Connectivity glossary
Less jargon. More context.
A working reference for the terms you will encounter in a connectivity plan. Product names and contractual definitions vary, so confirm the details of each provider offer.
- Bandwidth
- The data-transfer capacity of a connection, commonly expressed in Mbps or Gbps. Capacity is different from latency and does not alone determine application performance.
- Business broadband
- An internet access service marketed for business use. Capacity commitments, sharing, support, and service levels vary by product and provider; review the specific offer.
- Demarcation point
- The agreed boundary between the provider service and customer-side infrastructure. Responsibilities beyond this point depend on the service agreement.
- Dedicated Internet Access (DIA)
- Internet access sold with specified dedicated or committed capacity and contractual service terms. Confirm the capacity, performance commitments, and exclusions for the product.
- Diversity
- Separation of network dependencies, such as physical routes, building entries, or equipment. Different provider names alone do not establish physical diversity.
- Failover
- A switch from a primary path or component to an alternative when a failure condition is detected. Transition time and application continuity depend on the design and configuration.
- Fixed wireless
- Connectivity delivered over a wireless link to a fixed location. Suitability depends on coverage, signal conditions, capacity, installation requirements, and provider qualification.
- Jitter
- Variation in packet delay over time. High jitter can affect real-time applications such as voice and video.
- Latency
- The time data takes to travel between points, often measured as round-trip delay in milliseconds. It is distinct from bandwidth.
- Packet loss
- Data packets failing to reach their destination. Its effect depends on the application, severity, and whether recovery or retransmission is possible.
- Secure Access Service Edge (SASE)
- An architectural approach combining wide-area networking with cloud-delivered security functions. Included capabilities and operating responsibilities vary by implementation.
- Software-defined WAN (SD-WAN)
- Technology for centrally managing and directing traffic across wide-area network connections using policies. It does not replace the underlying access services or guarantee their performance.
- Serviceability
- Whether a provider can supply a particular service at a specific location under defined conditions. Preliminary coverage information requires provider confirmation.
- Service-level agreement (SLA)
- Contractual service commitments, measurement rules, exclusions, and remedies. A service credit does not guarantee uninterrupted operation or compensate every business loss.
- Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS)
- Hosted communications services that can combine calling, messaging, meetings, and collaboration. Features, licensing, and connectivity requirements vary by provider.
- Wide-area network (WAN)
- A network connecting geographically separated locations or environments. A WAN can use different access technologies and public or private services.
Put the terms to work.
Use a planning guide to turn definitions into useful questions for your next provider conversation.