CyberSecDeck-001 Brings Style to the Server Room Crash Cart

The servers that fill data centers tend to be headless, because there is little need for direct interaction through a keyboard and monitor. That is, of course, until something goes wrong and admins cannot access the systems remotely. For those situations, "crash carts" are popular. The tend to contain terminals, computers, or simple keyboards that admins can use to access the servers, along with other useful tools. But those are boring. So Garra designed the CyberSecDeck-001, which is an infosec hacking cyberdeck that doubles as a crash cart.

While we're big fans of the cyberdeck community, we have to be truthful and admit that most cyberdecks do not serve any kind of practical purpose. Speaking in very general terms, the motivation tends to be to create something cool—not necessarily something useful. So Garra's CyberSecDeck-001 stands out for that purpose alone. It seems as though it would work well as a crash cart, because it is portable and robust, with a decent mechanical keyboard and adequate screen real estate for a terminal window. It is also very stylish and that ticks all the right "cyberdeck" boxes for us.

The three most important components are a Raspberry Pi 4 Model B single-board computer, a Vortex Core 40% keyboard, and an ultra-widescreen 8.8" 1920x480 LCD screen. Power comes from a lithium-ion battery through a PiJuice power supply HAT. Those components are all pretty standard fare in the cyberdeck community, but Garra knocked this project out of the park with the enclosure design.

Most of the CyberSecDeck-001's case was 3D-printed and it has a number of unique elements. It is an asymmetrical design with a large carry handle on the right side. There is also a server rack-style handle/guard right next to that. But the most interesting features are probably the picatinny rails.

Picatinny rails are very common in the world of firearms, as they provide a secure mounting interface for accessories like weapon-mounted lights and slings. Garra chose to integrate picatinny rails along the front and back of this cyberdeck, giving plenty of room to attach things. Because the picatinny mount is so popular, Garra has access to an endless selection of accessories. She can, for instance, easily add a carry strap. The picatinny rails also look cool, which is never a factor to underestimate when it comes to cyberdecks.

The utility for infosec tasks all comes down to software, so Garra can install whatever tools she needs. But even just as a crash cart, we think the CyberSecDeck-001 is fantastic.