This glossary contains a list of terms, abbreviations, and acronyms frequently used when discussing networks, security, firewalls, and WatchGuard products.

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V

validation

The act of examining information provided by a person (or a system) to ascertain what rights, privileges, or permissions they may (or may not) have to perform some action. For example, when you attempt to charge a purchase at a retail store to a credit card, the cashier validates your identity by examining your identification and comparing your signature on the receipt with the signature on the credit card.

verification

In cryptography, the act of testing the authenticity of a digital signature by performing special mathematical operations on data provided by a sender, to see if it matches an expected result. If the information provided by the sender yields the expected result, the signature is valid, because calculating the proper answer requires secret data known only by the sender. Verification proves that the information was actually sent by the signer and that the message has not been subsequently altered by anyone else.
See also asymmetric key and digital signature.

VPN (Virtual Private Network)

A means of having the security benefits of a private, dedicated, leased-line network, without the cost of actually owning one. VPN uses cryptography to scramble data so it's unreadable while traveling over the Internet, thus providing privacy over public lines. Companies with branch offices commonly use VPNs to connect multiple locations. For more information, see WatchGuard's white paper, "Straight Talk about VPN."
See also tunnel.

Vulnerability Assessment

Vulnerability Assessment is the process of identifying network and device vulnerabilities before hackers can exploit the security holes. QualysGuard is a Managed Vulnerability Assessment Web service solution to audit networks. QualysGuard is a continuous preventive process to:

• Detect network and system vulnerabilities.
• Deliver near-instantaneous email alerts summarizing discovered vulnerabilities and trends.
• Prioritize the severity of each vulnerability on an industry-standard scale, from "watch" to "urgent", so administrators can readily determine where to deploy their security specialists for fixes.
• Recommend and make direct links to verified remedies for each vulnerability.
• Produce trend analysis in graphical form, with granular detail appropriate for both security specialists and non-technical management to track vulnerabilities over time.

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