Best Secure Web Gateway Vendors

How Many Secure Web Gateway Software Products Does G2 Track?

Total Products under this Category: 69

Category Stats (Sep 2026)

  • Average Rating: 4.38/5 (↑0.01 vs Aug 2026) The average rating of products in this category, based on all submitted ratings
  • Top Trending Product: SonicWall Cloud Secure Edge (+4.5%) - Among all products in this category, SonicWall Cloud Secure Edge recorded the largest rating increase compared to last month

Last updated: September 14, 2026

How Does G2 Rank Secure Web Gateway Software Products?

Why You Can Trust G2's Software Rankings:

  • 30 Analysts and Data Experts
  • 3,100+ Authentic Reviews
  • 69+ Products
  • Unbiased Rankings

G2's software rankings are built on verified user reviews, rigorous moderation, and a consistent research methodology maintained by a team of analysts and data experts. Each product is measured using the same transparent criteria, with no paid placement or vendor influence. While reviews reflect real user experiences, which can be subjective, they offer valuable insight into how software performs in the hands of professionals. Together, these inputs power the G2 Score, a standardized way to compare tools within every category.

G2 Grid® for Secure Web Gateway Software

G2 Grid® for Secure Web Gateway Software plotting products by satisfaction and market presence

Highlighted products: Zscaler Internet Access, Cisco Umbrella, Check Point URL Filtering, Menlo Security, Symantec Secure Web Gateway, Netskope One Platform, Fortinet FortiProxy, and Kaspersky Security for Internet Gateways.

Underlying data: [Grid® JSON](https://www.g2.com/categories/secure-web-gateways/grids.json?focus%5B%5D=zscaler-internet-access&focus%5B%5D=cisco-umbrella&focus%5B%5D=check-point-url-filtering&focus%5B%5D=menlo-security&focus%5B%5D=symantec-secure-web-gateway&focus%5B%5D=netskope-one-platform&focus%5B%5D=fortinet-fortiproxy&focus%5B%5D=kaspersky-security-for-internet-gateways)

Zscaler Internet Access

Zscaler Internet Access™ (ZIA) is the world’s leading cloud-native secure access solution that protects users, devices, and data by securing all internet traffic, regardless of location. Leveraging cloud native, AI-powered cyberthreat protection and zero trust access to the internet and SaaS apps, ZIA ensures fast, direct, and secure connections to the internet and SaaS applications, eliminating the need for traditional on-premises security hardware. With ZIA, you can optimize internet security and user experience while aligning with Zero Trust principles through Zscaler Internet Access. ZIA's advanced features like Secure Web Gateways, DNS Security, Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB), Data Loss Prevention (DLP), Secure Enterprise Browsing, and Cloud Sandboxing provide comprehensive protection against advanced threats such as malware, ransomware, and phishing while safeguarding sensitive corporate data. It combines robust threat prevention with granular policy enforcement to ensure secure, seamless access for users across remote, branch, or hybrid environments. With ZIA, organizations can embrace cloud transformation while leveraging simplified management, reduced complexity, and consistent security across global teams. Key Features and Benefits: • Prevent cyberthreats and data loss with AI: Protect your organization against advanced threats with a suite of AI-powered cyberthreat and data protection services, enriched by real-time updates sourced from 500 trillion daily threat signals from the world’s largest security cloud. • Get an unmatched user experience: Get the world’s fastest internet and SaaS experience—up to 40% faster than legacy security architectures—to boost productivity and increase business agility. • Reduce costs and complexity: Realize 139% ROI with Zscaler by replacing 90% of your costly, complex, and slow appliances with a fully cloud-native zero trust platform. • Secure your hybrid workforce: Empower employees, customers, and third parties to securely access web apps and cloud services from anywhere, on any device—with a great digital experience. • Unify SecOps and NetOps Efforts: Drive faster, more collaborative security outcomes with shared tooling like real-time traffic insights, API-first integrations, and granular RBAC. • Achieve Total Data and Content Sovereignty: Enforce compliance for secure and localized access without performance tradeoffs using Egress NAT, geolocalized content, and in-country data logging. • Secure AI in Your Environment: Enable the secure use of Microsoft Copilot and other AI applications. • Protect Developer Environments at Scale: Automate SSL/TLS inspection for 30+ developer tools while sandboxing code and unknown or large files with instant AI-verdicts—all without slowing innovation. Zscaler Internet Access is trusted by organizations worldwide to ensure secure, reliable, and fast internet connectivity that supports both modern workflows and digital transformation initiatives."

