We work in a rapidly changing industry, and it can be difficult to keep up with preferred terminology and grammatical conventions when they change frequently. To help with this, we’ve put together the Terminology Library. Here, you can find our preferred spelling of common industry words and vendor names and products, alongside a few grammatical pointers.
advertisement (ad)
Use the full version in the first instance, subsequently the acronym.
add-on
Depends on context. Hyphenate if using as a synonym for plug-in.
always-on
Hyphenated.
Aruba
Must be written as ‘Aruba, a Hewlett Packard Enterprise company’ the first time you use the name. Subsequently, ‘Aruba.’
artifical intelligence
AI Sentence case. In formal copy, ‘artifical intelligence’ in the first instance, subsequent use ‘AI.’ In titles and less formal content, you can use ‘AI’ e.g., ‘AI-driven.’
application app
Use the full version in the first instance, subsequently the acronym.
as a Service
No hyphens. Capitalise the given service and the word ‘Service’, e.g., ‘Software as a Service.’
backup
One word.
best-in-class
Hyphenated.
big data
Sentence case.
blockchain
One word.
built-in
Hyphenated.
Cisco Meraki, Cisco Webex
Must reference Cisco products with the Cisco name in the first instance of all content. Can shorten to just Meraki or Webex after that. Logo: must always use the Cisco Partner logo.
cloud
Sentence case.
cloud-based
Hyphenated.
cloud computing
Sentence case.
cryptocoin
One word.
cryptocurrency
One word.
cyber attack
Two words.
cyber crime
Two words.
cyber criminal(s)
Two words.
cyber security
Two words.
cyber threat
Two words.
data centre
Two words.
day-to-day
Hyphenated.
Dell Technologies
Shortening to ‘DellTech’ is approved for social media only.
digital-first
Hyphenated.
downtime
One word.
eBook
Spelled with the ‘B’ capitalised.
endpoint
One word.
end-to-end
Hyphenated.
enterprise cloud
Sentence case.
enterprise mobility
Sentence case.
end user
Two words. No hyphens.
end of life
No hyphens.
end user device
No hyphens.
end user computing (EUC)
No hyphens. Spell out in the first instance, subsequent use can be ‘EUC.’
focused
One ‘s’
future-proof
Hyphenated.
HP
HP is split into two separate companies. What people call HPi internally we can write as HP or Hewlett-Packard (note the hyphen).
hyperscale
One word.
hands-on
Hyphenated.
hybrid cloud
Sentence case.
hybrid IT
Sentence case.
hyper-converged infrastructure (HCI)
Sentence case, hyphenated. Spell out in the first instance, subsequent use can be ‘HCI.’
Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE)
Goes by HPE or Hewlett Packard Enterprise.
internet
Sentence case.
just-in-time
e.g. Just-in-time delivery in supply chain.
license
Spelt with an s (when referring to software licensing)
Microsoft 365 (M365)
Spell out ‘Microsoft 365’ in the first instance. Subsequent use ‘M365.’
Microsoft 365 Copilot (M365 Copilot)
Microsoft 365 Copilot must include the Microsoft/M365 prefix when mentioned. Do not write ‘Copilot’ as a standalone word.
multi-vendor
Hyphenated.
multi-cloud
Hyphenated.
multi-factor authentication (MFA)
Hyphenated and sentence case. Use the full phrase in the first instance, subsequent use ‘MFA’.
next-generation (next-gen)
Hyphenated. In some cases, e.g., blog posts the less formal ‘next-gen’ can be used. In formal content, use next-generation in the first instance – subsequent use can be ‘next-gen.’
onboarding
One word.
off-premises
Hyphenated. Must be in plural form – ‘premises’, not ‘premise’.
off-site
Hyphenated.
on-site
Hyphenated.
on-premises
Hyphenated. Must be in plural form – ‘premises’, not ‘premise’.
on demand
Two words.
pre-agreed
Hyphenated.
plug in
Not hyphenated when referring to connecting an electrical device to a power outlet.
plug-in
Hyphenated when referring to a computer software that adds new functions to a host program.
private cloud
Sentence case.
public cloud
Sentence case.
proof of concept (POC)
Separate words. Spell out in the first instance, shorten to ‘POC’ for subsequent use.
Palo Alto Networks
Must include Networks in the first instance, can shorten to Palo Alto after that.
real-time
Hyphenated.
solution/s and services/servicing
Sentence case. Example: ‘Learn about our Licensing solutions.’
state-of-the-art
Hyphenated.
supply chain
Two words.
shadow IT
Sentence case (IT capitalised).
single sign-on (SSO)
Hyphenated. Can shorten to ‘SSO’ after first use.
software-defined storage
Hyphenated.
secure access service edge (SASE)
Sentence case, not hyphenated. Use the full phrase in the first instance, subsequent use ‘SASE.’
software-defined wide area network (SD-WAN)
Hyphenated and sentence case. Use the full phrase in the first instance, subsequent use ‘SD-WAN’.
team
Sentence case. Example: ‘The Marketing team. The IT team.’
touchscreen
One word.
two-factor authentication (2FA)
Hyphenated, sentence case. Use the full phrase in the first instance, subsequent use ‘2FA.’
up-to-date
Hyphenated.
VMware
Capitalise ‘VM’.
Wi-Fi
Hyphenated and capitalised.
world-leading
Hyphenated.
website
One word.
web page(s)
Two words.
white paper
Two words.
value-add
Hyphenated.
zero trust
Sentence case (as a concept). If in a product name, capitalise.
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