Air Gap is a technology that is used to prevent a computer from accidentally connecting to the Internet or an unprotected network. It is a non-networked computer or peripheral device that is not connected to any other network. The air gap is intended to isolate the computer or device from any external source of infection, and in some cases it can be used to isolate a computer from any other user, such as a malicious personnel.
The idea of an air gap was first introduced in 1971 by IBM researcher J. T. Heuer, as a way to maintain the security of data stored, used, and transported within computer systems. Since that time, the concept has been widely adopted by other organizations and is commonly found in computer networks and computer security.
The main purpose of the air gap is to prevent the spread of computer viruses and other malicious software. With an air gap set up, an infected computer can not spread its malicious code to other computers on the network. It also helps to reduce the risk of remote access to confidential data, as it eliminates the potential communication between the protected computer and any persons outside the organization.
An air gap is typically established by using physical means such as installing a firewall. Other methods, including the use of even more secure physical or environmental barriers, such as data diode, are used in military environments to ensure greater security.
In recent years, however, the use of the air gap has become less important due to the advent of advances in wireless technology and the evolution of modern computer networks. Several new security measures such as endpoint protection, application whitelists, and application control have been implemented to counter the threats posed by malicious software. The air gap still plays an important role in protecting highly secure systems, however, as it provides an additional layer of security against unexpected threats.
