Secure Web Gateway vs. Firewall: Which One Do You Need?

In the U.S., 71% of companies allow remote work in some capacity, and many corporations have teams dispersed across countries and continents. 

Cybersecurity solutions that protect organizations outside of their physical boundaries are now essential. Secure web gateways and firewalls are both vital for protecting your company’s resources and your remote employees and preventing data breaches. 

Read on to learn which product provides the best protection for your organization.

What Is a Secure Web Gateway (SWG)? 

A secure web gateway (SWG) is a hardware or software-based corporate network security solution that helps ensure employees use the internet in a safe and responsible way. A SWG can be deployed either:

• On-premises
• In the cloud

It monitors, filters, and blocks incoming traffic based on security rules defined by your company.

Also, a SWG helps to enforce compliance policies, manage bandwidth usage, and improve productivity by controlling access to non-work-related, malicious websites and applications.

What Is a Firewall? 

A firewall sits between the internal network and the internet and can be either:

• Hardware-based
• Software-based 

A firewall also monitors and controls web traffic, adhering to security policies, and prevents unauthorized access to or from a private network while allowing legitimate traffic to pass through. 

To determine whether traffic is safe, a firewall inspects traffic at packet level as it travel through.

The 5 Key Differences Between SWGs and Firewalls

Here are the most important differences between SWGs and firewalls.

#1: Amount of Network Control

• Secure Web Gateways (SWG) provide more customized and granular control over web traffic and remote user activity, including setting policies, filtering content, managing access.
• Firewalls have limited control over web traffic and user activity and are mainly focused on controlling network access.

#2: Identification of Malicious Code

• SWGs are designed to prevent web-borne cyber threats and malware infections from entering the network via the web. 
• Firewalls primarily focus on network security, by examining data packets as they move between user devices and the internet, identifying and blocking malicious traffic.

#3: Outbound Traffic Management

Both work to protect your sensitive information against theft by monitoring and inspecting data as it leaves your network, but they handle outgoing traffic differently. 

• SWGs allow control over web traffic and user activity.
• Firewalls typically restrict outbound traffic based on predefined policies.

#4: Data Inspection

• SWGs inspect web applications and content for threat detection and threat prevention.
• Firewalls mainly examine data packets to identify code associated with malicious traffic. 

#5: Protection Method

• SWGs allow organizations to set policies and enforce rules for users. They manage access to web applications and content and provide control over employee activity. 
• Firewalls mainly focus on controlling network access, including blocking unauthorized access.

Can You Use SWGs and Firewalls Together? 

A firewall can stop data packets with potentially malicious code from getting to your network, but it isn’t a complete solution. Firewalls work well as part of an integrated protection strategy that includes monitoring features and other network controls. 

Likewise, an SWG protects users against web-based threats but may not block all malicious code.Together, SWGs and firewalls create a layered approach to security, enhancing your security posture and protecting your organization from a wide range of hidden threats.

SWGs and Firewalls: Use Cases

When deciding whether a business needs a SWG or a firewall, it’s key to determine the specific security requirements and use cases. 

Here are some of the factors to consider:

1. Remote workers: SWGs can provide remote workers with secure access to web-based resources such as cloud applications.
2. Branch offices: Firewalls are better suited for securing network-level traffic between different locations or branches.
3. Globalized teams: SWGs provides a centralized solution for enforcing security policies and access controls across different locations and networks while providing incoming and outgoing network traffic visibility. Firewalls may not be able to provide the same level of granularity or visibility for web-based traffic.
4. BYOD: SWGs can provide web filtering and access control for these devices, ensuring that they are not introducing security risks to the organization’s network. Firewalls may not be as effective.
5. Organizational cloud adoption: SWGs can provide secure access to these cloud resources while also enforcing security policies and controls.

Secure Your Organization with SWGs and Firewalls from Perimeter 81

Ultimately, the decision between a SWG and a firewall will depend on the unique security needs of your organization. It’s important to conduct a thorough security assessment and evaluate different security solutions to determine the best fit for the organization’s specific use cases and requirements.

While SWGs and Firewalls play distinct roles in protecting your employees and your data, together, they can provide a maximum security solution. 

Get a FREE Demo to see how Perimeter 81’s holistic solution can help you apply the benefits of SWGs and firewalls in your business.