An air gap is a security measure usually taken for computers, computer systems or networks that need to be very secure. To have an air gap is to ensure that the given system is completely electromagnetically, electronically, and most importantly physically isolated from other networks, especially unsecured ones. There will be certain limitations imposed on the system or device like a total ban on wireless communications around it or preventing EM leakage by placing it inside a Faraday cage to block wireless transmissions. An air gap is also referred to as an air wall.
An air gap is the maximum protection a system can have from another device or system apart from actually turning it off. Two disconnected systems or devices are designated as "low side" and "high side" pertaining to the level of security - low being unclassified and high being classified. Moving data often requires it to be saved in some transportable medium. Moving data from low to high doesn't require much hassle. However, moving classified data from the higher security device to a low one will follow a strict procedure before the transfer can be performed because the data is classified.An air gap is usually implemented because a system or device's purpose is so important that it must never get compromised or risk disaster. The usual configuration is called a sneaker-net, where a person is required to use other means of data storage like flash drives or CDs in order to transfer data to and from the isolated device rather than simply moving data across shared drives and networks. The term is derived from the idea of transfering data, a person must put on sneakers and walk. An example of systems that implement this type of security are nuclear power plant controls, military networks, computerized medical equipments and so on.
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