Protecting OT Networks – Data diodes vs firewalls

Enabling industrial IoT and digitalization

More about data diodes

Enabling industrial IoT and digitalization

More about data diodes

The bar for network security is rising

Whether it be the transportation, manufacturing, energy or healthcare sector: The growing digitalization of critical infrastructure with an increasing number of IoT devices is raising the bar for network security. For many years, one of the most common components in the first line of defense of OT and IT networks were software firewalls. But as times change, security requirements change too. Considering the ever-increasing connectivity and rapidly increasing cyberattacks, firewalls are no longer the only go-to cybersecurity option. Today, the development and use of data diodes is setting a new benchmark in network security technology, aiming to mitigate the increasing cybersecurity risk that critical infrastructures are facing in the digital age.

Download the whitepaper about the differences between data diodes and firewalls

Data diode vs firewall

Data diodes and firewalls serve distinct cybersecurity functions. Firewalls monitor and manage incoming and outgoing network traffic, acting as a protective barrier. Data diodes enable data to flow in only one direction, ensuring one-way communication. Data diodes are ideal for highly secure environments where strict data control is paramount, while firewalls offer versatile network protection for various scenarios.
Data-diode-data-security-with-unidirectional-security-gateway

More information about data diodes

Basically a data diode is hardware device that is placed between two or more networks and makes sure that information or “data” can only travel in one direction. Because of that it is often linked to "unidirectional security gateway" or "unidirectional network" as a more descriptive naming.

Because of the extreme high security standard data diodes are often found in indusries like nuclear power plants, power generation and safety critical systems like railway networks or military and government environments.

Since we are living in an increasingly digital world and a growing threat of cyberattacks every company has the duty to secure their data with an optimal solution.

Learn more