to software and services that run on the Internet, instead of locally on your computer.
Benefits of Cloud-based platforms include:

• Cost
• Reliability

NinjaOne is a Cloud application that can be accessed from any device with an internet connection—uses Amazon Web Services (AWS) to host our data.

Cloud monitors 

Cloud monitors are agent-less monitors that are created by sending a request from NinjaOne Amazon servers that query an IP for various services like ping, ports, DNS information etc.

Related documentation: Cloud Monitors

Cloud service provider

Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures

Used with a CVSS to determine security threat levels in relation to patch management. The CVE glossary is maintained by the MITRE Corporation and assigns severity on a scale from 1–10.
 

Related documentation: Dashboards: Patch Management

Customer relationship management

Data Protection

Data Transfer Object

Delegate

Depth-First Search

Device

A machine (e.g., laptop, server, cell phone, etc.) or network that can be monitored remotely through NinjaOne. This is where the agent is installed.

NinjaOne’s primary function is to monitor devices.

Related documentation: Device Details

Device Class

Distributed File System

Division

A NinjaOne customer, also may be referred to as customer's data (in code and the databases). 

A division is the top of a hierarchy and contains organizations, which contain locations, which contain devices.

Disaster Recovery

A set of policies, tools, and procedures to enable the recovery or continuation of vital technology infrastructure and systems following a natural or human-induced disaster.

Disaster recovery focuses on the information technology (IT) or technology systems supporting critical business functions as opposed to business continuity, which involves keeping all essential aspects of a business functioning despite significant disruptive events; it can therefore be considered a subset of business continuity.

Disaster recovery assumes that the primary site is not recoverable for some time and represents a process of restoring data and services to a secondary survived site, which is opposite to the process of restoring back to its original place.

Related documentation: Backup

Domain Name System

Domain names serve as memorizable names for websites, internal devices/hosts, and other services on the Internet. However, computers access Internet devices by their IP addresses.

DNS translates domain names into IP addresses, allowing you to access an Internet location by its domain name.
 

Related documentation: Cloud Monitors

Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol

A network management protocol used on IP networks to automatically assign IP addresses and other communication or network configuration parameters to devices connected on a network. 

Uses a client–server architecture. 

Encryption

The process of encoding data to prevent unauthorized access during transmission in remote sessions.

Related documentation: BitLocker/FileVault Encryption Key Management

Endpoint

A device that can have an RMM agent installed on it to perform services. 
Can be a desktop, laptop, network device or server. 
 

Related documentation: 

• Endpoint Monitoring and Alerting Playbook
• Malwarebytes: Installing Endpoint Protection via NinjaOne

Endpoint Detection and Response

Considered to be the next level of protection beyond antivirus. Includes antivirus, and also contains many security tools like firewall, whitelisting, monitoring, etc. to provide comprehensive protection against digital threats. 
 

Primary purpose of EDR: 

• Detect threats and provide visibility across endpoints.
• Investigate indicators of attack and suspicious activities.
• Respond to and manage incidents to prevent breaches of security.

End User

The primary user of the endpoints/devices that are managed in NinjaOne. The difference between end user and technician in NinjaOne is the level of access and account permissions; an end user may not have configuration abilities, but will be able to use documentation and submit tickets if given access. 
Related documentation: 
 

• End User Sharing
• User Permissions: Permission Options
• SaaS Backup End User Portal Guide

Feature

A piece of functionality that can be enabled or disabled in NinjaOne. 

Firewall

A firewall acts as a barrier between a trusted system or network and outside connections, such as the Internet. However, a computer firewall is more of a filter than a wall, allowing trusted data to flow through it.

A firewall can be created using either hardware or software. Many businesses and organizations protect their internal networks using hardware firewalls.

Related documentation: 

• Policies: Conditions - Templates

• Whitelist Information

• NMS: System Requirements

Friendly Name

A name given to a device that is different from its technical identifier, or a title that helps to easily identify a purpose or use.

