Mission critical security zone

A non-transitory computer storage medium encoded with a computer program, the computer program comprising instructions that when executed by a data processing apparatus cause the data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising:

• receiving a first user input indicative of a user selection of a first mechanical configuration;
• determining, by the data processing apparatus, a first operational condition based on the first mechanical configuration of a physical selector;
• receiving, by the data processing apparatus and from a first processing system, a first communication comprising information configured to alter operations of a second processing system;
• blocking, by the data processing apparatus and based on the first operational condition, relay of the first communication by the data processing apparatus to the second processing system;
• receiving a second user input indicative of a user selection of a second mechanical configuration of the physical selector;
• determining, by the data processing apparatus, a second operational condition based on the second mechanical configuration of the physical selector;
• receiving, by the data processing apparatus and from the first processing system, a second communication comprising information configured to alter operations of the second processing system;
• and
• relaying, by the data processing apparatus and based on the second operational condition, the second communication to the second processing system.

A computer security apparatus comprising:

• an electrical circuit comprising a processor, a first communications port, a second communications port, and a selection port, and a physical selector in electrical communication with the selection port and configured to provide a first state based on a first physical configuration of the physical selector and provide a second state based on a second physical configuration of the physical selector, and configured to:
• receive, by the processor, a selection signal at the selection port, wherein the selection signal comprises the first state indicative of the first physical configuration of the physical selector and the second state indicative of the second physical configuration of the physical selector;
• receive, by the processor at the first communications port, communications comprising information configured to alter operations of a processing system;
• block, by the processor and based on the first state, relay of the communications by the processor from the first communications port to the second communications port;
• and
• relay, by the processor and based on the second state, the communications from the first communications port to the second communications port.

A method for securing a computer system, the method comprising:

• receiving a first user input indicative of a user selection of a first mechanical configuration of a physical selector;
• determining, by a first processing system, a first operational condition based on the first mechanical configuration of the physical selector;
• receiving, by the first processing system and from a second processing system, a first communication comprising information configured to alter operations of a third processing system;
• blocking, by the first processing system and based on the first operational condition, the first communication from being relayed by the first processing system to the third processing system;
• receiving a second user input indicative of a user selection of a second mechanical configuration of the physical selector;
• determining a second operational condition based on the second mechanical configuration of the physical selector;
• receiving, from the second processing system, a second communication comprising information configured to alter operations of the third processing system;
• and
• relaying, by the first processing system and based on the second operational condition, the second communication to the third processing system.