Adaptiva's AirGap Tech Patches Isolated Systems Without an Internet Link

KIRKLAND, Wash. – July 16, 2026 – In a significant move to secure the world's most isolated digital environments, Adaptiva, a leader in autonomous endpoint management, today announced the launch of AirGap for OneSite Patch. The new capability extends automated patch management to air-gapped networks—systems physically disconnected from the internet—addressing a critical vulnerability for government agencies, military operations, and critical infrastructure.

For years, organizations have faced a difficult choice: maintain the strict, physical isolation of their most sensitive systems or connect them intermittently to apply crucial security patches, risking exposure. Adaptiva’s new solution aims to eliminate this dangerous trade-off, enabling continuous patching without compromising the integrity of the air gap.

A Long-Standing Security Dilemma

Air-gapped systems are the digital equivalent of a bank vault, used to protect everything from classified government intelligence and military command systems to the industrial control systems (ICS) that manage power grids and water treatment facilities. The very isolation that makes them secure also makes them extraordinarily difficult to maintain. Without a network connection, traditional automated patching is impossible, forcing administrators into slow, error-prone manual processes often referred to as a “sneaker-net,” where updates are physically carried into the secure environment on removable media.

This operational lag creates a dangerous window of vulnerability. A 2025 Homeland Threat Assessment warned of nation-state actors pre-positioning capabilities to disrupt U.S. critical infrastructure, and unpatched systems are a primary target. Industry data further highlights the challenge; research shows that organizations in critical sectors often lag in resolving known exploited vulnerabilities. For instance, recent reports indicate that only about a quarter of vulnerabilities on CISA’s Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) Catalog were fully remediated in the past year, leaving essential services exposed.

“For years, organizations operating air-gapped environments have had to choose between maintaining strict isolation and keeping critical systems consistently patched,” said Dr. Deepak Kumar, Founder and CEO of Adaptiva, in the announcement. “That tradeoff is no longer acceptable as cyber threats continue to evolve rapidly in the AI era. Our customers need a way to extend modern, autonomous patch management into their most secure environments without compromising the security controls that were designed to protect those environments.”

How 'True Air-Gap Synchronization' Works

Adaptiva's solution introduces a novel process it calls “True Air-Gap Synchronization,” designed to move patch data securely across the physical divide. The architecture relies on a pair of servers: an “online” server connected to the Adaptiva cloud service, which acquires the necessary patches from vendors, and an “offline” server residing inside the isolated, air-gapped network.

The process works without any direct network link. First, the offline server identifies the required patches and generates a simple, human-readable text file detailing the request. An authorized administrator then transfers this text file from the secure environment to the online server. This transfer maintains the air gap, as it can be done via a USB drive, an external hard drive, or, as the company notes, even transcribed from a handwritten note.

Based on this text request, the online server compiles a response package containing the actual vendor patch files. Before this package is brought into the secure environment, it can be thoroughly inspected, scanned with security tools, and validated by personnel to ensure no malicious code is being introduced. Once inside, the patch content is imported to the offline server. From there, Adaptiva’s OneSite Patch platform takes over, using its autonomous engine to distribute and install the updates to endpoints within the air-gapped network according to pre-defined policies and maintenance windows.

The Drive for Autonomous, Unified Management

Beyond simply closing a security loophole, the launch of AirGap for OneSite Patch represents a push toward a more unified and autonomous future for endpoint management. For large organizations that operate both standard corporate networks and highly secure isolated ones, managing two entirely different sets of tools and workflows has been a significant operational burden. This complexity not only increases costs but also creates opportunities for human error and security gaps.

Adaptiva, recognized as a Leader in the 2026 Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Endpoint Management Tools, is leveraging its existing platform to solve this. Current OneSite Patch customers can now extend the same policies, approval processes, and autonomous workflows they use on their connected networks into their disconnected ones. This consistency is a key selling point.

“Managing air-gapped environments shouldn't require separate tools, separate workflows or entirely different operational models,” Kumar added. “That consistency reduces operational complexity while helping IT and security teams maintain the rigorous controls these environments demand.”

The system also includes features designed for complex, multi-site security operations. A new 'Zones' feature allows administrators to manage multiple, independent air-gapped environments from a single online server, while role-based access controls permit delegation of specific tasks without granting excessive privileges.

Navigating the Competitive and Practical Landscape

While other solutions exist for securing air-gapped environments, they often focus on different aspects of the problem. Data diodes, for example, enforce one-way data flow but are not comprehensive patch management systems. Other endpoint management vendors have struggled to offer a seamless, integrated solution for truly disconnected networks, often leaving customers with significant manual workarounds. Adaptiva’s approach of extending its core autonomous platform into this challenging niche appears to be a strong differentiator.

However, security experts caution that technology alone is not a silver bullet. The success of any air-gapped security solution heavily relies on the discipline of the human-led processes that bridge the physical gap. “The concept of using a verifiable text request and allowing pre-entry scanning of the patch package is a robust architectural design,” noted one independent cybersecurity analyst. “But its real-world security depends entirely on rigorous adherence to protocol. The chain of custody for the transfer media and the thoroughness of the package inspection are just as critical as the software itself.”

By automating the patch distribution once inside the secure perimeter and streamlining the request process, Adaptiva's AirGap aims to minimize the points where human error can occur. For organizations tasked with protecting national secrets and critical infrastructure, this blend of autonomous technology and structured process offers a powerful new tool in the ongoing fight to stay ahead of cyber threats.