Last Updated: September 21st, 2022
A secure web gateway or SWG for short is also known as a cybersecurity solution that monitors incoming and outgoing web traffic and blocks any that is deemed suspicious.
The gateway is a security checkpoint that prevents harmful software and malicious websites from entering the network. In this way, only trusted, safe, and legitimate websites are made available to users. Important and sensitive information (such as confidential files, user data, and intellectual property data) of companies can also be prevented from exfiltration by using a secure web gateway (i.e., prevented from leaving the premises of the business).
This solution can safeguard users in every environment, regardless of the client’s location, OS, or app. There are many forms of secure web gateways on the market. The gateway is either physically located at the network’s edge or hosted by the company in question in the cloud. Its dual role is to function as a go-between for a company’s inner staff and the outside world via the internet.
For added defense against sophisticated cyberattacks, several companies are implementing secure web gateways. With the gateway in place, customers can confidently transfer their distant applications, devices, as well as workloads to the cloud without compromising the safety of their company’s internal network. Find out more on this link https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220810005146/en/DNSFilter-Provides-a-Better-Secure-Web-Gateway-with-Guardian.
Here are some of the benefits:
Protection against and early warning of new dangers
Firewalls, net protectors, and some other security measures are typically not effective against Internet traffic. A secure web gateway, meanwhile, detects vulnerabilities, sensitive information, and dangerous code in web content with ease due to its proxy-based operation. Gateway proxies often examine all session data before taking corrective action to clear up any ambiguity.
By using this technique, there is no way for an attack to damage the network by breaking policies that could compromise ongoing activities. SWGs monitor network activity around the clock (24/7) and add new attack signatures to their arsenal of defenses on the fly.
The most recent online intelligence is made available via the gateway, which may then be used to create threat profiles by connecting the dots between various data sources (such as records, files, emails, as well as endpoints). Such intel provides a 360-degree perspective for determining the origin of attacks against a given company. Read more here.
Potential dangers of decrypted traffic revealed
SSL traffic decryption is a resource-intensive procedure that requires a high-capacity memory and processing system. In general, it can reduce the effectiveness of security measures. One study found that next-gen firewalls with SSL decryption suffered an 81% performance reduction. As a result, SSL communication can pass unchecked by such firewalls as well as other measures.
The percentage of encrypted web content has increased to roughly 50% due to the growth of SSL web traffic. When it comes to breaches, vulnerabilities, compliance, and policy violations, a massive portion of web traffic is not evaluated.
Half of all cyberattacks, according to the research, use some form of encryption employed by thieves to conceal software. In order to have more command over encrypted web traffic, advanced gateways provide an SSL monitoring facility.
Improved monitoring
The internet is changing too rapidly to constantly monitor for new sites; every second, more and more pages, images, and videos are uploaded somewhere online. These are examples of novel attack vectors that could compromise a company. It is challenging to counteract constantly-evolving threat actors because of their obscurity. More than that, the vast majority of online activity is invisible to firewalls and other forms of online protection.
Nevertheless, a secure web getaway system keeps tabs on everything that happens within a company’s network, no matter how minute. It keeps track of activities in any kind of cloud environment, whether it be a public, private, or hybrid one. With the use of such tracking and logging features, it is possible to keep tabs on and manage all of a website’s traffic. It aids businesses in understanding how they are being attacked by cybercriminals, which in turn allows them to tailor their security measures more effectively.
Maximized security
An organization’s existing security environment can be leveraged in tandem with a secure online gateway. It extends the organization’s security blanket to cover both on-premise and cloud settings. Only legitimate traffic that complies with the company’s policies is allowed through the gateway.
The solution implements policies that meet the security and business objectives of the organization when online traffic does not conform to the policy criteria. By extending the company’s security posture to new areas, a secure online gateway helps optimize the value of those expenditures.
Meeting all necessary regulatory standards
A secure web gateway allows for fine-grained management of an organization’s system infrastructure, software, and data. This paves the way for implementing data-specific policies to meet compliance standards. That’s why the gateway classifies website visitors based on data and attributes like browser type, protocol, application name, etc.