Air Gap

The concept of “air gap” is a security measure implemented to protect data from infection or corruption by making it inaccessible. This approach is commonly used in the IT industry by creating a duplicate copy of production data on a secondary storage system that is offline and not connected to any production or public networks. By maintaining this gap, the additional data copy remains safeguarded from attacks and corruption.

Air gap data serves as an additional layer of protection for organizations and is often utilized as a final backup option. It complements existing backup, recovery, and disaster recovery strategies, providing an added level of security. In the event of a major attack or data breach, the air gap enables quick recovery, ensuring that the data remains intact and unaffected.

It is crucial to understand that implementing an air gap strategy can incur higher costs. Vendors often recommend investing in separate hardware for production and the air gap, which can result in increased expenses. As a result, the adoption of traditional hardware air gap strategies has been limited in some cases.

There are various types of air gaps that organizations can utilize, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. These include:

What are Array-based Air Gaps?

Array-based air gaps involve creating a duplicate copy of production data on a separate storage array or system. This secondary array is not connected to any production networks, preventing unauthorized access or potential malware attacks. In the event of a security breach, the array-based air gap allows for easy recovery and restoration of the data.

For example, a financial institution may use an array-based air gap to store sensitive customer data, such as account information and transaction history. By keeping this data isolated from the production network, the institution can ensure the integrity and availability of the information, even if the main system is compromised.

What are Backup-based Air Gaps?

Backup-based air gaps involve creating periodic backups of production data and storing them offline in a secure location. These backups are typically stored on tapes, external hard drives, or other removable storage media. By keeping the backups disconnected from the network, organizations can protect the data from cyber threats.

For instance, a healthcare facility may implement a backup-based air gap strategy to protect patient medical records. Regular backups are created and stored in a separate location, ensuring that the data is safe from ransomware attacks or other malicious activities. In the event of data loss or corruption, the facility can restore the information from the offline backups.

What are Object-based Air Gaps?

Object-based air gaps involve isolating individual objects or files from the network to prevent unauthorized access or corruption. This approach is commonly used in cloud storage systems, where specific files or objects are marked as “read-only” or stored in a separate, isolated storage environment.

For example, a company using a cloud storage service may have certain confidential documents or intellectual property that needs an extra layer of protection. By applying an object-based air gap, these files can be stored separately in a restricted-access storage area, reducing the risk of unauthorized changes or exposure.

In recent years, the concept of air gap has also been applied in the field of blockchain technology. Blockchain networks operate on the principle of decentralization and use cryptographic algorithms to secure data. However, even in a decentralized network, air gaps can still be useful in certain scenarios.

For example, a blockchain network may have a private or permissioned chain that requires additional security measures. In such cases, organizations can implement air gaps by storing a duplicate copy of the private chain’s data in an offline system. This ensures that the sensitive data remains protected and separate from the network, reducing the risk of unauthorized access or tampering.

Overall, the concept of air gap serves as a valuable security measure for protecting data in various industries. While it may come with additional costs, the benefits of maintaining an air gap, such as improved data integrity and quick recovery, make it a worthwhile investment for organizations seeking robust data protection.