What is a secure web gateway?

A Secure Web Gateway (SWG) is a cybersecurity solution that serves as a gateway between an organization's private network and the rest of the internet. It blocks access from malicious links and websites, effectively filtering web and internet traffic at the application level.  

How does SWG work?

Serving as a formidable checkpoint, a Secure Web Gateway (SWG) thoroughly examines all incoming and outgoing web traffic, identifying and blocking threats to protect your network. Below are the core processes that enable SWGs to deliver this effective cybersecurity defense:

• Traffic interception: SWGs capture and analyze all the web traffic entering or leaving the network. They create a strict security checkpoint that ensures no potentially harmful information passes through.

• URL filtering: This feature blocks users from accessing malicious or unauthorized websites, protecting against dangerous code that could compromise security.

• Content inspection: SWGs continuously analyze web content to identify potential threats, such as malware or policy violations, before they impact the network.

• Application control: SWGs are typically set up to manage access to web-based applications, allowing organizations to maintain security by controlling which tools and services their employees use.

• Data loss prevention: By monitoring all outgoing internet traffic, SWGs prevent sensitive data from being leaked accidentally or intentionally. 

• Threat intelligence: Because they're integrated with threat databases, SWGs provide constant protection by quickly identifying and blocking new risks.

• User authentication: SWGs' strong identity verification measures establish the authenticity of users and apply the appropriate policies to grant access based on user roles. 

• Reporting and logging: Detailed reports on web usage, security events, and policy enforcement provide administrators with valuable insights, helping them strengthen security management.

Why is SWG important for your business?

As cyber threats become more advanced, a Secure Web Gateway (SWG) plays a vital role in modern cybersecurity strategies and provides strong defenses against these evolving risks. SWG can benefit your business because it:

• Enhances threat protection: Establishes a powerful defense against phishing, malware, and other web-based attacks, significantly reducing the risk of cyber threats.

• Ensures regulatory compliance: Enforcing the same security policies for all internet traffic helps organizations meet industry-specific regulations and data protection laws.

• Improves productivity: It allows control over access to non-work-related sites and applications, permitting better focus on business objectives while reducing potential security risks.

• Prevents data leaks: SWG prevents unauthorized sharing of sensitive information by continuously monitoring users across all web channels.

• Strengthens remote work security: Protects off-site and mobile users, ensuring consistent security regardless of employee location or device used.

• Enables cloud application control: This feature oversees access to SaaS applications and cloud services, ensuring security for all cloud-based tools and platforms.

• Reduces IT burden: Centralizes web security management, streamlining the administrative burden and improving overall security efficiency.

• Cuts cost: Lowers the likelihood of costly security breaches and data loss incidents, which can be financially devastating for businesses.

Top 7 SWG features

Modern Secure Web Gateways offer a variety of features designed to provide comprehensive protection against today's web-based threats. Familiarizing yourself with these essential features can help you choose the best solution for your business's security needs. Here's a look at the top SWG features that make comprehensive web protection possible:

1. SSL/TLS inspection:  All encrypted web traffic is decrypted and scanned to reveal hidden threats.

2. Cloud access security broker (CASB) integration: This feature allows an SWG to impose security control on cloud services and applications across various platforms.

3. Advanced threat protection: SWG performs behavior analysis and sandboxing on files to identify and block zero-day threats before they can cause any damage.

4. Granular policy controls: Allows you to create and enforce fine-tuned access policies based on users, groups, or locations.

5. Remote browser isolation: This feature supports web content execution in a secure, isolated environment to protect users against malicious data.

6. AI and machine learning capabilities: SWG uses AI and machine learning to boost threat detection and policy enforcement.

7. Comprehensive reporting and analytics: Detailed analysis and insights into web usage and security events allow for proactive security management.

SWGs vs. Firewalls vs. Proxies

While security technologies such as SWGs, firewalls, and proxies, are often conflated, each has a distinct role to play when it comes to a comprehensive security strategy. Understanding these differences helps businesses use each tool for the right purpose. Below is a comparison of the three, highlighting their unique strengths across key aspects:

How to choose the right SWG solution

Selecting an SWG cybersecurity solution that aligns precisely with your organization's needs and infrastructure t will significantly improve your safety and save you the hassle and expense that comes with suffering breaches, ensuring compliance, and resorting to data recovery. Here's what to keep in mind when choosing an SWG:

1. Assess your current security gaps

Evaluate current security weaknesses and identify areas where your existing solutions fall short.

2. Consider deployment options

Choose from on-premises, cloud-based, or hybrid solutions, depending on which best suits your infrastructure.

3. Evaluate scalability

Ensure the solution can grow with your business needs and evolving security needs.

4. Pay attention to integration capabilities

Look for solutions compatible with your existing security stack to maintain continuity and cohesiveness. 

5. Analyze performance impact

Assess the SWG's potential effect on network speed and user experience to maintain your operation's efficiency.

6. Look at reporting and analytics

Consider the depth of the security insights provided and their effectiveness for decision-making and management.

7. Investigate vendor reputation and support

Evaluate the provider's track record, customer reviews, and support offerings to ensure they can provide the level of service you need.

How Fastly optimizes web security

Fasly takes web security seriously. Some of Fastly's key features include:

• Cloud-based security: Fastly's global edge network provides scalable protection for growing business needs.

• Next-generation WAF: The platform's Web Application Firewall (WAF) combines traditional SWG features with advanced threat intelligence to protect against various web-based attacks.

• API protection: Fastly's solutions help secure web applications and APIs against emerging threats.

• Bot management: Detects and mitigates malicious bot activity to preserve your business's online services' integrity.

• DDoS protection: Fastly helps maintain the continuous availability of critical services by shielding against volumetric and application-layer attacks.

• TLS/SSL inspection: Analyzes encrypted traffic for hidden threats that may bypass traditional security measures.

• Real-time logging and analytics: Provides valuable insights into web security events, helping you respond quickly to potential attacks.

Request a demo today to discover how Fastly's comprehensive security solutions protect your organization against modern web-based threats.