What is a secure web gateway tool? Why should your company consider investing in this kind of tool? Find out below.
What Is a Secure Web Gateway Tool?
A secure web gateway (SWG) is a tool that protects your business from web-based threats, such as phishing attacks, malware, and spam. It monitors traffic and prevents these threats from reaching your network. In addition, an SWG can block illegal activities that occur on your network. Such as employees accessing certain websites that are not related to the company’s operations.
Further, an SWG can be deployed in several ways, including as a software solution or a virtual appliance. The device is often integrated with other security applications, such as anti-virus and firewall products. A virtual version of the gateway will often run in a hypervisor environment. Once it’s deployed, you can configure the tool to match your specific business needs by using policies.
Then, an SWG is a key component of an overall security strategy because it provides a single point for monitoring and controlling web traffic. This is important because the number of online threats continues to grow each year. And companies must use the right tools to protect themselves from them.
The Benefits of Using a Secure Web Gateway Tool
There are many benefits associated with using an SWG. For one, the gateway allows you to monitor employee internet activity. One way an SWG helps companies stay secure is by allowing administrators to monitor employee internet activity.
For example, they can restrict employees from visiting certain websites, such as those associated with social media or pornography sites. They can also control which applications employees can use while on the network.
Moreover, the tool also allows administrators to block content that may be harmful to the company’s operations or reputation. That is if it is shared with customers or partners on social media sites or blogs.
Then, an SWG tool allows you to identify and block phishing attacks. A phishing attack occurs when cyber criminals send fake emails or websites that appear legitimate. This is to steal personal information from company employees and customers. So, an SWG prevents these attacks from reaching your network or systems by blocking them before they happen.
Further, SWGs allows you to protect against malware. Malware refers to any kind of software used for malicious purposes. It includes viruses, worms, trojans, keyloggers, bots, and more. An SWG blocks malware before it reaches your devices. This is done by scanning all incoming traffic for malicious content before allowing it access through the gateway.
Thus, this kind of tool allows you to encrypt sensitive data and monitor the traffic that goes out from your network. Doing so protects your company from cybercriminals.
Final Words
As you can see, SWG solutions are an important part of your IT security strategy. They help protect your company from the many threats that exist on the internet. And they allow you to monitor your employees’ internet activity. As such, they can help you stay competitive in today’s business environment. So, now that you know what an SWG is and how it works, you can decide if it’s right for your company.