In much the same way as businesses benefit from cloud technology for compute resources, cloud based web filtering for business provides an easy-to-manage filtering solution without an upfront cost or high maintenance overhead. Effectively, cloud based web filtering for business performs exactly the same role as an appliance or software solution, only a cloud content filter uses fewer resources.
Like the alternative deployment options, cloud based web filtering for business uses a three-tier mechanism to block access to websites that represent a threat to the security of the network or contravene user policies. Similarly, users have a whitelist feature to allow access to essential websites that might be blocked by the category or keyword filters.
Cloud based web filter solutions have a high degree of granularity, so network administrators can create and apply user policies by individual user, user groups or business-wide, and carefully control access to the Internet. Cloud based internet filtering solutions allow administrators to apply restrictions to conserve bandwidth use, block or allow access to specific web applications, and regulate employee Internet access by time, category or keyword – ensuring the network is protected against web-based threats without obstructing workflows.
The Indirect Advantages can be Substantial
The indirect advantages of cloud based web-filtering for business is that the same filtering mechanisms used to protect networks against web-based threats can be used to enhance productivity and block access to inappropriate or illegal content. Administrators can prevent employees accessing social media networks, gaming and dating websites, or shopping online – Activities in the workplace that are collectively referred to as cyber-slacking and can have a significant impact on productivity.
A cloud based content filtering service can be used to block online content that may cause offence within a business to create a more pleasant working environment. For example, one of the most common categories blocked by cloud web filtering solutions is pornography, which should not be accessible on business computers and can contribute to a hostile working environment if not blocked. A cloud web filtering service can also be used to block ‘risky’ websites such as P2P file sharing/torrents sites, which help to reduce legal risk from copyright-infringing file downloads as well reducing the risk of a malware infection.
Cloud content filtering solutions allow all web activity to be monitored in real time, allowing IT security teams and HR to identify issues with particular employees or departments. Network administrators can also schedule reports to identify attempts by individuals to access content that breaches acceptable Internet usage policies. When trying to improve productivity in the workplace, the reports generated by a cloud based content filter can be invaluable. Furthermore, as cloud based web filtering for business has practically no maintenance overhead, IT departments do not have to dedicate resources for tasks such as resolving hardware issues or performing software updates, and can instead focus on more business-critical matters. Overall, the indirect advantages of cloud based web filtering for business can be substantial.
Cloud Based Web Filtering for Business from TitanHQ
TitanHQ has been developing security products for almost twenty years. We provide robust and effective security tools in 129 countries that are used to protect hundreds of thousands of users from email- and web-based threats, and offer businesses a choice of cloud-based web filtering solutions – WebTitan Cloud for businesses for protecting wired networks and WebTitan Cloud for WiFi for business wireless networks, with the latter especially important for businesses that have a BYOD policy.
Both of these cloud-based web filtering solutions can be deployed and configured in minutes and are easy to manage via a secure web-based portal that is accessible from any Internet-connected device. The WebTitan Cloud web filter solutions provide an unmatched combination of coverage, accuracy and flexibility, and offer real-time categorization of over 500 million websites – including 100% of the Alexa one million most visited websites in two hundred languages.
Both the WebTitan Cloud and WebTitan Cloud for WiFi business web filtering solutions share identical features:
- Compatible with every operating system, with central control of multiple routers.
- No restrictions on the number of users that can connect to the network.
- Customizable reports on network usage and Internet traffic.
- No latency or bandwidth restrictions.
- Supports SSL inspection to filter encrypted websites.
- Includes malicious URL detection, phishing protection and antivirus protection.
- DNS proxy allows integration with LDAP and Active Directory.
- Can be deployed as a hosted web filter, in a private cloud, or within a company’s own infrastructure
Try Cloud Based Web Filtering for Business for Free
If you have not yet experienced the benefits of cloud based web filtering for business, we invite you to get in touch and discuss your web filtering requirements with us. We will determine the most suitable solution for your situation and are able to offer you a fourteen day free trial of our easy-to-use and versatile solutions – without any obligation on you to continue using our web filtering cloud service once the free trial has ended.
There are no credit cards required to take advantage of our offer and no contracts to sign. Deployment takes just a few minutes and involves redirecting your DNS to our servers. Thereafter, you will be able to evaluate the merits of cloud based web filtering in your own environment and find the optimal settings to protect your network against threats without obstructing workflows.
To find out more about cloud based web filtering for business, or to start your free trial of WebTitan Cloud or WebTitan Cloud for WiFi, contact us today. Our team of Sales Technicians will be happy to answers any questions you have and guide you through the registration process to start your free trial using the WebTitan web filter cloud. Within minutes, you can be protecting your network, enhancing productivity and creating a better workplace environment.
FAQs
Is there free web filtering for business use?
Free web filtering for business use is not recommended. Free web filtering services tend to be consumer-focused, and more geared preventing children from accessing age-inappropriate content on home Wi-Fi networks. Businesses need a more robust solution to block attempts by hackers to phish for credentials and install malware. A business-grade cloud based web filter is strongly recommended to protect against the targeted attacks businesses face, which consumers typically do not.
How much does cloud based web content filtering cost?
The cost of cloud based web content filtering can vary considerably from solution to solution. At the high end of the price spectrum you have the Cisco web filtering cloud, which is geared for large enterprises with complex filtering needs that need to engage in extensive threat investigations. This will be overkill for most SMBs, who will not need to spend the $2.25 per user, per month cost plus add-ons. WebTitan provides SMBs with all the important cloud web filtering features they need at half that cost.
How does cloud based URL filtering work?
Cloud based URL filtering limits access to dangerous, risky, or undesirable web content using a variety of mechanisms. Blacklists are used that contain URLs and domains that are used for distributing malware, phishing, or contain illegal content such as child pornography. Category filters are used to block specific categories of website, such as social media, dating, or gaming sites. Keyword filters are used to block content that exceeds a certain score for user-defined keywords. A cloud based URL filtering service will perform these checks with imperceptible latency.
What happens when the cloud web filtering service blocks access to content?
If a network or WiFi user attempts to visit a website or webpage that violates your Internet usage policies, the user will be directed to a local block page and will be advised that the web request has been denied. This local block page can be configured by the administrator. The attempt to visit the URL will be logged and will be available to view in the cloud web filter reports.
Can cloud web filtering solutions protect remote workers?
Cloud web filtering solutions can be configured to protect remote workers and stop them accessing risky web content on corporate-owned devices, and this is strongly recommended to reduce the risk of malware infections and phishing attacks. A cloud based web filter can also be used as part of a BYOD scheme, although since the devices will be used for both personal and business use, business web filtering policies for those devices may need to be more relaxed.