Average Rating: 4.4/5.0

Total Reviews: 301

How Do G2 Users Rate Zscaler Internet Access?

  • Has the product been a good partner in doing business?: 8.8/10 (Category avg: 8.9/10)
  • Ease of Use: 8.8/10 (Category avg: 8.7/10)
  • Ease of Admin: 8.6/10 (Category avg: 8.6/10)
  • Quality of Support: 8.6/10 (Category avg: 8.7/10)

Who Is the Company Behind Zscaler Internet Access?

  • Seller: Zscaler
  • Company Website:
  • Year Founded: 2008
  • HQ Location: San Jose, California
  • Twitter: @zscaler
    17,676 Twitter followers
  • LinkedIn® Page: www.linkedin.com
    9,150 employees on LinkedIn®

Who Uses This Product?

  • Who Uses This: Software Engineer
  • Top Industries: Information Technology and Services, Computer Software
  • Company Size: 55% Large, 27% Medium

What Do G2 Reviewers Say About Zscaler Internet Access?

AI-generated summary from verified user reviews

Pros
  • Users value the seamless security of Zscaler Internet Access, providing robust protection without compromising performance or user experience.
  • Users value the comprehensive internet security of Zscaler Internet Access, appreciating its effective threat prevention and user-friendly approach.
  • Users value the robust security capabilities of Zscaler Internet Access, ensuring safe browsing without added complexity.
  • Users find Zscaler Internet Access to be an excellent cloud proxy solution, praised for its ease of deployment and configuration.
  • Users value the seamless and robust email security of Zscaler Internet Access, ensuring protection without added complexity.
Cons
  • Users report slow performance with Zscaler Internet Access during peak hours, affecting connection speeds and productivity.
  • Users find the complex implementation challenging, especially for new admins, leading to potential web traffic access issues.
  • Users find complex configuration challenging, especially new admins, leading to potential web traffic access issues.
  • Users experience connection issues, including slow speeds, drops, and difficulties accessing certain websites or VPNs.
  • Users face challenging setup and slow internet speeds with Zscaler Internet Access, impacting user experience during peak times.

What Are Recent G2 Reviews of Zscaler Internet Access?

What Are G2 Users Discussing About Zscaler Internet Access?

Cisco Umbrella

Cisco Umbrella simplifies cybersecurity and compliance by providing a converged set of capabilities in a single, cloud-native solution. Its combination of DNS-layer security, secure web gateway, CASB, and more delivers an end-to-end experience that delights customers. Processing over 600 billion internet requests per day and leveraging the world’s largest cyber threat intelligence team in Cisco Talos, Umbrella has achieved AV-TEST’s #1 security efficacy ranking multiple times. Whether you need to strengthen your current security stack or want to transition to a more SASE-based architecture, Umbrella empowers you to confidently meet today’s cloud security goals and embrace tomorrow’s opportunities.

Average Rating: 4.4/5.0

Total Reviews: 266

How Do G2 Users Rate Cisco Umbrella?

  • Has the product been a good partner in doing business?: 8.5/10 (Category avg: 8.9/10)
  • Ease of Use: 8.6/10 (Category avg: 8.7/10)
  • Ease of Admin: 8.6/10 (Category avg: 8.6/10)
  • Quality of Support: 8.5/10 (Category avg: 8.7/10)

Who Is the Company Behind Cisco Umbrella?

  • Seller: Cisco
  • Year Founded: 1984
  • HQ Location: San Jose, CA
  • Twitter: @Cisco
    720,366 Twitter followers
  • LinkedIn® Page: www.linkedin.com
    95,294 employees on LinkedIn®
  • Ownership: NASDAQ:CSCO

Who Uses This Product?

  • Who Uses This: Network Engineer, Software Developer
  • Top Industries: Information Technology and Services, Computer & Network Security
  • Company Size: 48% Medium, 31% Large

What Are Recent G2 Reviews of Cisco Umbrella?

What Are G2 Users Discussing About Cisco Umbrella?

