What Is an Air Gap?
An air gap is a security measure used to protect computer networks from unauthorized access. It involves physically separating the network from any other external or untrusted networks, such as the Internet. This means that data stored on the internal network cannot be accessed by anyone outside of it without physical access to the system itself. The air gap also prevents malicious software and viruses from entering into an organization’s systems through online connections, making it one of the most effective ways to secure sensitive information.
The concept behind an air gap is simple: if there are no connections between two computers or networks, then they can’t communicate with each other in any way. However, this does not mean that all communication must cease; instead, authorized personnel may use removable media (such as USB drives) to transfer files between machines within an isolated environment. Additionally, some organizations have implemented wireless technologies which allow for limited communication across their air gaps while still maintaining a high level of security.