96 StorageSync User’s Guide
This appendix defines the technical terms in this User’s Guide.
Term Definition
Advanced Encryption
Standard (AES)
A symmetric 128-bit block data-encryption technique that protects
electronic data by encrypting (enciphering) and decrypting
(deciphering) data.
Encryption converts data to an unintelligible form called
ciphertext.
Decrypting the ciphertext converts the data back into its original
form, called plaintext.
AES works at multiple network layers simultaneously. AES can use
cryptographic keys of 128, 192, and 256 bits to encrypt and decrypt
data in blocks of 128 bits.
The U.S government adopted AES as its encryption technique in
October 2000, replacing the DES encryption it used. The National
Institute of Standards and Technology of the U.S. Department of
Commerce selected the algorithm, called Rijndael (pronounced “Rine
Dale”), out of a group of five algorithms.
Compression Storing data in a format that requires less space than usual.
Data backup The process of backing copying files from your computer to backup
media.
Encryption The translation of data into a secret code. Encryption is the most
effective way to achieve data security. Encrypted data is referred to
as “cipher text.”
Extension Letters at the end of a filename. Filename extensions usually follow a
period (dot) and indicate the type of information stored in the file.
For example, in the filename STORAGESYNC.EXE, the extension is
EXE, which indicates that the file is in a format that the computer can
execute directly.
Full backup The process of backing up all files that have been selected.
Incremental backup The process of backing up only files that have changed since the most
recent full backup.
Synchronization The process of comparing the last write time and file size of files in a
select source folder with files in the select target folder and taking a
specific action. Files on the target are updated to match the files on