Group Policy Object

Microsoft’s Group Policy Object (GPO) is a collection of Group Policy settings that defines what a system will look like and how it will behave for a defined group of users.

Related documentation: Mass Deployment of NinjaOne Installer.

Hierarchy

Host

A network layer device. A computer with a Web server that serves the pages for one or more Web sites or a company that provides hosting service.

Related documentation: 

• VMware Monitoring
• Hyper-V Monitoring

Installer

Instance

A geographical representation of the platform that can be used externally or internally for the purposes of QA testing, software development and training.

An instance may have different versions of a software (such as NinjaRMM) during a release cycle. 

Related documentation: Whitelist Information.

International Standards Organization

The ISO is an international standard-setting body composed of representatives from various national organizations, which has its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.

It was founded in 1947 and promotes worldwide industrial and commercial standards.

International Mobile Equipment Identity

The unique 15-digit number assigned to authenticated mobile devices running on the GSM network. 

Related documentation: Mobile Device Management 

Internet Protocol

An identifying numerical label for computers on a network. To be monitored by NinjaOne NMS, the devices must have an IP address assigned.

Related documentation: User Login Restriction by IP Address.

Intrusion Detection System 

Monitors network traffic for suspicious activity.

It may be comprised of hardware, software, or a combination of the two. IDSes are similar to firewalls but are designed to monitor traffic that has entered a network, rather than preventing access to a network entirely. This allows IDSes to detect attacks that originate from within a network. 

Local area network

A group of computers and peripheral devices that share a common communications line or wireless link to a server within a distinct geographic area.

IT administrators set up LANs so network nodes (endpoints) can communicate and share resources such as printers or network storage. 

Lockhart

Log

Managed detection & response

Managed Security Service Provider

• Manages and assumes responsibility for providing a defined set of services to its clients proactively.
• Customer may pay additional amounts for repairs or other work depending on what is covered in the plan.
• Major benefit for MSPs’ clients = predictable IT service costs.
• Also beneficial for small companies for whom hiring an in-house IT staff is not necessary.
• May provide consultancy projects or work in a comanaged way with larger customers to aid in-house IT. 

Master Boot Record

Mobile device management

Modal window

Similar to a popup window, a modal or "child" window is subordinate to an application's main window. In NinjaOne, modal windows are most often used to change an application's or feature's settings. 

Near-field communication

A set of communication protocols that allows devices to exchange data over short distances (up to 4 cm or 1.57 in).

Related documentation: NinjaOne Mobile App

Network

A network consists of multiple devices that communicate with one another. It can be as small as two computers or as large as billions of devices.

While a traditional network is comprised of desktop computers, modern networks may include laptops, tablets, smartphones, televisions, gaming consoles, smart appliances, and other electronics.

Network Interface Card

A hardware component that connects a computer to a computer network.

Node

A link layer device. In a network, a node is a connection point or endpoint for data transmission. 

While this term is often used synonymously with device, it more properly refers to the abstraction of a device which is stored in the node table.

OAuth 2.0

Operating System

Organization

Organizational Unit

Patching

The process of applying changes to an application/operating system with the purpose of fixing bugs and making improvements.

Patch management is one of the most important processes that is managed by an IT professional, since keeping up to date is the first line of defense against security flaws.

NinjaOne provides built-in tools to help automate two different types of patching:

• OS patching
• Third-party software patching (3PP)
• Windows OS feature upgrades

Related documentation: Patch Management

Ping

An OS tool that tests network connections for data transmissions. 

Related documentation: 

• Cloud Monitors
• NMS: Device Roles and Policies

Player

Policy

A set of conditions, scripts, and various settings like patching, remote access, and antivirus which can be collectively applied to a group of devices that are members of that policy.

Related documentation: Policies: Create a New Policy

Parent Policy vs. Child Policy: 

Using policy inheritance, you can make a "child" of a "parent" policy. This means that the policy will follow all of the conditions, scheduled scripts, and other settings found in the parent policy, but will also include whatever changes/additions are made to the child policy.

