The Hirschmann data diode is designed to protect in particular the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) within companies: the device, which can be rail-mounted, monitors network traffic and allows it to run in one direction only. External cyber attacks are therefore prevented. At the same time, the physical operation of the diode allows secure data transfer over the public Internet.

The solution thus offers in particular protection for the network traffic of critical infrastructures which depend on sending company data over the Internet, such as in the chemical industry, energy supply and traffic systems. Company employees can therefore view, for example, diagnostic data for their production systems from outside, without exposing their network to potential attacks. According to a Bitkom study, attacks of this sort accounted over the last two years for total losses of around €43.3 billion among the companies surveyed in Germany.