From Air Gaps to Always Connected: The Uptime Challenge Security Must Solve
Zscaler, Wednesday, August 5th, 2026
Zscaler argues always-connected manufacturing has made air-gap-era security models obsolete.
Zscaler argues that manufacturing has moved from isolated air-gapped systems to always-connected environments.
Security models built for disconnected plants no longer match how those facilities operate.
The piece describes operational friction that drives workers to bypass controls, such as using personal hotspots to troubleshoot a down line. That friction is presented as the real uptime challenge security must solve rather than an employee compliance failure.