- What Is Data Diode Technology & How Does It Work?
A data diode is a communication device that enables the safe, one-way transfer of data between segmented networks. Intelligent data diode design maintains physical and electrical separation of source and destination networks, establishing a non-
routable,
completely closed one-way data transfer protocol between networks. Intelligent data diodes
effectively eliminate external points of entry to the sending system, preventing intruders and contagious elements from infiltrating the network. Securing all of a network’s data outflow with data diodes makes it impossible for an insecure or hostile network to pass along
malware, access your system, or accidentally make harmful changes.
A data diode also creates a physical barrier or “air gap” between the two points. This one-way connection prevents data leakage, eliminates the threat of malware, and fully protects the process control network.
Moreover, a single data diode can handle data transfers from multiple servers or devices simultaneously, without bottlenecking.
https://owlcyberdefense.com/what-is-data-diode-technology-how-does-it-work
In order to protect highly sensitive data and networks, such as military networks and critical infrastructure control systems, the most commonly used security measure is
to completely disconnect the system from other networks. These disconnected networks
are also called isolated or air-
gapped networks
.This has been the use case for critical infrastructure and SCADA systems
as well as military networks, but is becoming more and more problematic as the need to import and export data from the isolated networks is increasing. The manual transfer of data not only generates a security risk but also a huge
work load, and is prone to human error.
we call the sending server the 'pitcher' and the receiving server the 'catcher'. No data can
be transported from the receiving network to the transmitting network (
i.e from the catcher back to the pitcher); since the data diode has a single fiber-optic cable, it is impossible to reverse transmissions due to the basic laws of physics (no covert channel is possible).
https://www.opswat.com/blog/why-data-diodes-are-essential-isolated-and-classified-networks
Due to the use of fiber optics the data transfer speed keeps to the highest
possible making Data Diode the preferred solution for real-time applications.
It can also be used in any ethernet application using fiber or copper connectivity.
– No physical risk of sending data in wrong or false direction
– Sending video streams from sensitive video equipment / cameras
– Time synchronization in secure networks
– Sending/receiving alerts or alarms
– Ethernet based, UDP support (
Syslog, NTP, SNMP traps)
https://www.fibersystem.com/data-diodes/
SDN-Enabled Virtual Data Diode