This is helpful in situations where you want to set one primary policy template that you can alter for specific client needs, without creating the whole policy from scratch. With the exception of any overrides, changes made to the parent policy also populate down to child policies.

Port

In the computer world, the term "port" has three different meanings. It may refer to:

• Hardware port — a physical connection on a computer or another electronic device, may also be called an interface, jack, or connector.
• Internet port number — All data transmitted over the internet is sent and received using a specific set of commands, also known as a protocol. Each protocol is assigned a specific port number. For example, all website data transferred over HTTP uses port 80. They provide a simple way to implement network security measures, since it is possible to allow or block specific protocols.
• Porting software — "Port" may also be used as a verb. Porting software means taking an application written for one platform and making it work on another one. For example, a Windows program may be ported to macOS. An iOS app may be ported to Android.

Port 443

A universal, secure version of HTTPS for all encrypted traffic on the Web/Internet.

Professional Services Agreement

The second core tool that all (or most) MSPs use. A PSA helps MSPs organize and deliver on the business side of managed services (customer management, billing, invoicing, marketing, etc.).

MSPs need a PSA to help ensure their business operations (everything other than service delivery) run effectively and profitably.

Related documentation: PSA articles

Protocol

A protocol is a standard set of rules that allow electronic devices to communicate with each other. (kind of “language”). These rules include what type of data may be transmitted, what commands are used to send and receive data, and how data transfers are confirmed.

Redundant array of independent disks

A hardware device or software program used as a type of data storage virtualization technology. Provides protection for stored data and improves access to stored data. 

RAID can be monitored in NinjaOne through Policies > Activities for Windows devices. 

Related documentation: 

• Policies: Activities
• Device Details

Releases

A new version of software deployed to end users that includes enhancements and bug fixes. 

NinjaOne deploys three different types of releases:

• Major Release
• Minor Release
  • Update = only includes bug fixes

Related documentation: Release Notes

Remote Access
 

Remote Desktop Protocol/Services

• RDP stands for Remote Desktop Protocol. RDP allows for remote connectivity to a device from another device.
• RDS stands for Remote Desktop Services – this is what runs on the server that a user is connecting to via RDP.
  • RDS also stands for Relational Database Services, which is Amazon's managed database offering. 
• If RDS is located at your destination, RDP is the road you travel to get to your destination.
• RDS was previously named “Terminal Server” by Microsoft, and you will hear that term used interchangeably with RDS or RDS Server.

Related documentation: 

• Cloud RDP (BETA)
• End User Sharing

Remote Monitoring and Management

• This is the process of supervising and controlling IT systems by means of locally installed agents that can be accessed by a management service provider.
• Integrates with other tools that help MSPs and IT professionals manage machines and/or their business.

REpresentational State Transfer client

Role-Based Access Control

A method of regulating access to system resources based on the roles of individual users within an organization/division. You may see this acronym mentioned when using authentication API tokens. 

Related documentation: SentinelOne: FAQ

Router

A router is a hardware device that routes data (hence the name) from a local area network (LAN) to another network connection.

A router acts like a coin sorting machine, allowing only authorized machines to connect to other computer systems. Most routers also keep log files about the local network activity.

Screen Blanking
 

Scripts

Secure Shell Protocol

Server

Computers which serve information, resources, data, or programs to other computers referred to as clients over a network connection. There are many types of server computers:

• Database Servers
• Game Servers
• Print Servers

Technicians can use NinjaOne to monitor Windows, Mac, and Linux servers. In NinjaOne terminology, the server refers to our backend and is written in Java. It is where our business logic lives and is the primary driver of our Web app.

Server Message Block

A network file sharing protocol, and as implemented in Microsoft Windows is known as Microsoft SMB Protocol.

