Auditor Glossary: Abbreviations and Acronyms
To understand the folder / file structure of Netwrix Auditor or to better communicate with Technical Support, it's important to know the acronyms and initialisms used in Netwrix Auditor.
Netwrix Auditor Collectors
ADA: Active Directory Auditing - In reference to the Active Directory Monitoring Plan
FSA: File Server Auditing - In reference to the Windows File Server Monitoring Plan
NAND: Netwrix Auditor for Network Devices - In reference to the Network Devices Monitoring Plan
NLA: Network Logon Activity - In reference to the Logon Activity Monitoring Plan
NOMBA: Non-Owner Mailbox Access – In reference to Exchange and Exchange Online Monitoring Plan
SP/SPO: SharePoint/SharePoint Online - In reference to the SharePoint/SharePoint Online Monitoring Plan
SQLA: SQL Auditing - In reference to the SQL Server Monitoring Plan
UAVR: User Activity Video Reporter/Recorder - In reference to the User Activity Monitoring Plan. This initialism is antiquated, since the release of Netwrix Auditor 9.8 allows administrators to audit User Activity without recording the screen.
VMA: VMWare Auditing - In reference to the VMWare Monitoring Plan
WSA: Windows Server Auditing - In reference to the Windows Server Monitoring Plan
PEN: Password Expitation Notifier - Netwrix Password Reset, a standalone Netwrix tool that checks which domain accounts or passwords are about to expire in the specified number of days and sends notifications to users
IUT: Inactive User Tracker - a standalone Netwrix tool that discovers inactive user and computer accounts
Netwrix Auditor Components
AIC: Access Reviews - Enables business owners to conduct resource and group reviews and recommend changes
API: Netwrix Integration API - Provides access to audit data collected by Netwrix Auditor through REST API endpoints
AR(s): Activity Record(s) – Format of changes in the audited infrastructure in Netwrix Auditor reports, search, and alerts
DCA/DPA: Data Processing Account/Data Collection Account - The account used to collect audited data
LTA: Long Term Archive - Long-term storage of activity records
MP: Monitoring Plan
NA: Netwrix Auditor
NDC: Netwrix Data Classification
STA: Short-term Archive - Location used for event processing
%PROGRAMDATA%: Hidden directory in which Netwrix logs and activity records are stored
Auxiliary Components
NOTE: The components below are not owned or developed by Netwrix.
SQL: SQL Server - Hosts databases used to stored and query audit data
SSMS: SQL Server Management Studio - Program used to interface with the SQL Server
SSRS: SQL Server Reporting Services - Generates reports using audit data in SQL databases
Windows Environment
Active Directory (AD): Microsoft's directory service for managing user and computer information within a network
Domain: A group of networked computers that share a common database and security policy within Active Directory
Domain Controller (DC): A server that manages security authentication requests, including logins and permissions within a Windows domain
Event Viewer: A Windows tool that provides a centralized view of various logs, including system, application, and security logs
File System: The structure and logic used to manage files on a computer. In Windows, common file systems include NTFS (New Technology File System) and FAT32.
Group Policy: A set of rules and configurations that can be applied to user and computer objects in Active Directory to manage their settings
PowerShell: A task-automation framework and scripting language developed by Microsoft for configuration management and automation
Registry: A hierarchical database used to store configuration settings and options on Microsoft Windows operating systems
Remote Desktop: A feature that allows a user to connect to a computer in another location as if they were sitting in front of it
Services: Programs or processes that run in the background and provide core functionality for the operating system
Task Manager: A system monitor and startup manager included with Windows that provides information about computer performance and running applications
Task Scheduler: A tool in Windows that enables users to schedule the launch of programs or scripts at pre-defined times
User Account Control (UAC): A security feature that helps prevent unauthorized changes to a computer by requiring administrators to confirm their actions
Windows Defender: Microsoft's built-in antivirus and anti-malware solution for Windows
Windows Firewall: A software-based firewall included with Windows that monitors and controls incoming and outgoing network traffic
Windows Registry Editor: A tool used to view and modify the Windows Registry
Windows Update: A service provided by Microsoft to keep Windows and other Microsoft software up-to-date with the latest security patches and updates