CASP+ Definitions: Air Gap
An air gap in terms of cybersecurity refers to the practice of physically isolating a computer or a network from unsecured networks such as the internet, other networks, or devices. This is done to prevent the possibility of unauthorized access or hacking attempts from malicious sources, as well as to prevent sensitive or critical data from being compromised or leaked.
Air gaps can be established by completely disconnecting a device or network from other networks, or by using special hardware devices to establish a one-way communication channel between networks, allowing data to flow in one direction but preventing any data from being sent back. Air-gapped systems are commonly used in critical infrastructure such as military, financial, or medical systems, where the security of data and systems is of utmost importance. However, it should be noted that air-gapped systems are not foolproof and can still be vulnerable to attacks, especially if physical access to the system is obtained.
