(1) A device that converts measurable elements of a physical process into data that is meaningful to a computer.
(2) Software that monitors security networks, applications, or systems for security-related information, possibly indicative of suspicious activity.
(3) An interface that exposes information about the state and state transitions of a managed resource. A sensor is used to retrieve data from a managed resource, whereas an effector is used to alter data in a managed resource. See also managed resource, effector, externalised data value, manageability interface, touchpoint.
(4) A programme that reads information from a managed software system to create configuration information.