Web Filtering Explained
Web filtering is a security technology that controls which websites and web content users on your network can access. It works by inspecting web requests (URLs, domains, and content) and comparing them against security databases and your organization's policies.
When a user tries to visit a website that is blocked by policy or identified as malicious, the request is intercepted and the user sees a block page instead. This happens transparently and instantly, requiring no action from the end user.
How Web Filtering Differs from DNS Filtering
While DNS filtering blocks entire domains (e.g., blocking all of "malicious-site.com"), web filtering operates at a more granular level:
- URL-level control: Block specific pages or paths on a domain, not just the entire domain
- Content inspection: Analyze the actual content of web pages to categorize and filter them
- File type blocking: Block downloads of specific file types (e.g., executables, archives) from untrusted sources
- HTTPS inspection: Inspect encrypted web traffic to enforce policies on HTTPS sites
Key point: VeloGuardian filters at the DNS level only. It does not inspect pages or HTTPS traffic.
What Web Filtering Protects Against
Web filtering addresses both security threats and productivity concerns. On the security side, it blocks malware distribution sites that host or distribute malicious software, phishing pages designed to steal credentials through fraudulent login forms, and drive-by downloads that attempt to install malware through browser vulnerabilities.
Beyond direct threats, web filtering also helps organizations control inappropriate content such as adult, gambling, or other categories you choose to restrict. It prevents data exfiltration through unauthorized file-sharing services or personal email that could leak sensitive data, and it surfaces shadow IT: unapproved cloud services and applications that bypass your security controls.
Content Categories
Web filters typically sort sites into content categories. Common categories include:
- Social media
- Streaming and entertainment
- Gaming
- Adult content
- Gambling
- File sharing
- Webmail
- News and media
- Shopping
Policies can be tailored per user group, for example allowing social media for the marketing team while blocking it for other departments.
Web filtering and DNS filtering work well together; VeloGuardian's Cloud Shield covers the DNS layer.
VeloGuardian and Web Filtering
VeloGuardian's Cloud Shield filters by domain, not by URL or page content. Because all traffic goes through the VeloGuardian VPN, it applies wherever your team works.