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Home / Glossary / SWG
Glossary · Security

SWG

Secure Web Gateway

In plain language

A filter that checks the websites your staff visit and blocks the dangerous ones.

The metaphor

Like a gatekeeper on the road out of the building who checks where each person is heading and turns people back from known bad neighbourhoods.

Going deeper

How it works

  • Web requests pass through it on the way out.
  • It blocks known malicious sites and unwanted categories.
  • It can scan downloads before they reach a computer.
  • It works for staff in the office and, with the right setup, at home.
In practice
  • An office blocks gambling and file-sharing sites on staff computers.
  • A school filters content for students.
  • A firm blocks newly registered websites often used in scams.

A question owners ask

Is this the same as a firewall?

A firewall controls traffic by address and port. A web gateway focuses on which sites and downloads are safe.

Related terms
AAAAuthentication, Authorization, and AccountingAccount takeoverACLAccess Control ListAdmin accountAESAdvanced Encryption StandardAES-256Advanced Encryption Standards 256-bitAISAutomated Indicator SharingAPTAdvanced Persistent Threat

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