What is a Secure Web Gateway (SWG)?

A secure web gateway (SWG) prevents unauthorized traffic from entering an organization’s network. SWG software filters out unwanted malicious intrusions from your company’s network and monitors internet traffic while enforcing corporate and regulatory policy compliance. 

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28.10.2021

9 min read

A SWG can be utilized to track data coming in and out of the company network and monitor employee behavior. Websites can be blocked and applications like social media can be limited or blocked altogether. 

Using a secure web gateway will ensure you have secure internet traffic coming in and out of your networks. With companies also utilizing cloud-based services, data is more at risk of a security breach than if it was stored on a hardware server in a singular office.

Why Is a Secure Web Gateway Important?

A Secure Web Gateway (SWG) is a crucial component of modern cybersecurity for several reasons:

1. Protection against Web-based Threats: SWGs filter web traffic, blocking access to malicious websites known for phishing scams, malware distribution, and other cyberattacks. 
2. Data Loss Prevention: SWGs can inspect outbound web traffic to ensure sensitive data isn’t being leaked or transmitted to unauthorized parties. 
3. Enforcement of Acceptable Use Policies: Organizations use SWGs to control and monitor how employees access the internet. They can block specific categories of websites (e.g., gambling, social media) and enforce bandwidth usage limits to maintain productivity and follow company policies.
4. Protection for Remote and Mobile Workers: With the rise of remote work and the use of mobile devices, SWGs are essential for protecting users outside the traditional corporate network.
5. Compliance with Regulations: Many industries are subject to strict data protection and privacy regulations (e.g.,GDPR, HIPAA). SWGs help organizations meet these requirements by ensuring secure data handling and controlling access to sensitive information.
6. Visibility and Reporting: SWGs provide valuable insights into web usage patterns, potential threats, and security incidents.
7. Cloud-based Flexibility: Many SWGs are offered as cloud-based services, making them scalable and easy to deploy. This eliminates the need for on-premises hardware.

How Does a SWG Work?

A Secure Web Gateway (SWG) works by acting as an intermediary between users and the internet, filtering and inspecting web traffic to enforce security policies and protect against threats. 

Here’s a simplified overview of how it works:

1. Traffic Redirection: All web traffic from users within an organization is routed through the SWG. This can be achieved through various methods, such as proxy settings, DNS configuration, or network routing rules.
2. URL Filtering: The SWG compares the requested website URLs against a database of categorized websites and predefined policies. It allows access to safe and permitted websites while blocking access to malicious or restricted ones.
3. Content Filtering: The SWG scans the content of web pages and downloads for malware, phishing attempts, and other threats. It can block or quarantine suspicious content to prevent it from reaching users.
4. Application Control: The SWG can identify and control the use of specific applications and protocols within web traffic. This allows organizations to block or limit access to certain applications based on their security policies.
5. Data Loss Prevention (DLP): The SWG inspects outbound web traffic for sensitive data, such as credit card numbers, social security numbers, or confidential documents. It can block or alert administrators about unauthorized data transfers.
6. SSL/TLS Inspection: Many SWGs can decrypt encrypted web traffic (HTTPS) to inspect it for hidden threats.After inspection, the traffic is re-encrypted before being sent to the user.
7. Cloud-Based Architecture (Optional): Many modern SWGs are offered as cloud-based services. This means the filtering and inspection occur in the cloud, eliminating the need for on-premises hardware and providing scalability and flexibility.
8. Logging and Reporting: SWGs maintain logs of all web activity, including blocked websites, detected threats, and data transfers. These logs are valuable for security analysis, incident response, and compliance reporting.

In essence, a SWG acts as a security checkpoint for all web traffic, ensuring that it adheres to organizational policies and is free from malicious content. It provides a layered defense against various web-based threats, helping organizations protect their users and data.

SWG Features

Secure Web Gateways offer a variety of features to protect organizations and their users from web-based threats and enforce internet usage policies. 

Some of the most common and essential features include:

1. URL Filtering: This feature blocks access to websites based on categories (e.g., gambling, social media) or specific URLs that are known to be malicious or inappropriate.
2. Content Filtering: SWGs scan the content of web pages and downloads for malware, phishing attempts, and other harmful content. They can block or quarantine suspicious content to prevent it from reaching users.
3. Application Control: This feature allows organizations to identify and control the use of specific applications and protocols within web traffic. For example, they can block or limit access to social media apps or file-sharing services.
4. Data Loss Prevention (DLP): SWGs can inspect outbound web traffic for sensitive data, such as credit card numbers, social security numbers, or confidential documents. They can block or alert administrators about unauthorized data transfers.
5. Intrusion Prevention System (IPS): Some SWGs integrate IPS capabilities to detect and block network-based attacks, such as SQL injections, cross-site scripting (XSS), and buffer overflows.
6. SSL/TLS Inspection: SWGs can decrypt encrypted web traffic (HTTPS) to inspect it for hidden threats. After inspection, the traffic is re-encrypted before being sent to the user.
7. Antivirus and Antimalware: Many SWGs include built-in antivirus and antimalware engines to scan files and web content for known threats.
8. Sandboxing: Some advanced SWGs use sandboxing techniques to isolate and analyze suspicious files in a safe environment before allowing them to reach users’ devices.
9. Cloud-Based Delivery: Many SWGs are offered as cloud-based services, providing scalability, flexibility, and ease of deployment.
10. Reporting and Analytics: SWGs generate detailed reports on web traffic, blocked threats, and policy violations,providing valuable insights for security teams.

