Are you looking for the ultimate secret of secure web gateway? Then you have come to the right blog post. So, don’t stop reading.
The Ultimate Secret of Secure Web Gateway
A secure web gateway (SWG) is a software-based security solution that is installed in the user space of a host and works as a proxy between the network and the server. It protects your network from malicious traffic, spam, hackers, website vulnerabilities, and more.
Moreover, these tools aim to prevent various kinds of threats and attacks on your organization such as worms, hacking, SQL injection, phishing, spam, Denial of Service (DoS), and so on.
SWG is a vital part of the network security architecture. Because it is responsible for handling all the incoming requests from the Internet and the external world. It protects your servers, desktops, mail servers, and more. Therefore, it is also known as an edge security gateway.
Further, an SWG can be deployed in a variety of ways depending on your specific requirements. Though it is a very powerful tool, there are some challenges associated with this tool. Such as:
- high cost of implementation,
- complexity in implementation and configuration,
- difficulty in troubleshooting and maintenance,
- the high risk from internal attacks.
However, despite these challenges, SWG is being used by many organizations to tackle various network security issues.
So How Does a Secure Web Gateway Work?
How does an SWG work? An SWG works by filtering out dangerous or unwanted content before it reaches the internal network and gets executed by the computer. It acts as a firewall between the outside world (Internet) and your internal network.
Then, it has two main components. That is the proxy server and web server. The proxy server works internally while the webserver works externally. That is, towards the Internet/internet at large.
Further, when it detects something suspicious, it either blocks it or alerts the administrator. The SWG protects your network from a variety of threats that include:
- Web Application Vulnerabilities (WAV),
- Malicious Code Injection,
- Man-in-the-middle attacks,
- Phishing,
- Spoofing and Impersonation,
- Denial of Service (DOS),
- and more.
Moreover, an SWG is not just for filtering out malicious content. It is also capable of detecting vulnerabilities in the web applications used by your organization.
Also, it offers some other functions as well. Such as:
- Remediation. It cleans up infected systems and offers continuous protection against future infections.
- Reporting. It generates reports and logs of activities across networks to detect threats.
- Visibility. It delivers visibility into all Web applications hosted on your network and provides real-time analytics.
- Central Management. It offers centralized management capabilities for distributed networks.
Additionally, an SWG can also be used to provide a separate layer of security between the internal network and the Internet. This helps in mitigating various security risks such as website compromises, data loss, and more.
Conclusion
The choice of an SWG is very important because it has a big impact on your organization’s security posture. So, take time to look for the right SWG for your company. In the end, you will reap its benefits and keep your company afloat for a long time.