A secure web gateway gives your IT or security team granular control over the data that can enter your business network. It also protects against cyber threats like malware.

Just as security guards inspect bags at a checkpoint before letting them pass, an SWG scans incoming data to see if it violates your company’s established security policies.

Detecting Malware

Cyberattacks are rising, with more employees working remotely and accessing company data over unsecured Wi-Fi. Companies need SWG security to prevent these attacks. An SWG is an additional layer of defense that protects against threats that traditional security endpoint devices may miss or fail to mitigate.

SWGs inspect all incoming traffic and only pass it on to users if it meets set security rules and policies. This protects enterprises from malware, phishing, P2P, and other cyber threats that might enter the network or infiltrate the systems and data. SWGs also monitor outgoing data and enforce data loss prevention (DLP) policies to stop unauthorized sensitive information from leaving the company network.

The best SWG solutions use advanced detection algorithms that scale to match the sophistication of today’s most sophisticated malware, stopping lateral spread before it’s too late. They also utilize sandboxing technology to test files and programs for malicious functionality before they reach the network. Moreover, the more comprehensive SWGs integrate features like CASB, DLP, and firewalls to help organizations reduce costs by avoiding redundant investments in security tools.

Detecting Phishing Attacks

An SWG software solution filters websites and their content before they enter your network. It can detect phishing attacks using a URL filter, an algorithm that checks a website’s address against a list of approved addresses, blocking access to unapproved sites (blocklisting). It can also block unauthorized downloads of malware and viruses, preventing them from entering your network via employee devices.

It can also monitor user web activity and prevent employees from “shadow IT,” letting you know when they use non-approved sites, programs, or files on their work computers. This makes it easier for you to enforce compliance with your internal security policies.

In addition, an SWG can help you block sites that distract and decrease productivity, such as social media, gambling, pornography, violence, and terrorism. It can also scan for viruses, malware, and ransomware, preventing them from being downloaded to your network.

SWGs can be deployed as hardware appliances or software-based solutions that run on a server hosted in the cloud. Most SWGs offer a unified management platform for complete visibility and control over your Internet traffic and the detection and enforcement of security policies to protect against threats. Look for solutions that provide CASB, DLP, and firewall features to give you a comprehensive cybersecurity tool that can save your team time and money.

Detecting P2P Attacks

The P2P application is famous for sharing music, movies, games, and other files, but it also distributes pirated software and is a common attack vector. SWGs detect this activity and can help block these attacks from entering the network. Additionally, SWGs can see and monitor outgoing data packets to prevent malware from communicating with its command server after it has penetrated the firewall.

Modern SWGs can detect malware signatures and suspicious files, even if they are not in the company database. They can also send questionable content to other security systems like DLP or CASB for additional analysis. SWGs can also eliminate blind spots due to encryption by decrypting cloud-based traffic.

SWGs can also improve visibility by logging every minute of activity on the company’s network. This provides consistent monitoring and better control, enabling you to create more secure web access policies per department or business function. Lastly, SWGs can provide granular reports on activities such as lost productivity or unrestrained browsing.

An SWG is an essential component of any comprehensive cybersecurity framework. It can protect against sophisticated malware threats that bypass traditional firewalls and other security tools by targeting web channels. Moreover, SWGs can enhance remote work security with zero trust network access and help eliminate the vulnerabilities associated with working from home or other non-corporate locations.

Detecting Malicious Websites

As more and more employees work remotely, relying on web applications to complete their jobs, organizations must implement a security solution that protects them from threats. SWGs do this by inspecting incoming internet traffic, preventing malware and other harmful code from entering the business network.

SWG solutions can be deployed on-premises as a hardware appliance or software system installed on an organization’s servers. This deployment gives an organization complete control over the solution and enables it to customize the SWG to meet its needs. There are also cloud-based SWGs hosted and managed by a 3rd party provider, allowing organizations to avoid the high upfront costs of an on-premises solution.

Regardless of deployment type, an SWG performs the same function: detecting malicious activities trying to enter a network. It filters DNS and URLs, scans and inspects content, and enforces security policies.

Threat actors use more sophisticated techniques to access confidential data as the world digitizes. This information can then be used to exploit devices and networks or be sold on the black market. SWGs can detect these attacks by scanning for malware, viruses, phishing attempts, and other suspicious activity. The SWG will then block traffic to these sites, increasing worker productivity and helping the company stay secure from cyber threats.