Introduction

Secure Web Gateways (SWG) protect against many – but not all – web-based threats


A secure web gateway (SWG) is a set of security services that protects Internet-enabled devices from web-based threats. These threats include viruses, malware, and phishing. The gateway achieves this in two ways. First, it enforces an organization’s network security policies across all devices, and second, it monitors both incoming and outgoing Internet traffic.

A secure web gateway, as indicated by its name, acts as a gate between the end user and the Internet. Any time a web request is made, the SWG ensures that the request complies with organizational policies, and blocks user access to any suspicious or malicious websites and applications. In this way, the gateway reduces the risk of data breaches and data leaks that can occur due to malware or other web-based threats.