abzuschirmen

Abzuschirmen is a German verb meaning to shield off, to screen off, or to insulate against external influence or access. It is used for physical shielding, such as reducing electromagnetic interference, as well as for security, privacy, or organizational contexts in which a space, signal, or information is protected from external access or influence. The action can apply to spaces, objects, signals, or data.

The verb is formed with the separable prefix ab- attached to schirmen (to shield). In finite clauses it is usually separated: Der Raum wird abgeschirmt or Man muss den Bereich abschirmen. In subordinate clauses one often encounters the infinitive with zu: um den Bereich abzuschirmen. The related noun Abschirmung refers to the act, process, or result of shielding.

Contexts and usage: in physics and engineering, Abschirmung describes shielding against electric, magnetic, or radio-frequency interference, often implemented with conductive enclosures or shielding materials. In information security, Daten abzuschirmen means to protect data from unauthorized access or disclosure, using measures such as access controls, encryption, and data minimization. In everyday language, abzuschirmen can also denote protecting a person or group from external pressure or influence.

See also: Schirm, Abschirmung, Faradayscher Käfig, Informationssicherheit.

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