What is air gap?


Air gaps are used in security to isolate sensitive systems from external networks, making it much harder for attackers to gain access to them. In this article, we'll discuss the different ways you can use an air gap to improve your security posture.

An air gap is a physical separation between two systems that are not intended to be physically connected. This separation ensures that there is no direct path for contaminants to flow between the two systems. Air gaps are commonly used in plumbing and HVAC systems to prevent backsiphonage or backflow of contaminated water into the potable water supply.

How does an air gap work?

The importance of air gapping in backup and recovery cannot be overstated. For example, 3−2−1 backups include three copies per backup. In contrast, two copies of the data can be kept on the same network, while the third copy must be air−gapped and stored elsewhere. The air−gapped copy can be used to restore data even if the network is attacked and the first two copies are compromised.

Benefits of an air gap

Air gaps have many benefits. They help to reduce noise pollution, improve energy efficiency, and prevent the spread of fire. They also help to keep dust and dirt out of areas where they are not wanted. Another use of an air gap is to block the flow of liquid or gas. This can be done by putting a space between two pipes or other objects. This can help to prevent leaks and other problems. One common use of an air gap is in electrical wiring. An air gap between two wires prevents an electrical current from flowing between them. This can help to prevent short circuits and other problems.

Drawbacks of an air gap

While an air gap may seem like the perfect way to protect your computer from being infected with malware, there are some drawbacks to using this method. First, if you are not careful, it is possible to accidentally introduce malware onto your computer by using an infected USB drive or other removable media. Second, an air gap can be difficult to maintain, especially if you frequently need to connect your computer to the internet or other networks. Finally, if you are not using a physical firewall, your computer is still vulnerable to attacks from the outside world.

Updated on: 02-Dec-2022

212 Views

Kickstart Your Career

Get certified by completing the course

Get Started
Advertisements