Secure Web Gateways vs. Firewall: What Are The Differences?

While both secure web gateways (SWGs) and firewalls play crucial roles in cybersecurity, they operate at different levels and serve distinct purposes:

Firewalls: The Gatekeepers of Network Traffic

Firewalls act as the first line of defense, monitoring and controlling incoming and outgoing network traffic. They operate at the packet level, examining each individual packet of data for compliance with predefined security rules.

• Focus: Firewalls primarily focus on protecting the network perimeter, preventing unauthorized access and blocking malicious traffic from entering the network.
• Strengths: Firewalls excel at filtering traffic based on source/destination IP addresses, ports, and protocols. They are effective at preventing known attacks and enforcing basic network security policies.

Secure Web Gateways (SWGs): The Traffic Inspectors

SWGs operate at the application layer, examining the content of web traffic (HTTP/HTTPS) for potential threats. They analyze web pages, downloads, and other web-based activities.

• Focus: SWGs specialize in protecting users from web-based threats, such as malware, phishing attacks, and inappropriate content. They also enforce web usage policies.
• Strengths: SWGs excel at content filtering, URL filtering, application control, and data loss prevention. They provide granular control over web access and protect against a wider range of web-specific threats.

Working Together: A Layered Defense

Firewalls and SWGs can be used together to create a layered defense strategy. Firewalls protect the network perimeter,while SWGs provide additional security for web traffic.

This combination offers comprehensive protection against a broader spectrum of threats.

Secure Web Gateway vs. CASB

While both SWGs and CASBs contribute to a strong cybersecurity posture, they serve distinct purposes and offer different layers of protection:

Secure Web Gateways (SWGs): Guardians of Web Traffic

SWGs focus on securing internet-bound traffic. They act as intermediaries between users and the internet, filtering and inspecting web content for threats like malware, phishing attempts, and inappropriate content.

• Strengths: SWGs excel at protecting against web-based attacks, enforcing acceptable use policies, and preventing data leakage through web channels. They are particularly effective at safeguarding users when accessing the internet from outside the corporate network.

Cloud Access Security Brokers (CASBs): Protectors of Cloud Applications

CASBs focus on securing cloud applications and services. They act as intermediaries between users and cloud providers, monitoring and controlling access to cloud resources, enforcing security policies, and protecting sensitive data stored in the cloud.

• Strengths: CASBs are designed to address the unique security challenges of cloud environments, such as shadow IT, data breaches, and compliance risks. They provide visibility into cloud usage, enforce data loss prevention policies, and protect against unauthorized access to cloud resources.

Working Together: A Holistic Security Approach

SWGs and CASBs are not mutually exclusive; rather, they complement each other to provide comprehensive protection in today’s hybrid IT environments. SWGs protect users when accessing the internet, while CASBs secure cloud applications and data.

How Do Secure Web Gateways Fit Into The SASE Framework?

Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) is a cybersecurity framework that converges networking and security functions into a unified, cloud-delivered service. This approach provides comprehensive protection and enhances network performance for users, regardless of their location. 

Secure Web Gateways (SWGs) play a crucial role within the SASE framework.

How SWGs Enhance SASE Security

Here’s how SWGs enhance SASE security.

1. Web Traffic Protection: SWGs provide essential web security features such as URL filtering, content inspection,and malware detection. These capabilities protect users from web-based threats like phishing, malware downloads,and malicious websites.
2. Data Loss Prevention (DLP): SWGs integrate with SASE’s data protection capabilities to prevent sensitive data from being leaked through web channels. They can identify and block unauthorized uploads or downloads of confidential information.
3. Cloud-Based Security: As SASE is a cloud-centric framework, SWGs are often delivered as cloud-based services.This aligns with SASE’s architecture and ensures that web traffic security is consistently applied across all users and locations.
4. Policy Enforcement: SWGs can be configured to enforce granular security policies based on user identities,groups, and locations. This ensures that access to web resources is controlled to organizational security standards.
5. Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA): SWGs can be integrated with ZTNA solutions within the SASE framework.This approach verifies users and devices before granting access to specific web applications, reducing the risk of unauthorized access.

Benefits of Integrating SWGs into SASE

Here are the benefits of integrating SWGs into SASE.

• Enhanced Security: SWGs add an essential layer of protection against web-based threats, complementing SASE’s broader security capabilities.
• Simplified Management: Integrating SWGs into the SASE platform streamlines management and administration,providing a centralized view of web security and overall network security.
• Improved User Experience: Cloud-delivered SWG services within SASE can optimize web traffic routing and improve user experience, especially for remote and mobile users.
• Compliance: SWGs help organizations meet compliance requirements related to data protection and web access control.

The Future of SWGs in SASE

Gartner predicts that by 2025, 60% of enterprises will have explicit strategies and timelines for SASE adoption. As organizations embrace SASE, the role of SWGs within this framework will become increasingly important. 

SWGs will continue to evolve, incorporating advanced threat detection, machine learning, and other cutting-edge technologies to protect users and data in the ever-changing threat landscape.

Join The SASE Revolution: Moving Beyond The Traditional SWG with Perimeter 81

Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) is a blueprint for better business security and involves the combination of software-defined edge networking, user-focused authentication, and access control integration across the cloud. 

Perimeter 81’s SASE architecture incorporates all the functionalities of SWG security and enforces company policies to protect employees from accidental malware infection when surfing the web or when working remotely. 

Discover how the SASE model can help transform your organization’s security posture.