Secure Web Gateway SWG and Web Filtering
Secure Web Gateway SWG and Web Filtering (SWG URL filtering). SWG security
What is Secure Web Gateway?
SWG is an abbreviation for Secure Web Gateway,
when used in Cyber Security context.
A Secure Web Gateway (SWG) protects your organization’s employees, IT network and corporate data from the threats that are associated with using the Internet.
IT admins Or IT managers create Internet Use Policies on an SWG. The SWG then enforces those policies during any web interaction between your user’s device and the World Wide Web.
A Secure Web Gateway (SWG) uses Web Filtering (also known as SWG URL filtering) to block or allow websites that company users may want to access.
Secure Web Gateway SWG and Web Filtering: Top Benefits & Pain Points
What is Web Filtering or SWG URL filtering? – Secure Web Gateway SWG
Web filtering is the key feature of SWG security because it allows the IT admin to configure who can reach what URL or website, even if they are not connected to the network.
Users can be:
- Allowed Access, or
- Denied Access, or
- Warned against proceeding.
Benefits of Web Filtering (SWG URL filtering)
- Increases Productivity by decreasing distractions from certain websites, for example by blocking social media websites during work hours.
- Protects employees and networks from web-based threats, blocking suspicious or known malicious sites.
- Tracks employee web activity and increases compliance with web auditing requirements.
- Prevents Shadow IT and use of unauthorized sites for business purposes.
Pain Points that Web Filtering Addresses
- Employee use of distracting or illicit sites (such as gambling sites) during work hours.
- Danger of hacks through phishing attempts of employees or employee access of malicious sites.
- Need to provide auditors with tracked web activity for compliance purposes.
How Web Filtering Works – Secure Web Gateway SWG
With a Secure Web Gateway (SWG) from Perimeter 81, IT admins can set web filter rules using the same easy interface and quick deployment that the Perimeter 81 platform is known for.
(Unlike other rules in Perimeter 81, web filtering operates even when the employee is not connected to the network – in other words, the employee device is always protected (through the agent running in the background.)
Web Filter Rules
Web filter rules can be set per employee or a group of employees (for example, the marketing department may need access to social media sites to do their job, but the R&D department does not). The same concept is extended to specific days of the week or times.
Your organization’s IT Admins can choose to block a specific site or an entire category, such as “Gaming” or “Phishing.”
Categories are dynamically updated daily as new sites are identified.
Bypass Rules
There are certain cases when web filter rules need to be bypassed.
- If there are privacy regulations – for example, employee access to healthcare or financial sites may not be allowed to be tracked.
- If an application, such as Slack or Dropbox, needs unfiltered access.
For these cases, Perimeter 81 SWG has Bypass Rules, which can be similarly set for specific employee groups, web categories, and application programs.
Monitoring and Tracking
Monitoring and tracking are a fundamental and necessary part of SWG.
Perimeter 81 Web Filtering tracks all employee attempted access of “denied” or “warned” sites, so that companies can take action following suspicious activity.
Reports can be exported as a CSV file for auditing and further analysis purposes.
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