Air gap-based network isolation device circuit board

A system comprising:

• a computer system and a circuit board device, the computer system comprising a communication transceiver to communicate with a computing device of a user and a serial transceiver,
• the circuit board device comprising:
• an airgap device operable to switch between a disconnected state in which a physical airgap is formed by the airgap device, and a connected state in which the physical airgap is closed;
• a memory resource storing configuration data for configuring an authentication process, the configuration data including a whitelist of authorized devices or users for an internal network or resource;
• a set of connection port elements, each connection port element in the set of connection port elements being interconnected to the airgap device and including a plurality of connection ports, including a first connection port for connecting to the internal network or resource, and a second connection port for connecting to a data network;
• wherein for at least a first connection port element of the set, the respective first connection port and the second connection port are interconnected to one another by the airgap device;
• a controller connected to the airgap device;
• and
• a communications module comprising a set of communication receivers connected to the controller;
• wherein the communications module is configured to (i) receive, via a communication receiver of the set, a connection request from an external computing device, the connection request specifying the first connection port element of the set, (ii) in response to receiving the connection request, implement the configured authentication process to determine whether the external computing device is authorized to enable the first connection port element;
• (iii) based on an outcome of the configured authentication process, cause the controller to trigger the airgap device into switching between the disconnected state and the connected state;
• wherein when the airgap device is in the connected state, the first connection port element is enabled and connects the internal network or resource to the data network;
• and
• wherein when the airgap device is in the disconnected state, the first connection port element is configured to physically airgap the internal network or resource from the data network.

A computer-implemented method of authenticating network access for an air-gap-based, network isolation device, the method comprising:

• storing a set of configuration data for implementing an authentication process, the configuration data including a whitelist of authorized devices or users for the air-gap-based, network isolation device;
• receiving, over a first network type, a connection request from a computing device of a user, the connection request specifying a connection port element of the air-gap-based, network isolation device;
• determining, using the configured authentication process, whether the computing device of the user is authorized to enable the connection port element;
• in response to determining that the computing device of the user is authorized to enable the connection port element, initiating an authentication sequence of the authentication process with the computing device of the user;
• and
• in response to the user performing the authentication sequence, activating a set of relays for the connection port element.