What does the term ‘air gap’ mean in cybersecurity and forensics?

The term ‘air gap’ in cybersecurity and forensics refers to a security measure that involves isolating a network from external connections, including the internet and other external networks. This method creates a physical barrier between the secure environment and potential threats, such as hackers or malware that may originate from the outside. Air-gapped systems are often used for highly sensitive data and critical infrastructure where the risk of intrusion needs to be minimized to the greatest extent possible.

By not having any direct network connections, air-gapped systems significantly lower the risk of unauthorized access or data breaches. This makes them particularly useful in environments that handle classified information or critical operational technologies, such as in military applications or secure financial systems.

In contrast, the other options focus on different aspects of cybersecurity. Network encryption deals with protecting data during transfer, data backups are about storing information for recovery purposes, and secure communication protocols are methods to establish secure connections. None of these encompass the unique definition of creating a physical isolation feature that an air gap specifically represents.