Data Diodes

With over 40 years of experience, Fibersystem offers Data Diodes for security aware industries all over the world. The Data Diode is a hardware-based, one-way Ethernet connection between two networks. The Data Diode technology enables unidirectional transfer of data over fiber cable while providing galvanic separation between networks. Since this completely removes the danger of data running in a false direction, the customer is guaranteed that their data is transferred completely safely regardless of current network threats.

We strive to stay close to each customer, rapidly responding to developing needs. This, in combination with all products being developed here at Fibersystem, enables us to fine-tune each product to fit the customer’s specific needs and demands. The product will be customized regardless if it’s a 1Gb data diode, a 100Mbit data diode or a card module that your industry is in need of. The data diodes are ideal for classified and military networks of all sorts, guaranteeing an absolute network isolation.

How does Data Diodes work?

In practice a Data Diode is a component that disables the flow of data in the “wrong” direction, giving just a flow in the desired direction. In electronics a diode is a rectifier that rectifies alternating current to direct current. A Data Diode does the same – except that it goes for Data. Hence the concept of Data Diode.

In the most simple example, by just cutting one of the copper-leaders in a copper-cable would make a Data Diode. But still the cables are inside the same plug and using the same ground lead and thereby not galvanically separated. The risk of leakage is present.

By using fiber optics the leakage can be eliminated and that is why the concept of Data Diodes implies the use of fiber optics.

The advantages of Fibersystem’s Data Diode

The advantages by using Data Diode is the ability to galvanically separate between information security zones. It also gives the possibility to handle multiple levels of security zones. 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)

Network separation with data diodes

Network separation is probably one of the most common uses of data diodes and it is also the most straight-forward example. Consider two different information security zones with different levels of security. Assume one zone handles only Open information and the other handles up to Secret information.

The Open system could be a data collection service; it doesn’t contain any information which isn’t available to the public. The data itself can however be correlated either with itself or with other sets of data, and the correlation is deemed to be classified as Secret. In other words, the data in Open can, and indeed should, be sent to Secret, but no data in Secret must reach Open.

To solve this, a data diode can be placed on the data link between the two information security zones.

Who uses data diodes?

Historically speaking, unidirectional networks have been used by almost exclusively Defense and Defense connected companies with military networks. Today’s need however, has led to it being used by almost all security aware industries. The constantly increasing number of cyber threats affects companies all over the globe, invoking the need of reliable data diode technology for a trustworthy network isolation. As a leader in data diodes for T-classified networks, Fibersystem has the solution.

Versions

• Rack Module Secure and Rack Module
• Integrated (Stand Alone Unit)
• Rugged
• TEMPEST Level A, EMSEC, RÖS U1
• 100 Mbit/s or 1000 Mbit/s
• Fiber Optical or Copper interface