What Are Air-Gapped Information Technology Systems?

In today's world, where cyber threats are increasingly sophisticated, it's crucial to protect our sensitive data. One of the most secure methods of safeguarding critical information is the use of air-gapped systems.

But what exactly are these systems, and why are they important? Let's have a closer look.

Who Should Be Concerned?

Air-gapped systems are designed for organizations and institutions that handle highly sensitive data, such as:

• Governments
• Hospitals
• Medical Centers (including your local doctor's office)
• Financial Institutions
• Critical Infrastructure (such as power plants, defense facilities...)
• Even you, at home with your private photos or videos

These organizations (and individuals) must take extra measures to ensure their data remains secure and inaccessible to outside threats.

What Are Air-Gapped Systems?

An air-gapped system is a computer or network that is physically isolated from any other network, including the Internet. This isolation is achieved by ensuring no physical or wireless connection exists - meaning no cables, Wi-Fi, or Bluetooth connections are present. As a result, air-gapped systems are considered one of the most secure setups because they prevent data from being accessed or leaked through external networks.

Of course, additional measures should be in place, but I won’t go into detail here for two reasons:

1. To avoid making this article too long
2. Because these details are highly technical.

Air-gapped systems are often used in environments where extreme security is a priority. Examples include military operations, government agencies, and healthcare systems (such as standalone critical systems designed to keep patients in survival mode). The goal is to protect critical data, such as classified information or patient records, from cyberattacks or unauthorized access.

How Do Air-Gapped Systems Work?

Since air-gapped systems are disconnected from the Internet, any data transfers to or from them must be done manually. This is typically carried out through physical media, such as USB drives, external hard drives, or DVDs. While this manual process increases security, it also requires strict protocols to ensure no malicious files are introduced into the system.

Can Air-Gapped Systems Be Compromised?

While air-gapped systems are highly secure, they are not completely immune to attack. There have been cases where these systems were compromised, as I mentioned in one of my previous posts: European govt air-gapped systems breached using custom malware, despite not being connected to the Internet.

One common method of attack is through infected USB drives or other physical media. Hackers can load malware onto a USB drive, which is then unknowingly inserted into the air-gapped system during routine updates or data transfers.

For example, I learned this lesson early in my career as a freelancer. Over well 20 years ago, I bought my first 256 KB USB drive to transfer a small update from a well-known accounting software manufacturer. However, the update was infected with a virus. My client, who wasn’t even connected to the Internet at the time, was hit with a virus that displayed annoying pornographic images. Fortunately, the client had regularly backed up their data - something I had strongly recommended.

This experience taught me the importance of one-way USB drives for handling sensitive data. At the time, they were expensive but necessary to protect against data breaches. Today, however, USB drives are much cheaper, making it easier for companies to adopt safer practices.

Lessons Learned

The key takeaway here is that while air-gapped systems are an excellent way to secure critical data, human error, and unsafe practices can still lead to vulnerabilities. Ensuring that only trusted, secure physical media is used, and maintaining robust backup systems are essential steps for organizations dealing with sensitive information.

In conclusion, whether you're a government agency, healthcare provider, or financial institution, understanding and implementing air-gapped systems can provide an additional layer of security against modern cyber threats. However, like any security measure, it must be managed carefully to remain effective.

#CyberSecurity #DataProtection #ITSecurity #AirGappedSystems #Infosec #CyberAttacks