Tech Jargon Translated: What Your IT Provider Isn’t Explaining Clearly

Have you ever sat through an IT meeting feeling completely lost? Your provider throws around terms like “latency issues”, “SLA compliance”, or “zero-trust architecture”, while you nod along, hoping it all makes sense later.

The truth is, many IT providers hide behind jargon either because they don’t know how to explain things simply or because they want to appear more knowledgeable than they are. Either way, it leaves you, the business owner, in the dark about decisions that affect your operations and budget.

In this post, we’ll:
 Decode the most confusing IT jargon in plain English
 Explain why these terms matter to your business
Give you questions to ask your provider so you get clear answers

Let’s cut through the tech speak and get to what really matters.

“Cloud Migration” – What It Really Means for Your Business

What They Say:

“We recommend migrating your infrastructure to the cloud for better scalability and redundancy.”

What It Actually Means:

Moving your business data and applications from your office computers/servers to internet-based storage (like Google Drive or Microsoft Azure).

Why It Matters:

• Pros: Access files from anywhere, no need for expensive servers, automatic backups.
• Cons: Monthly fees, requires good internet, security depends on the provider.

What to Ask Your Provider:

• “Which cloud provider do you recommend (Google, Microsoft, AWS) and why?”
• “How will you ensure our data is secure during the move?”
• “What’s the actual cost after the first year?”

“Cybersecurity Framework” – Not Just a Buzzword

What They Say:

“Your business needs a NIST-compliant cybersecurity framework to mitigate attack vectors.”

What It Actually Means:

A set of guidelines to protect your business from hackers. Think of it like a security checklist:
✔ Strong passwords
✔ Regular software updates
✔ Employee training

Why It Matters:

• 60% of small businesses close within 6 months of a cyberattack.
• Simple fixes (like two-factor authentication) block 99% of automated attacks.

What to Ask Your Provider:

• “Which specific threats does this protect against?”
• “How much time will my team spend on security training?”
• “Can we start with just the critical protections first?”

“SLA (Service Level Agreement)” – The Fine Print That Costs You

What They Say:

“Our SLA guarantees 99.9% uptime with a 4-hour response window.”*

What It Actually Means:

• 99.9% uptime = Your systems can be down for up to 8.76 hours/year without compensation.
• 4-hour response = They’ll reply in 4 hours (not fix the problem in 4 hours).

Why It Matters:

• A 1-hour outage could cost you thousands in lost sales.
• Many SLAs have loopholes (e.g., “excludes scheduled maintenance”).

What to Ask Your Provider:

• “What exactly counts as ‘downtime’?”
• “How do you compensate us if you miss these targets?”
• “Can we see examples of past outages and how you handled them?”

“Digital Transformation” – More Than Just New Software

What They Say:

“You need a digital transformation strategy to future-proof your business.”

What It Actually Means:

Using technology to improve how your business operates—not just buying new tools, but changing workflows.

Key Components:

• Automation (e.g., invoices that generate themselves)
• Data-driven decisions (e.g., tracking which products sell best)
• Customer experience (e.g., online booking instead of phone calls)

What to Ask Your Provider:

• “Which processes will this actually change?”
• “How will you train our team to adapt?”
• “What’s the ROI timeline?”

“Scalability” – Will Your Systems Grow With You?

What They Say:

“Our solution is highly scalable to accommodate your growth.”

What It Actually Means:

• Can your systems handle more users/data without crashing?
• Will costs skyrocket as you expand?

Why It Matters:

• A “scalable” e-commerce site should handle 10x more traffic during sales.
• Some providers charge per user—so adding staff gets expensive fast.

What to Ask Your Provider:

• “Show me pricing for 2x our current size.”
• “What’s the maximum capacity before we need to upgrade?”
• “Can we test this under peak load?”

How to Deal with Jargon-Heavy IT Providers

1. Ask for Plain English Explanations
   • “Can you explain that without technical terms?”
2. Request Real-World Examples
   • “How have you implemented this for similar businesses?”
3. Get Everything in Writing
   • Avoid vague promises like “optimised performance.”

For more tech translations, visit TargetICT.co.uk . Also listen to Tech Your Business Podcast for expert breakdowns