Memory Mnemonics

Quick memory aids for IT and cybersecurity concepts – use them to lock in key ideas.

🌐 IT OSI Model (Bottom to Top)

Please Do Not Throw Sausage Pizza Away

Physical, Data Link, Network, Transport, Session, Presentation, Application.

💻 IT

🌐 IT OSI Model (Top to Bottom)

All People Seem To Need Data Processing

Application, Presentation, Session, Transport, Network, Data Link, Physical.

💻 IT

🌐 IT Troubleshooting Steps

The Customer Really Needs Service

Trace (Identify), Confirm (Reproduce), Really (Narrow down), Needs (Root Cause), Service (Solve/Implement).

💻 IT

🌐 IT T568B Cable Pairs

Blue, Orange, Green, Brown (BOGB - Remember 'BOG' flowers).

Pair 1: Blue, Pair 2: Orange, Pair 3: Green, Pair 4: Brown. (Pinout: White-Orange, Orange, White-Green, Blue, White-Blue, Green, White-Brown, Brown).

💻 IT

💬 Soft Skill Active Listening (HEARD)

Hear, Empathize, Apologize, Resolve, Diagnose

Use HEARD when a user is upset – listen fully, show empathy, apologise for the issue, fix it (or give a plan), and document to prevent future occurrences.

🤝 Soft Skills

💬 Soft Skill De-escalation (CALM)

Calm, Acknowledge, Listen, Move forward

Stay Calm, Acknowledge their feelings, Listen without interrupting, then Move forward to a solution.

🤝 Soft Skills

🛡️ Cyber CIA Triad

Can I Ask?

Confidentiality, Integrity, Availability – the three core security goals.

🔐 Cybersecurity

🛡️ Cyber NIST CSF Functions

I Promise Donuts Really Rock

Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond, Recover.

🔐 Cybersecurity

🛡️ Cyber Incident Response Steps (SANS)

Please Don't Eat Raw Carrots

Preparation, Detection & Analysis, Containment & Eradication, Recovery, Post-Incident (less commonly: Lessons Learned).

🔐 Cybersecurity