SHA
Abbreviation with 2 meanings
| Stands for | Secure Hash Algorithm |
|---|---|
| Meanings | 2 |
| Categories | Technology & Computing, Law & Legal |
SHA has two meanings. It stands for Secure Hash Algorithm (cybersecurity) or Shareholders' agreement (contract).
Meanings of SHA at a glance
| # | SHA stands for | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Secure Hash Algorithm | Technology & Computing › Cybersecurity |
| 2 | Shareholders' agreement | Law & Legal › Contract |
1. Secure Hash Algorithm
Technology & Computing · Cybersecurity Abbreviations
A family of cryptographic hash functions published by NIST that turn any input into a fixed-length fingerprint. SHA-1, the SHA-2 family (including SHA-256 and SHA-512) and SHA-3 are used for certificates, file integrity, password schemes and blockchains.
Example: The download page lists a SHA checksum so you can confirm the installer wasn't tampered with.
SHA-0 (1993) and SHA-1 (1995) were designed by the NSA. SHA-1 was broken in practice when Google and CWI Amsterdam produced a collision in 2017, by which time browsers had stopped trusting SHA-1 certificates. SHA-3, based on the Keccak algorithm, was standardized in 2015 after a public competition. Git historically names commits by SHA-1 hashes and is adding SHA-256 support.
2. Shareholders' agreement
Law & Legal · Contract Abbreviations
Contract among some or all shareholders of a company, often joined by the company itself, governing share transfers, board appointments, voting arrangements, minority protections, dividend policy and exits. It is especially common in private companies, startups and joint ventures.
Example: The SHA gives the investor a board seat and a veto over any new share issue.
Typical clauses include rights of first refusal, tag-along and drag-along rights, pre-emption rights on new shares, and good-leaver and bad-leaver provisions for departing founders. Unlike articles of association or bylaws, an SHA is a private contract that need not be filed publicly. The abbreviation is more common in British and international practice than in the United States.
Related abbreviations
More cybersecurity abbreviations
- SASE – Secure access service edge
- SAST – Static application security testing
- SBOM – Software bill of materials
- SCA – Software composition analysis
- SHA-256 – Secure Hash Algorithm 256-bit
- SIEM – Security information and event management
- SOAR – Security orchestration, automation and response
- SOC – Security operations center
See all 119 cybersecurity abbreviations →
More contract abbreviations
- ROFR – Right of first refusal
- RWI – Representations and warranties insurance
- SAFE – Simple agreement for future equity
- SCCs – Standard contractual clauses
- SLA – Service-level agreement
- SNDA – Subordination, non-disturbance and attornment agreement
- SOW – Statement of work
- SPA – Stock purchase agreement
See all 57 contract abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not legal advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.