Check Point URL Filtering

Check Point's URL Filtering solution is designed to enhance web security by controlling access to a vast array of websites, categorized by users, groups, and machines. This approach safeguards users from malicious sites and promotes safe internet usage. By integrating UserCheck technology, it educates users on web usage policies in real time, fostering a more informed and secure browsing environment. Key Features and Functionality: - Extensive and Dynamic URL Coverage: The solution offers organizations the capability to dynamically allow, block, or limit access to specific websites in real time. It can manage access to entire websites or specific pages within a site, with fine-tuning policies that incorporate whitelisting and blacklisting of particular URLs. - SSL/TLS Traffic Inspection: Equipped with Check Point's SSL inspection technology, the system scans and secures encrypted SSL/TLS traffic passing through the gateway. Organizations can define granular exceptions for SSL/TLS inspection to protect user privacy and adhere to corporate policies. - 360° Visibility and Reporting: Achieve unparalleled visibility to detect and prevent web access security events. The URL Filtering solution seamlessly integrates with SmartEvent, enabling proactive prevention of web access-related security incidents. - Integration with Application Control: The solution is fully integrated with Application Control, allowing unified enforcement and management across all aspects of web security. This integration enables organizations to define, enforce, and report on web and application security policies at the user and group levels. Primary Value and User Solutions: Check Point's URL Filtering solution addresses the critical need for organizations to protect their networks from web-based threats. By controlling and monitoring web access, it prevents exposure to malicious sites, reduces the risk of data breaches, and ensures compliance with corporate internet usage policies. The integration with UserCheck technology not only enforces security measures but also educates users, promoting responsible web usage. This comprehensive approach enhances overall network security, optimizes operational efficiency, and reduces the total cost of ownership by eliminating the need for external proxies and additional security solutions.

Average Rating: 4.5/5.0

Total Reviews: 57

How Do G2 Users Rate Check Point URL Filtering?

  • Has the product been a good partner in doing business?: 9.0/10 (Category avg: 8.9/10)
  • Ease of Use: 9.3/10 (Category avg: 8.7/10)
  • Ease of Admin: 9.3/10 (Category avg: 8.6/10)
  • Quality of Support: 9.2/10 (Category avg: 8.7/10)

Who Is the Company Behind Check Point URL Filtering?

Who Uses This Product?

  • Top Industries: Information Technology and Services, Computer & Network Security
  • Company Size: 60% Medium, 24% Large

What Are Recent G2 Reviews of Check Point URL Filtering?

What Are G2 Users Discussing About Check Point URL Filtering?

Menlo Security

Founded over a decade ago, Menlo Security is a global cybersecurity leader. Trusted by over 1,000 enterprises—including Fortune 500 companies and large government agencies—to protect eight million users, Menlo created the industry's first Browser Security Platform. Our platform transforms standard browsers into secure enterprise browsers using a synergistic architecture that combines local controls with the Menlo Secure Cloud Browser. Key capabilities include Adaptive Clientless Rendering (ACR) for safe cloud execution, H.E.A.T Shield AI to block zero-hour phishing, clientless Zero Trust access, and Data Loss Prevention (DLP) with Content Disarm and Reconstruction (CDR). Menlo delivers architectural immunity against evasive threats for both humans and autonomous AI agents. By solving the "Agentic Paradox," we prevent data exfiltration and block zero-day ransomware. Organizations can safely govern Generative AI, secure unmanaged BYOD endpoints, and replace costly VDI and VPNs—all without disrupting user productivity.

Average Rating: 4.6/5.0

Total Reviews: 52

How Do G2 Users Rate Menlo Security?

  • Has the product been a good partner in doing business?: 9.5/10 (Category avg: 8.9/10)
  • Ease of Use: 9.4/10 (Category avg: 8.7/10)
  • Ease of Admin: 9.3/10 (Category avg: 8.6/10)
  • Quality of Support: 9.0/10 (Category avg: 8.7/10)

Who Is the Company Behind Menlo Security?

  • Seller: Menlo Security
  • Year Founded: 2012
  • HQ Location: Mountain View, California, United States
  • Twitter: @menlosecurity
    16,935 Twitter followers
  • LinkedIn® Page: www.linkedin.com
    503 employees on LinkedIn®

Who Uses This Product?

  • Top Industries: Banking, Financial Services
  • Company Size: 48% Large, 26% Medium

What Do G2 Reviewers Say About Menlo Security?