Reference: Microsoft SMB Protocol and CIFS Protocol Overview - Win32 apps | Microsoft Learn

Session Recording
 

Simple Mail Transfer Protocol

Responsible for sending, receiving and relaying outgoing mail between email senders and receivers. 

Simple Network Monitoring Protocol

Secure Socket Layer

Shard

SOCKS5

SOCKS is a computer network protocol for circuit-level gateways that exchanges network packets between clients and servers through a proxy. SOCKS5 adds options for authentication and support for IPv6 and UDP.

Related documentation: NinjaOne Remote: Set up, Download and Install

Software as a Service

SaaS is a centrally hosted software licensing model that allows customers to use the software on a subscription basis.

Benefits over traditional on-premises software includes (but is not limited to) on-demand deployment and regular releases for new features and improvements, greater scalability and flexibility with application integrations, and lower costs. 

Streamer

Structured Query Language

Switch

A switch is used to network multiple computers together.

Switches made for the consumer market are typically small, flat boxes with 4 to 8 Ethernet ports. These ports can connect to computers, cable or DSL modems, and other switches. High-end switches can have more than 50 ports and often are rack mounted.

Syslog

A standardized way of collecting event logs for devices, syslog is the protocol that is used to send messages. Typically, a server is responsible for aggregating those logs, and then subsequently providing alerts. 

Related documentation: NMS: Device Roles and Policies. 

System Administrator
 

Systray

System tray that is part of the taskbar in Windows/MacOS/Linux. 

Within NinjaOne, this is a branding system setting in Administration. 

Related documentation: 

• Branding: Systray Icon
• Branding: Environment Variables via Systray Icon

Technician

Teletype Network

A client/server application protocol that provides access via LAN or Internet to virtual or remote systems that are running the telnet server service. 

Related documentation: Telnet | Microsoft Learn. 

Ticketing

Tickets are requests for IT teams to perform a task or remediate an issue. A ticketing tool allows IT teams to accept, prioritize, respond to, and manage these requests.

Related documentation: Ticketing. 

Toast Message/Notification

Top-level Domain

Transmission Control Protocol

A standard communication protocol for reliable data transmission between network devices, ensuring all data packets arrive in order. By default, NinjaOne Remote uses a hybrid TCP/UDP transmission to provide a balanced and effective stream.

Requires an established connection on an IP network. 
 

Transport Layer Security

Trusted Platform Module

A TPM is a security processor that is usually automatically installed on Windows PCs. It is a secure way to provide additional encryption for your device. You can learn more about this feature from Microsoft. 

Related documentation: Additional Filters for Device Search.

Unified Extensible Firmware Interface

Uniform Resource Locator

Universal Serial Bus

Universally Unique Identifier

This is a specific form of identification value that is completely unique with a virtually negligible chance of being identical. These also may be referred to as "GUID" (Globally Unique Identifier) by services such as Microsoft.

You can learn more by referring to this documentation from the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF). 

User Account Control

User Datagram Protocol

UDP Hole-punching

Virtual Local Area Network

VLANs are assigned an identifier and operate as an abstraction layer on top of physical hardware. Very often they are used for logical segregation of different types of network traffic.

Related documentation: Agent FAQs. 

Virtual Machine

Emulation of a computer system.

• Based on computer architectures and provide functionality of a physical computer.
• Implementations may involve specialized hardware, software, or a combination.

VMWare and Hyper-V are both hypervisors, which is a specialized type of software that allows IT professionals to create virtual computer environments etc. 

NinjaOne supports management of both VMWare and Hyper-V hypervisors and their virtual guest machines (virtual hosts).

Related documentation: Virtual Monitoring 

Virtual Network Computing

Web Application Messaging Protocol

WAMP is an open standard WebSocket subprotocol that provides two application messaging patterns in one unified protocol.

Related documentation: The WebSocket Protocol | Datatracker Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) and WebSocket Protocol Registries | IANA.org
 

Web-based software

Also known as "Webapp". Software you use over the internet with a Web browser (NinjaOne's app is an example of this). 

