Application Programming Interface (API)

An ‘Application Programming Interface’ is a set of rules that defines how to make different software and/or hardware communicate with each other. System developers define specific “calls”, or requests made to a system, how the system deals with them, and what conventions the user of the API should follow for effective deployment.

Brand Asset Management (BAM)

Brand Asset Management systems is a DAM on steroids. In addition to storing digital assets, Brand Asset Management platforms help marketers not only explain their brand guidelines, but are also able to approve creative that is submitted, to verify it is on brand.

Content Delivery Network (CDN)

CDNs, or Content Delivery Networks, are specialized networks built to efficiently distribute large content loads. They utilize multiple Points of Presence (PoPs) that are geographically spread out to replicate content across the network, ensuring fast download speeds.

Content Management System (CMS)

‘Content Management System’ is a platform that can help prepare, optimize, and publish content to locations on the web. A CMS will often connect to a primary media repository such as a DAM to access the media necessary for editing and publication.

Digital Asset Management (DAM)

A ‘Digital Asset Management' system is a platform for storing, cataloging, searching, and sharing digital assets of any kind. Systems can read technical information from files as well as be tagged with descriptive information by users. Often used synonymously with “MAM”.

Digital Rights Management (DRM)

The protection of digital intellectual property. This can include the use of technology to prevent illegal copying, or the layers of control applied to media to stratify who has permissions to access and use materials.

Enterprise Content Management (ECM)

An ‘Enterprise Content Management' system is for managing and storing content across the enterprise. Content can include Word documents, PDFs, emails, and scanned images. Content is accessible by employees and business stakeholders, with the ability to deliver information from the ECM to customers.

Extensible Metadata Platform (XMP)

XMP, or Extensible Metadata Platform, is a standard developed by Adobe for embedding metadata directly into digital files, facilitating easier management and sharing of information such as authorship, copyright details, keywords, and descriptions across different software platforms.

Independent Software Vendor (ISV)

A company or entity that develops and sells software products that can run on various platforms, such as physical hardware, virtual machines, or in the cloud. ISVs typically focus on creating software solutions that address specific needs or provide specialized functionality.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Measurable values that demonstrate the effectiveness of achieving key strategic objectives. For example, speeding up the time it takes to locate specific assets by X% will save Y hours over a year or tracking the number of times files are downloaded suggesting reuse rather than reshoots.

Media Asset Management (MAM)

A ‘Media Asset Management’ system is a subset of DAM with under-the-hood optimizations for working better with media, usually with a focus on video workflows. Systems can read technical information from files as well as be tagged with descriptive information by users. Often used synonymously with “DAM”.

Product Information Management (PIM)

‘Product Information Management' systems are designed to handle all the information (media, distribution, technical, legal) that help market and sell products. PIMs typically are geared towards data management rather than tracking large media assets and might interface with a DAM to access master files.

Production Asset Management (PAM)

‘Production Asset Management’ systems are designed with content production in mind, such as film, animation, or video games. They are able to track workflow and revisions during the creation and editing process, but not generally for long-term archive or searching across a large catalog.

Software as a Service (SaaS)

‘Software as a Service’ is a term that is sometimes used interchangeably with Cloud. SaaS is a software subscription model, where users subscribe to a license for software that is centrally hosted by the vendor rather than at the client’s location. This minimizes the need for local servers or IT resources, but can raise different security issues since the storage of data is external.

Video Asset Management (VAM)

A ‘Video Asset Management' system is a platform for storing, organizing, cataloging, and accessing large volumes of digital video content. A dedicated "VAM" provides central video storage with access by team members for video projects.

Virtual Machine (VM)

Virtual machines are a way of using software to run multiple concurrent and contained operating system instances on a single piece of hardware.