Capterra Glossary
Operating System
An operating system (OS) is the software that manages all of a computer or device resources, including hardware and programs. The OS controls the stream of information that goes to and from the main processor and allows users to communicate with their device without having to learn code or a computer or programming language. Once an OS has been loaded on a device, it can access, coordinate, and run that device's software and hardware, as well as access its storage and memory.
What Small and Midsize Businesses Need to Know About Operating System
While computers and devices are typically pre-loaded with an OS, some business owners prefer to upgrade to an OS designed to meet their industry’s specific needs. Business owners should choose an OS that is user friendly, provides the necessary level of technical support, is updated regularly, and is stable (doesn't routinely crash).
Related Terms
- Synchronous
- Software as a Service (SaaS)
- Intranet
- Security Orchestration, Automation and Response (SOAR)
- Identity and Access Management (IAM)
- Managed Service Provider (MSP)
- Haptics
- WAN (Wide-Area Network)
- Service-oriented Architecture (SOA)
- Augmented Reality (AR)
- Chief Information Officer (CIO)
- Security Information and Event Management (SIEM)
- Platform as a Service (PaaS)
- Service-Level Agreement (SLA)
- Scalability
- Data Center
- Authorization
- Multitenancy