• Don’t have to install or download anything or worry about upgrades.
• Some examples of Web-based software include online bank apps or email programs like Gmail.

Webhook

A method of communication/callbacks between web applications. Webhooks allow you to send data and notifications for specified events. 

Related documentation: Notification Channels.

Wide area network

A wide area network is not limited to a single area but spans multiple locations.

WANs are often comprised of multiple LANs that are connected over the Internet. A company WAN, for example, may extend from the headquarters to other offices around the world.

Windows Management Implementation

The purpose of WMI is to define a proprietary set of environment-independent specifications which allow management information to be shared between management applications.

Related documentation: Agents Failing / High CPU / WMI Issues

Windows server update services

Using a WSUS server with NinjaOne’s Windows patch management enables you to have your devices reach out towards your WSUS server instead of downloading the updates directly from Microsoft.

Related documentation: 

• How to use patching with a WSUS server
• Windows Patch Management: Setup

Yellowdog Updater Modified

A command-line tool for installing, patching, and removing software packages on Linux devices using the RPM Package Manager.

Related documentation: Dashboards: Patching Software Inventory

Accelo

Type: PSA

Provides automations and notifications on a cloud-based platform. 
Related documentation: Accelo.

Autotask

Type: PSA

Autotask is a Datto/Kaseya tool on a centralized cloud-based platform that helps to organize business operations and workflows. 
Related documentation: Autotask.

Bitdefender GravityZone

Type: Antivirus

Provides integrated entry-level anti-malware solutions. Deploy, alert, and remediate threats in NinjaOne. 
Related documentation: Bitdefender.

Cloudberry

Type: Data Protection/Backup

Provides users the ability to speed up the backup process, significantly reduce the amount of data moved into storage, and prevent loss of valuable data. 
Related documentation: Cloudberry

ConnectWise

Type(s): PSA and Remote Access

The ConnectWise Control (ScreenConnect) integration allows you to seamlessly initiate remote connections via your existing ConnectWise Control account without having to leave your NinjaOne console.
Related documentation:

• ConnectWise Manage: Integration Guide
• ConnectWise Control (ScreenConnect): Integration Guide

ITGlue

Type: Documentation 

An integration with NinjaOne that allows users to automatically sync critical endpoint data, including device details, from Ninja into IT Glue. 
Related documentation: ITGlue: Setup Guide.

NinjaOne Assist
 

Type: Mobile App 

The application currently targeted for end users. Sometimes referred to as N1 Assist, N1A, or the Companion App. This application will eventually provide a technician experience and will replace the current Technician App (NinjaOne Mobile).
Related documentation: NinjaOne Assist Mobile Application

NinjaOne Remote
 

Type: Remote Access 

A proprietary remote access product built by NinjaOne. This product allows users to remotely access servers, workstations, and mobile devices.
Related documentation: Remote Access — Resource Catalog

Quick Connect
 

RepairShopr

Type: PSA

RepairShopr is an all-in-one system that integrates tickets, CRM, invoices, and marketing into a platform designed for repair shops.
Related documentation: RepairShopr: Integration Guide and API Key

SentinelOne

Type: Antivirus

Also known as "S1", SentinelOne is a comprehensive enterprise security platform that provides threat detection, hunting, and response features that enable organizations to discover vulnerabilities and protect IT operations. You can review additional SentinelOne resources here. 
Related documentation: SentinelOne.

Splashtop

Type: Remote Access

Integrated, secure, one-click remote access solution.
Related documentation: Splashtop.

TeamViewer

Type: Remote Access

Integrated, secure, one-click remote access solution.
Related documentation: TeamViewer.

Webroot

Type: Antivirus

Integrated entry-level anti-malware solution. Deploy, alert, and remediate threats in NinjaOne.

• DNS Web Filtering Add-on
• Security Training Add-on

Related documentation: Webroot.