Choosing an internet Security Gateway can be a daunting task. Many different options are available, and it’s essential to make sure you choose the right one for your business. Secure web gateways protect companies by preventing data leakage, enforcing security policies, and blocking malware from entering your network. They also protect users by enforcing acceptable use policies and safeguarding their devices.
Inputs & Outputs
An internet security gateway is the conduit that connects devices, sensors, cloud servers, and user applications. A gateway can perform various tasks, including a firewall to scan and filter data, a proxy server to maintain restricted access to specific applications or assets, and an intrusion detection system to protect against threats that may compromise sensitive information. A secure web gateway can enforce consistent internet security policies by monitoring website traffic and web-based applications. These policies can be based on time, usage quotas, content, applications, etc. The secure web gateway can inspect outbound traffic to detect and block malicious websites, malware, or code. This feature enables organizations to protect sensitive corporate data from being stolen or leaked. For example, a secure web gateway can prevent users from accessing malicious sites by scanning and blocking specific patterns and phrases that match social security numbers, credit card data, medical information, intellectual property, and more. In addition, some secure web gateways include Data Loss Prevention (DLP) functionality natively, enabling organizations to monitor and protect against unauthorized access to confidential corporate information.
Power
The internet is undoubtedly an enlightened medium with its share of security pitfalls. One of the best ways to combat this is with a specialized firewall or router to protect your network from cyberattacks and data breaches. An internet security gateway is a worthy addition to any network architecture and can be either hardware or software-based, or cloud-based, depending on your needs. Its main job is to monitor, filter and secure your data. This includes both incoming and outgoing traffic that reaches and exits your network. This is all done with sophisticated firewalls, anti-virus, and anti-spam tools. An array of sensors also aids the gateway to provide the requisite visibility into your network.
Management
A secure web gateway (SWG) protects networked devices from threats like malware and phishing. It also enables organizations to enforce network security policies by monitoring all incoming and outgoing internet traffic. A Secure Web Gateway can be deployed on a proxy server or as a software application that runs in the cloud. It can also be deployed as an appliance that plugs into a company’s infrastructure. SWGs can proactively prevent and mitigate several malware attacks by inspecting all internet traffic, including HTTPS-encrypted data. They can also monitor various website categories, allowing or blocking them based on company policy. URL filtering is another security feature of SWGs, preventing employees from accessing websites that violate company policies or are unsafe. It allows administrators to determine which websites are accessible by users and groups and to enforce bandwidth restrictions on streaming services. Applications Control is another security feature enabling administrators to create granular policy rules for web applications. These can include restricting the usage of certain apps and widgets to ensure user data privacy and block malicious websites. In addition, a secure web gateway can detect and stop suspicious email attachments or files and scan downloaded content for potential malware injection. It can also scan the traffic that leaves the network for sensitive, confidential, or unauthorized data.
Security
An internet security gateway is essential to any network, securing data, devices, and systems from external threats. It also helps organizations enforce acceptable use policies and protect against cybercriminals and hackers who seek to steal sensitive information. In addition, a secure web gateway (SWG) can block malicious websites and impersonate login pages that mimic legitimate sites for access to corporate accounts. It can help prevent shadow IT, monitor web activities to identify security breaches, and define bypass rules to control user access. SWGs inspect the traffic in real-time, blocking content that does not comply with corporate policies. These inspection policies can be customized and applied consistently for all users, regardless of their location or the device they are using to access the internet.
Integrated CASB Data Protection:
Many secure web gateways now have a built-in cloud access security broker (CASB) that controls data flow to and from Office 365, Salesforce, and other cloud applications. This prevents unauthorized data transmission from the internet and prevents data leakage, reducing costs and complexity.
HTTPS Inspection:
A secure web gateway can decrypt and scan encrypted* web traffic for malware, ensuring that the data is not intercepted or tampered with by cybercriminals. However, this process is very resource intensive and requires significant memory and processing capabilities. A secure web gateway can be implemented in different modes, including hardware or software, and can sit in the network perimeter or on-premises. Its ability to monitor, localize, and block applications can help mitigate security risks and improve network performance.