Air Gap

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Discussion

An Air Gap separates systems, networks, or operating environments by preventing direct electronic communication across a defined boundary.

The separation protects a Disconnected Environment from external networks and limits the paths through which information, software, dependencies, updates, or commands enter or leave the environment.

An Air Gap represents a controlled communication boundary rather than an absence of all information transfer. Organizations transfer information across the boundary through approved physical media, transfer devices, gateways, review processes, or other controlled mechanisms.

The effectiveness of an Air Gap depends on the technical controls, physical controls, operating procedures, personnel responsibilities, and transfer processes applied at the boundary.

Definition

controlled separation that prevents direct electronic communication between systems, networks, or operating environments

Source

Generalised from cybersecurity, network-isolation, high-assurance systems, and disconnected-operations usage and specialized for the Crucible architecture and operational model.

Note

An Air Gap identifies the separation between environments. An Air-Gapped Environment identifies an environment isolated through that separation.

A controlled transfer across an Air Gap does not remove the Air Gap when the transfer process preserves the defined separation and governance controls.

Example

A connected build environment exports an approved transfer bundle to controlled media. Personnel inspect and transfer the media across an Air Gap before importing the bundle into a disconnected enclave.

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