Points To Consider Before Selecting a Secure Web Gateway

Information technology has undergone a major transformation in recent years. Today, infrastructure, applications, and data – almost everything – are moving to the cloud. Whether it’s the public or private cloud infrastructure, cloud technology has revolutionized the IT ecosystem. Today, however, this raises global questions about how to protect the data stored in the cloud.

This rise in cloud technology has also changed the way employees used to work; it has made many people care less about the security of their data and that of the organization. When an employee works outside the corporate network, he does not even bother to turn on the VPN and work. And that’s where secure web gateways come into force.

What is a secure web gateway?

A secure web gateway (SWG) actually refers to content control software. When we talk about content control, it means that this specific software filters and manages the content on the Internet. This software essentially prevents malicious Internet traffic from running on the corporate network and ensures the security of the enterprise. In simple terms, it actually provides content relevant to the work or policy of the company and not to the user sitting outside the network.

In recent years, SWG has become a tool for organizations around the world. This is not very new – SWG has been there since the inception of the web. Today, however, it is more sophisticated than content filtering and is offered both in the on-prem forms and cloud. However, SWGs are capable of preventing or restricting malicious traffic, and that not all companies know to use SWG.

Things to Keep In Mind

You should have complete know-how about the web-related threats and vulnerabilities.

This is the first and foremost thing every organization should do. Companies need to understand the threats and vulnerabilities they are facing. They also need to make sure the path and source of the threat and what damage they are causing and could cause in the future.

What to consider when opting for secure web gateway?

You must have extensive knowledge of Web threats and vulnerabilities. This is the most important thing any organization should do. Businesses need to know the threats and vulnerabilities they are exposed to. They must also state the trajectory and source of the threat, as well as the damage they could cause in the future.

When you have strong knowledge about what you are going to deal with, you plan better. And when you plan better, you come up with strong solutions. So, before evaluating or opting for a specific secure web gateway, you should know what is happening.

If you know exactly what you are going to deal with, plan better. And if you plan better, you can offer solid solutions. So before you select a specific secure web gateway, you need to know what’s going on.

What measure to take?

When you’re done analyzing the threats and vulnerabilities, review the existing actions you’ve already taken or the tools you’ve configured to handle malicious traffic. Check each tool and see the results of these tools.

If you do not have the required resources and infrastructures, check to see if you can set this parameter and how much it will cost. If your budget is exceeded, you can see some of the cloud service providers. It is always a good idea to review our existing sources before using a brand new tool.

Do you have the bandwidth to deploy extra security tool?

You might feel a high level of need to deploy a secure web gateway product in order to make your web security infrastructure stronger, but one simply can’t buy an SWG product and get it fit in — you have to make sure that you have the required infrastructure and resources to make the most out of the tool.

Does your existing infrastructure align with cloud infrastructure?

The cloud approach can solve local problems but has its own requirements. So, if you choose a cloud infrastructure, make sure your existing processes and methods are working properly. Also, make sure you have the support you need for a cloud-centric deployment. This concerns the infrastructure.

Now, when you talk about tools and implementing a cloud-based security tool, you need to check whether it can integrate with existing local tools. If you can afford to meet those challenges, a cloud-based SWG is definitely a great way to eliminate cyber-attacks and malicious traffic from the corporate network.

What to expect from a secure web gateway product?

This is the penultimate but one of the most important things to keep in mind. You need to pick the issues you want to fix: the format of the threats you want to detect and fix, the type of traffic you want to block, and so on. If you have a vision or set of results that you expect, you can participate in the evaluation of the secure web gateway product and see if this product can deliver the results. It makes no sense to spend time and money on a product if it does not.

Related Resources:

Six Top Secure Web Gateway Vendors

Secure Web Gateway Mechanics Made Simple

What is the Difference between a Firewall, Router & Secure Web Gateway