What is a secure web gateway in cybersecurity? A secure web gateway (SWG) is a virtual barrier between an organization's network (users and devices) and the internet. It permits internet use within predefined security parameters. For instance, a SWG assesses web pages that employees wish to visit and only allows access to ones that meet a set of defined security and encryption standards. In addition to website visits, SWGs usually extend to other online activities, web-based applications such as video conferencing apps, and other resources that employees access with mobile devices. As a more advanced security solution than a firewall, a secure web gateway has highly customizable settings for filtering and inspecting both incoming and outgoing data. SWGs can be based on-premises or on the cloud, making them highly versatile tools for ensuring consistent enforcement of security strategies and policies. Here is a closer look at SWGs as important aspects of business cybersecurity.
The value of secure web gateways
SWGs are a vital aspect of a layered cybersecurity approach. They are designed to prevent, detect, or deal with specific external and internal threats. SWGs can help in the following ways depending on licensing and final implementation:
- Blocking malicious content
- Enhancing protections from online security threats
- Limiting access to sensitive data
- Automatic enforcement of defined use policies
- Decryption and inspection of encrypted information
- Consolidation of multiple cybersecurity functions into a single platform
- Providing a global policy managed from one point, the cloud SWGs are part of a comprehensive cybersecurity system that can include firewalls, endpoint monitoring and protection, and integration with security information and event management (SIEM) systems. Each of these tools deals with specific aspects of cybersecurity and creates multiple layers of protection.
How does a secure web gateway work?
A secure web gateway can serve as a checkpoint for a company's internet users and devices. It intercepts incoming data from websites, web applications, employees and outgoing data from the company. The SWG inspects the traffic for malicious code, malware and other potential threats. This process can also involve decrypting encrypted data to locate hidden threats. A SWG can also inspect outgoing data for sensitive information or breach compliance requirements. A SWG utilizes security scanning software to assess traffic and files. It relies on access controls and authentication to manage network users, verifying user permissions to grant access to the company's allowed online or internal resources. For example, it can help the support desk identify potential performance challenges to a monitored application covering outbound and inbound (SSL-VPN) client traffic.
How to effectively implement an SWG
The process of implementing a secure web gateway requires specific steps. These are necessary to provide the service to addresses the company's security requirements and policies.
- Define requirements and policies: The first step is to define security and productivity requirements and inbound/outbound and monitor usage policies. This information can help you design the parameters for the SWG setup.
- Select a vendor's gateway: You can then select a vendor's gateway that meets your defined requirements and also meets desired cost and scalability needs.
- Integrate the gateway: The IT team needs to route internet traffic through the gateway to allow inspection before employees get access. IT often uses agent installation, domain name systems (DNS) and proxy settings for routing.
- Set up access: The IT team should establish access settings so only users and devices with the proper credentials can access the network. They may use multifactor authentication (MFA) to help address potential threats from a stolen password or username. Businesses should also test the SWG to verify it works with firewalls and endpoint monitoring to offer a comprehensive security solution. Then, assessments are necessary to review and verify that the SWG continues to incorporate protections against new threats that may arise.
Features of a secure web gateway
A secure web gateway has multiple features that can address different cybersecurity tasks related to the inspected traffic.
- URL inspection: SWGs inspect data from URLs for malicious code, and deny access to suspicious sites.
- Decryption tools: The SWG also has the option to decrypt Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) traffic to look for any threats that might be hidden in such traffic. This applies to web code and any downloads or file attachments.
- Content categorization: An SWG defines the content, monitoring employees' accessed sites confirming they align with the company's goals and use policies.
- Data loss prevention: The system can analyze outgoing data for sensitive information, such as personal or financial data.
- Behavior analytics tools: These tools continuously monitor activity to look for anomalies and suspicious patterns that could indicate a breach or virus.
- Inbound/outbound policing: The SWG can set inbound and outbound policies to help limit access to business requirements. SWGs might have performance-related features enabled as well, which could include bandwidth management. This feature can prioritize bandwidth allocation for predefined activities necessary for productivity or better internet performance.
Business inbound applications
The use of SWGs can vary depending on the size of a business, its industry, and the ways it uses online resources and the internet. Here are the most common applications for businesses.
- Secure internet use: Employees can use online resources and perform research on the internet without exposing the internal network to viruses, malware or malicious files.
- Helps address data management: The data loss prevention feature ensures employees or bad actors cannot remove private data that the company is required to protect.
- Web use management: Administrators can categorize and limit access to sites that do not fit within the company's parameters and policies.
- Mobile device management: Administrators can extend protections to mobile devices that employees increasingly rely on to work.
- Other devices: Administrators can limit access to devices that do not conform with the company's defined parameters and policies.
- Internal application use management: Administrators can provide and limit access to internal and cloud applications required for day-to-day work. Companies can use automation, such as automated multi-factor authentication processes, to verify the identity of users and validate that compliance standards are applied uniformly.
Cybersecurity threats to businesses
SWGs can also play a key role in protecting a company from cybersecurity threats, which are a common problem in the modern age. According to 2023 Verizon's Data Breach Investigation Report, 83% of data breaches originated from an external source, with 95% of those breaches motivated by financial reasons. The three most common ways that hackers infiltrated cybersecurity networks were by stealing credentials, phishing attacks and exploiting a system's vulnerabilities. Nearly a quarter (24%) of all breaches also involved ransomware in some way. It's vital that businesses take steps to effectively protect their digital assets from malicious actors. SWGs are just one way of doing so, but they do offer several advantages over previous cybersecurity applications.
How SWGs differ from previous methods
SWGs combine features on one cloud platform and can replace some older cybersecurity practices. A SWG offers more detailed content filtering compared to proxies or firewalls, and it adds near real-time monitoring to help provide redundant protection against potential security risk items that slip past the filtering process. Some cybersecurity tools, such as firewalls, are still vital to network protection. For instance, a SWG can assess web traffic and then send signals to firewalls to block traffic or files based on its findings. This collaboration helps strengthen overall security by layering different functionalities and catching threats that might bypass one layer alone. Other tools, such as standalone web content filters and proxy servers, provide similar functions to a gateway but may not have comparable abilities for decryption and analysis. In these instances, a capable SWG may fully replace the legacy tools. In any case, businesses should make the effort to fully integrate a SWG into their existing cybersecurity ecosystem. Opting for a managed service allows for additional flexibility and extensive coverage that can include on and off-premise protection without compromising on threat detection.
Alternatives and further options
Businesses need a comprehensive cybersecurity system that includes secure web gateways or similar protections. Here are similar cybersecurity solutions businesses should consider.
- Next-generation firewalls have intrusion prevention features, but they can also filter web and application traffic. These tools may be useful for small business cybersecurity, but they may lack the comprehensiveness of SWGs.
- Remote browser isolation systems allow internet use in a partitioned environment to help enhance cybersecurity to address malicious code.
- Zero trust systems monitor user activity and credentials to verify access permissions in each context within a network. While these systems can be useful, they are best combined with perimeter defenses like SWGs. Companies of all sizes can work with experienced professionals who provide professional secure web gateway services to select the best tools and cybersecurity systems for their needs. The tools can help your business effectively manage SWGs and other security solutions to help assess and address safe internet use, internal application access, policy adherence and regulatory compliance across all your IT operations.
