diff --git a/core/core/initutils.go b/core/core/initutils.go
index 8a525e5d..f9348ab3 100644
--- a/core/core/initutils.go
+++ b/core/core/initutils.go
@@ -90,7 +90,11 @@ func getResourceHandler(ctx context.Context, scanInfo *cautils.ScanInfo, tenantC
 		return resourcehandler.NewFileResourceHandler()
 	}
 
-	getter.GetKSCloudAPIConnector()
+	// Only initialize cloud connector if not in air-gapped mode
+	// This call initializes the global cloud API connector for later use
+	if !isAirGappedMode(scanInfo) {
+		_ = getter.GetKSCloudAPIConnector()
+	}
 	rbacObjects := getRBACHandler(tenantConfig, k8s, scanInfo.Submit)
 	return resourcehandler.NewK8sResourceHandler(k8s, hostSensorHandler, rbacObjects, tenantConfig.GetContextName())
 }
diff --git a/core/core/scan.go b/core/core/scan.go
index 156954c8..9275dfe2 100644
--- a/core/core/scan.go
+++ b/core/core/scan.go
@@ -66,9 +66,11 @@ func getInterfaces(ctx context.Context, scanInfo *cautils.ScanInfo) componentInt
 	}
 
 	// ================== version testing ======================================
-
-	v := versioncheck.NewIVersionCheckHandler(ctx)
-	_ = v.CheckLatestVersion(ctx, versioncheck.NewVersionCheckRequest(scanInfo.AccountID, versioncheck.BuildNumber, policyIdentifierIdentities(scanInfo.PolicyIdentifier), "", string(scanInfo.GetScanningContext()), k8sClient))
+	// Skip version check in air-gapped mode (when keep-local flag is set)
+	if !scanInfo.Local {
+		v := versioncheck.NewIVersionCheckHandler(ctx)
+		_ = v.CheckLatestVersion(ctx, versioncheck.NewVersionCheckRequest(scanInfo.AccountID, versioncheck.BuildNumber, policyIdentifierIdentities(scanInfo.PolicyIdentifier), "", string(scanInfo.GetScanningContext()), k8sClient))
+	}
 
 	// ================== setup host scanner object ======================================
 	ctxHostScanner, spanHostScanner := otel.Tracer("").Start(ctx, "setup host scanner")
@@ -132,7 +134,15 @@ func (ks *Kubescape) Scan(scanInfo *cautils.ScanInfo) (*resultshandling.ResultsH
 	interfaces := getInterfaces(ctxInit, scanInfo)
 	interfaces.report.SetTenantConfig(interfaces.tenantConfig)
 
-	downloadReleasedPolicy := getter.NewDownloadReleasedPolicy() // download config inputs from github release
+	// Only create DownloadReleasedPolicy if not in air-gapped mode
+	var downloadReleasedPolicy *getter.DownloadReleasedPolicy
+	if isAirGappedMode(scanInfo) {
+		// In air-gapped mode (--keep-local or using local files via --use-from, --controls-config, --exceptions, or attack tracks),
+		// don't initialize the downloader to prevent network access
+		downloadReleasedPolicy = nil
+	} else {
+		downloadReleasedPolicy = getter.NewDownloadReleasedPolicy() // download config inputs from github release
+	}
 
 	// set policy getter only after setting the customerGUID
 	scanInfo.Getters.PolicyGetter = getPolicyGetter(ctxInit, scanInfo.UseFrom, interfaces.tenantConfig.GetAccountID(), scanInfo.FrameworkScan, downloadReleasedPolicy)
@@ -274,3 +284,13 @@ func scanSingleImage(ctx context.Context, img string, svc *imagescan.Service, re
 func isPrioritizationScanType(scanType cautils.ScanTypes) bool {
 	return scanType == cautils.ScanTypeCluster || scanType == cautils.ScanTypeRepo
 }
+
+// isAirGappedMode returns true if the scan is configured to run in air-gapped mode
+// (i.e., without any network access to download policies, exceptions, or other artifacts)
+func isAirGappedMode(scanInfo *cautils.ScanInfo) bool {
+	return scanInfo.Local ||
+		len(scanInfo.UseFrom) > 0 ||
+		scanInfo.ControlsInputs != "" ||
+		scanInfo.UseExceptions != "" ||
+		scanInfo.AttackTracks != ""
+}
diff --git a/core/core/scan_test.go b/core/core/scan_test.go
index fc9ee8b9..78406437 100644
--- a/core/core/scan_test.go
+++ b/core/core/scan_test.go
@@ -58,3 +58,66 @@ func TestIsPrioritizationScanType(t *testing.T) {
 		})
 	}
 }
+
+func TestIsAirGappedMode(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name     string
+		scanInfo *cautils.ScanInfo
+		want     bool
+	}{
+		{
+			name: "air-gapped with Local flag",
+			scanInfo: &cautils.ScanInfo{
+				Local: true,
+			},
+			want: true,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "air-gapped with UseFrom",
+			scanInfo: &cautils.ScanInfo{
+				UseFrom: []string{"/path/to/policy"},
+			},
+			want: true,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "air-gapped with ControlsInputs",
+			scanInfo: &cautils.ScanInfo{
+				ControlsInputs: "/path/to/controls",
+			},
+			want: true,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "air-gapped with UseExceptions",
+			scanInfo: &cautils.ScanInfo{
+				UseExceptions: "/path/to/exceptions",
+			},
+			want: true,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "air-gapped with AttackTracks",
+			scanInfo: &cautils.ScanInfo{
+				AttackTracks: "/path/to/attack-tracks",
+			},
+			want: true,
+		},
+		{
+			name:     "not air-gapped - all empty",
+			scanInfo: &cautils.ScanInfo{},
+			want:     false,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "air-gapped with multiple flags",
+			scanInfo: &cautils.ScanInfo{
+				Local:   true,
+				UseFrom: []string{"/path/to/policy"},
+			},
+			want: true,
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			assert.Equal(t, tt.want, isAirGappedMode(tt.scanInfo))
+		})
+	}
+}