SPA – Single-Page Application

Modern Web Architecture and Security This was a new term for me as I started putting together my most recent study guide. SPA, which stands for Single-Page Application.  While it sounds like a simple website, an SPA represents a fundamental shift in how web applications function, bringing unique challenges to the world of information security.  Read More …

Cloud Formation Example

Imagine you’re a System Administrator tasked with setting up a new environment.  Traditionally, this involves a long checklist: log into the console, click through menus to create a VPC, spin up three VMs, configure storage, attach security groups, and set up a load balancer. If you need a second environment for testing, you have to do Read More …

Fine-Tuning an AI

We’ve talked about grounding (giving an AI a textbook to look at) and prompting (giving an AI clear instructions).  But sometimes, you don’t just want the AI to look at a book; you want the AI to become an expert in its bones.  This is called Fine-Tuning. Generalist vs. Specialist Think of a standard AI Read More …

IaC – Infrastructure as Code

The Recipe for Modern IT In the traditional world of IT, setting up a server was a craft.  A sysadmin would log in, click through menus, install packages, and tweak settings until everything worked.  I know, I did this job for much of my early career.  But much like a chef cooking a complex signature Read More …

OIDC – OpenID Connect

Adding Identity to the Authorization Layer In the journey through information security, you will frequently encounter OAuth 2.0. While OAuth is excellent at authorization, it was never actually designed for authentication. To solve this, OIDC, or OpenID Connect, was created.  Think of it this way: OAuth 2.0 is the key to a hotel room, while OIDC Read More …

OCF – Operating Cash Flow

In the technical world, we often distinguish between “allocated memory” and “active throughput.”  A system might have plenty of resources reserved, but if the data isn’t actually flowing through the pipes, the system just stalls.  In finance, Operating Cash Flow (OCF) is that throughput.  It is the actual cash moving into and out of the Read More …

PKCE – Proof Key for Code Exchange

Securing OAuth 2.0 for the Modern Web In the world of Information Security, acronyms often act as gatekeepers to critical concepts. One of the most vital for modern identity management is PKCE (pronounced “pixie”), which stands for Proof Key for Code Exchange.  If you are new to the field, you likely know that OAuth 2.0 Read More …

How to Talk to a Robot: A Guide to Prompting

If you think of an AI like a giant, digital brain, Prompting is simply the art of asking the right questions to get the best answers.  Again let’s think of the AI as the brilliant but literal intern.  If you give a vague instruction, you’ll get a vague result.  If you give clear, clever instructions, Read More …

FCF – Free Cash Flow

In the technical world, we often measure success through uptime, sprint velocity, or mitigation rates. However, as we all transition into a leadership role, the primary metric of success shifts toward value creation.  To speak the language of the C-suite, one term you must understand is Free Cash Flow (FCF).  Think of FCF as the Read More …