What are the key secure web gateway capabilities today? How can these convince you into investing in this tool?
Secure Web Gateway Capabilities
Secure web gateway (SWG) capabilities are numerous. Firstly, SWG can filter and block threats at the network layer by applying firewall, IPS, antivirus, and other security measures. Additionally, SWG can perform web application firewall (WAF) functions.
SWG can also protect against advanced attacks such as phishing, buffer overflows, SQL injection, and cross-site scripting (XSS). Then, it can be deployed at the enterprise perimeter of the data center perimeter.
Moreover, it can also be deployed on a DMZ (demilitarized zone) network segment. This means the SWG will inspect all traffic and block malicious content before the traffic reaches the internal network. In this solution, the web gateway is in-line with the traffic flow and helps to stop threats at the gateway level.
Explaining Web Application Firewall (WAF)
A WAF is a web application layer-based security tool that helps to detect and prevent attacks targeting web-based applications. And has become an essential component for a secure web gateway.
Then, some of the key features of a WAF include:
- detect and block XSS attacks by inspecting HTTP requests for malicious code embedded in user input values. Such as search queries or URLs, which are then reflected by the user.
- check whether there is a mismatch in data type input fields or unexpected usage of encoded characters.
- detect SQL injection attacks by checking whether inputs are being used as part of database queries.
- block directory traversal attacks by checking if there is any attempt to access files outside of normal directories on the server.
- block cross-site request forgery (CSRF) attacks by checking if the request originates from an authenticated user with an active session on the site. And also whether the request is authentic.
- scan HTTP requests for malware or malicious scripts. Such as Java scripts, ActiveX objects, HTML tags, and images.
- check if cookies are set securely; that is, they should not be available to third parties.
So, when it comes to selecting an SWG, it is important to understand the capabilities and features that are available on the market. Also, consider the vendor’s reputation and track record. And evaluated the product performance against industry benchmarks.
Then, it can help to prevent attacks from external and internal threats. The solution can also protect web applications from malicious traffic and prevent data leakage. And a WAF helps to enhance security for the entire web application infrastructure. This means it can protect all applications regardless of the number or type of servers being used, or the programming language being used to develop them.
Conclusion
Thus, a WAF is an essential component in a secure web gateway’s arsenal. And it is one of the key features to look for in this product.
Therefore, when planning to invest in an SWG, make sure that you have all these capabilities in mind. This will ensure that you have a tool that can deliver all you need from your investment.