Cloud Computing — means a model, system or architecture for enabling on-demand network access to a pool of computing resources (e.g., networks, servers, databases, infrastructure, storage, applications, and services) that can be rapidly provisioned and released with minimal management effort or service provider interaction. This includes other commercial terms, such as on-demand self-service, broad network access, resource pooling, rapid elasticity, and measured service. Cloud computing can be packaged in a cloud deployment model or variations thereof. It also includes commercial offerings of cloud services: Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS), and Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS).
Computer — means a device that accepts digital data and manipulates the information based on a program or sequence of instructions for how data is to be processed.
Data and Information — All information or data stored in digital format, or as a printed product of data stored in digital format, including biometrics information, databases, digital images, documents, electronic mail, spreadsheets, tables and text files.
Hardware — All major items of equipment or their components associated with a computer system.
Information and Communication Technology (ICT) — as defined within Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act. Information technology and other equipment, systems, technologies, or processes, for which the principal function is the creation, manipulation, storage, display, receipt, or transmission of electronic data and information, as well as any associated content. Examples of ICT include, but are not limited to: computers and peripheral equipment; information kiosks and transaction machines; telecommunications equipment; customer premises equipment; multifunction office machines; software; applications; Web sites; videos; and, electronic documents.
Information Resources — the information technologies and the information they contain are collectively known as information resources. The nine categories of information resources are Data and Information; Hardware; Mail Processing Equipment (MPE); Media; Network Facilities; Postal Service Products and Services; Single-User Computer Equipment; Software; and Systems and Equipment.
Information Security — means the protection afforded to information and information resources to protect the integrity, confidentiality, and availability of Postal Service information and the interests of the Postal Service, suppliers and the public. Security measures, including personnel security, physical and environmental security, application security, hardware and software security, and network and communications security, may be applied to IT resources.
Information Technology (IT) — means all types and categories of computer, networking, and telecommunications systems (where voice and/ or data may be transmitted by cable, telephone, or wireless), and all associated hardware, firmware, software, and services. This includes emerging technologies that collect and transmit information such as wireless handheld data collection devices, information kiosks, electronic commerce services, distance learning systems, World Wide Web sites, multimedia, and office equipment such as fax machines and copiers. IT also includes IT and any equipment or interconnected system or subsystem of equipment that is used in the creation, conversion, or duplication of data or information. IT does not include any equipment that contains embedded technology that is used as an integral part of the product but the principal function of which is not the acquisition, storage, manipulation, management, movement, control, display, switching, interchange, transmission, or reception of data or information. For example, HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) equipment, such as thermostats or temperature control devices and medical equipment where IT is integral to its operation is not IT.
Infrastructure Tool Kit (ITK) — means the application which lists Postal Service-approved software that supports the development, deployment, and management of Postal Service applications.
Mail Processing Equipment (MPE) — means all computer-controlled equipment and networks used in processing, distributing, and transporting the mail.
Media — means devices or writing surfaces including, but not limited to, cloud-based machines or media, virtual or transient machines or media, magnetic tapes, optical disks, magnetic disks, memory chips, database, and printouts, onto which information is processed, recorded, stored, or printed within an information system.
Network Facilities — means all communications lines and associated interconnected communications equipment (e.g., firewalls, hubs, routers, switches, etc.).
Postal Service Data — means any data, software, input, information, document, electronic files, works, images, media, or machine-readable material, regardless of form or characteristics, including derivatives thereof, that is created, transmitted or obtained by or on behalf of the Postal Service in performance of a contract or in the course of official Postal Service business.
Postal Service-related Data — means any data, information, documents, electronic files, works, media, or machine readable material, regardless of form or characteristics, including derivatives thereof, which are created or obtained by the supplier through the storage, processing, or communication of Postal Service data. This does not include the supplier’s business records (e.g., financial records, legal records) or data such as operating procedures, software coding, or algorithms that are not uniquely applied to Postal Service data.
Single-User Computer Equipment — means all computers and their components used by individuals.
Software – means applications, applets, custom code, database management systems, HTML, macros, object and source code, operating systems, programs, scripts, the associated documentation and the related resources.
Systems and Equipment — means all multi-user computers and computer-controlled systems and their components.
