In today's digital age, businesses are facing more security threats than ever before. With more employees accessing the internet and utilizing cloud-based applications, protecting a company's network from cyberattacks is essential. This is where a Secure Web Gateway comes in. In this article, we'll explore what a Secure Web Gateway (SWG) is, and how it works.
Secure Web Gateway: An Introduction
By filtering traffic headed for the Internet and enforcing corporate policy, an SWG shields an organization from risks to its online security and viruses. Secure web gateway stands in between the Internet and users offering innovative protection by comparing web requests with corporate standards to ensure that harmful websites and programs are prohibited and inaccessible.
To give businesses excellent web security, an SWG incorporates crucial security technologies like URL filtering, data loss prevention, SSL inspection, antivirus, and app management.
How Does a Secure Web Gateway Work?
SWGs are placed at the network's edge and monitor traffic to ascertain if web traffic needs to be allowed, restricted, or quarantined based on corporate policies. The features include:
URL filtering: Blocks URL access that goes against the business policy or is known to be dubious or harmful.
Application management: Limits resources access by different applications or completely bans risky or unapproved applications by identifying which apps are used by employees.
Data loss prevention (DLP): Check outgoing traffic from a network and restrict any confidential, sensitive, or unauthorized content from being unintentionally or maliciously released, preventing data leaks and loss.
Antivirus software: Proactively identifies, blocks, and mitigates viruses, and other malware using real-time antivirus features.
HTTPS Examination: Secures SSL-encrypted data by decrypting SSL-encrypted communication with the sender's public key, checking and removing unauthorized material, and re-encrypting and delivering it back.
Detection and blocking of malware: Prevents malware from being downloaded or uploaded by matching code in internet traffic.
Access management: Limits internet access at particular times, based on the responsibilities of users or based on the kinds of websites accessed to enforce acceptable usage regulations and compliance requirements.
Why Employ a Secure Web Gateway?
With the increase in cloud-based applications and employees accessing the internet from various devices, conventional network security policies cannot fully protect a company's network.
Backhauling internet-bound traffic across pricey MPLS links to a legacy SWG in the data center slows down traffic and makes workers less effective. Plus, cybercriminals are creating dangerous code and attack strategies at a breakneck pace, posing fresh security risk.
Many firms cannot afford the large costs and time commitments needed to update legacy technology to withstand new threats, leaving them vulnerable. As a result, incorporating an SWG into a company's cybersecurity strategy is essential to protect against these threats and keep a business secure.
Firewalls Vs SWG
As they both offer network protection and can distinguish between legitimate and malicious traffic, SWGs and firewalls share some characteristics. However, SWGs primarily use traffic inspection to recognize and defend against sophisticated Internet-based assaults. Despite the fact that firewalls also scan Internet traffic, they mostly employ deep packet checks to recognize and let safe apps onto the network while preventing and restricting harmful ones.
The functionalities and technologies of Next Generation Firewalls and SWGs will advance in the next few years. The security architecture of every firm must include both of these security solutions for effective protection.
Endnote
A Secure Web Gateway is an essential component of any company's cybersecurity strategy. By incorporating an SWG into a company's cybersecurity strategy, businesses can protect against new security threats and keep their networks secure.
