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Golden button: To better protect ourselves, we need to think beyond computer security. We need ways to physically control our network connections.

On April 28th, 2025, something big and scary happened in Europe. The lights went out across Spain and Portugal. This blackout wasn't just a small problem – it was huge, one of the worst Europe has seen. Millions of people were affected, and important things we rely on every day just stopped working.

Think about it: the underground trains stopped, you couldn't pay with your card, airports had big problems, and even hospitals had to stop some of their work.

Even though the power came back slowly the next day, the damage was massive. Experts say it cost billions of euros. This shows us how easily things can go wrong with the important systems we use all the time.

After something like this, you start to ask big questions. How can this happen in a modern world like ours?

When Everything is Connected, Everything is at Risk

The blackout in Spain and Portugal shows us a big problem with our "smart" systems: they are all connected. Our power grids and important services are more and more linked together and controlled by computers. This means that if one thing goes wrong, it can quickly spread and cause big problems everywhere.

That's what happened here. One small problem in the system became a problem for everything else connected to it. It affected our homes, how we travel, how we talk to each other, how we pay for things, and so much more. When so many things are linked, one weak spot can cause a disaster for everyone.

It's Not Just About Bad Guys

At first, many people thought a cyber attack caused the blackout. But it wasn't. The people in charge of Spain's power grid said there were two "disconnections" in the system. The system recovered from the first one, but the second one caused the big blackout.

This tells us that even small technical problems can have huge effects. It's really important for companies to be able to quickly stop problems before they spread to other connected systems.

The Idea of a Real "Off Switch"

To protect ourselves better, we need to think beyond just computer security. We need ways to physically control our network connections. Unlike computer programs that clever hackers might get around, physically disconnecting something creates a real gap. Companies should be able to cut these connections quickly and easily, even if the internet isn't working.

There are solutions like Goldilock's FireBreak™ that can do this. These special devices work separately from the internet and act like an emergency switch. If there's a problem, they can instantly stop it from spreading and protect important backup systems from being damaged. Having this physical control is really important for building strong systems that can handle problems.

We Need to Think Differently About Keeping Things Running

This blackout has made one thing very clear: we can't just assume our important systems will always work. For countries that rely so much on computers for everyday life, the economy, and important services, being able to recover from problems quickly is not just a good idea – it's essential.

Making our important systems ready for the future means putting the ability to isolate and separate things at the heart of our security plans. By doing this, countries and the companies that run important services can keep problems in one area from becoming a widespread disaster. This helps limit the damage and allows important services to get back online quickly if things go wrong. In the end, it's about making sure governments and important industries can securely disconnect and protect vital things when computer systems fail.

Are you ready to make your systems stronger and take control of your network? The cybersecurity professionals from CREAPLUS are specialists in this area and can help organisations understand and implement solutions like Goldilock's FireBreak to improve their security against these kinds of risks. They can provide the knowledge and support needed to make sure your important systems are better protected.