Referring to information, services, or resources that are restricted to a specific geographical area, network, or internal system, and not accessible from outside that defined boundary. This term emphasizes the isolation of something from external access, highlighting its limited scope of availability. It often applies to data storage, communication, or application functionalities designed for use within a specific context. The designation implies security or privacy considerations, as the restricted nature limits exposure to potential external threats or unintended use.
Local-only meaning with examples
- The company's server hosts 'local-only' files containing sensitive employee data. Access is strictly controlled, preventing unauthorized external access and ensuring compliance with data privacy regulations, which limits the attack surface for cyberthreats. These data are not available to the internet.
- A 'local-only' weather app provides real-time forecasts and alerts tailored to a specific city. The app uses data solely from the local meteorological station, with no external information. This provides faster information than other weather sites but has very limited scope.
- The manufacturing facility utilizes a 'local-only' intranet to share internal documents, production schedules, and communication. External access is blocked for network security and control over proprietary company information. It is impossible to use without being connected to the internal company network.
- After making the changes to the 'local-only' settings the file system was secure and could no longer connect to any outside services such as Google drive. The only people that could gain access were on site.