Air Gap

Air Gap: An air gap is a security measure used in IT for data protection, involving the creation of a duplicate copy of production data on a secondary storage system that is completely offline and not connected to any production or public networks. This method effectively isolates the backup data from potential cyber attacks, corruption, or contamination as it eliminates any direct or indirect network interfaces. The primary concept behind an air gap is that data, which cannot be accessed through network connections, remains safe from online threats. Air gaps are used as part of comprehensive backup, recovery, and disaster recovery strategies, providing an additional layer of security. There are three main types of air gaps: backup-based, object-based, and array-based. Each type offers a different method of creating this isolated data environment. However, implementing an air gap often involves higher costs, as it may require purchasing additional hardware for the duplicated storage system. Despite the cost, air gaps are considered a robust last line of defense for critical data protection in various IT scenarios.