AI-generated summary from verified user reviews

Pros
  • Users commend the robust security features of Menlo Security, effectively protecting against phishing and modern threats.
  • Users value the strong protection against phishing and malware provided by Menlo Security, enhancing overall security effortlessly.
  • Users appreciate the ease of use with Menlo Security, highlighting quick setups and intuitive dashboards for management.
  • Users commend Menlo Security for its effective threat protection, ensuring safe browsing without disrupting normal workflows.
  • Users value the easy setup of Menlo Security, allowing quick implementation without major issues.
Cons
  • Users experience slow performance with Menlo Security, particularly on complex sites and during interactive sessions.
  • Users frequently experience access issues with Menlo Security, particularly with third-party sites and IP whitelisting challenges.
  • Users report performance issues with Menlo Security, particularly affecting interactive and complex web applications.
  • Users experience slowed internet browsing with Menlo Security, affecting performance and potentially causing user frustration.
  • Users experience technical issues with Menlo Security, including website functionality problems and slower file downloads at times.

What Are Recent G2 Reviews of Menlo Security?

Symantec Secure Web Gateway

Symantec Secure Web Gateway is a complete enterprise security for the cloud.

Average Rating: 4.4/5.0

Total Reviews: 12

How Do G2 Users Rate Symantec Secure Web Gateway?

  • Has the product been a good partner in doing business?: 9.7/10 (Category avg: 8.9/10)
  • Ease of Use: 9.0/10 (Category avg: 8.7/10)
  • Ease of Admin: 9.3/10 (Category avg: 8.6/10)
  • Quality of Support: 8.9/10 (Category avg: 8.7/10)

Who Is the Company Behind Symantec Secure Web Gateway?

  • Seller: Broadcom
  • Year Founded: 1991
  • HQ Location: San Jose, CA
  • Twitter: @broadcom
    63,909 Twitter followers
  • LinkedIn® Page: www.linkedin.com
    44,602 employees on LinkedIn®
  • Ownership: NASDAQ: CA

Who Uses This Product?

  • Top Industries: Information Technology and Services
  • Company Size: 67% Large, 17% Medium

What Are Recent G2 Reviews of Symantec Secure Web Gateway?

What Are G2 Users Discussing About Symantec Secure Web Gateway?

Netskope One Platform

Netskope is the leader in cloud security — we help the world’s largest organizations take advantage of cloud and web without sacrificing security. Our Cloud XD™ technology targets and controls activities across any cloud service or website and customers get 360-degree data and threat protection that works everywhere. We call this smart cloud security.

Average Rating: 4.4/5.0

Total Reviews: 93

How Do G2 Users Rate Netskope One Platform?

  • Has the product been a good partner in doing business?: 8.8/10 (Category avg: 8.9/10)
  • Ease of Use: 8.6/10 (Category avg: 8.7/10)
  • Ease of Admin: 9.0/10 (Category avg: 8.6/10)
  • Quality of Support: 8.4/10 (Category avg: 8.7/10)

Who Is the Company Behind Netskope One Platform?

  • Seller: Netskope
  • Year Founded: 2012
  • HQ Location: Santa Clara, CA
  • Twitter: @Netskope
    11,290 Twitter followers
  • LinkedIn® Page: www.linkedin.com
    3,402 employees on LinkedIn®

Who Uses This Product?

  • Top Industries: Information Technology and Services, Computer & Network Security
  • Company Size: 53% Large, 35% Medium

What Do G2 Reviewers Say About Netskope One Platform?

AI-generated summary from verified user reviews

Pros
  • Users value the ease of use of Netskope One Platform, appreciating its simple implementation and unified management.
  • Users value the easy integrations of Netskope One Platform, enhancing functionality with seamless connections to various solutions.
  • Users value the superior security features of Netskope One Platform, enhancing organizational data protection and threat management.
  • Users appreciate the enhanced visibility of Netskope One Platform, enabling effective security measures and improved threat responses.
  • Users value the robust data protection offered by Netskope One Platform, enhancing security against cyber threats effectively.
Cons
  • Users find the complex configuration of Netskope One Platform challenging, requiring time and expertise to deploy effectively.
  • Users often find the complex implementation of Netskope One Platform challenging, requiring considerable time and expertise for setup.
  • Users face complexity during setup with the Netskope One Platform, requiring time and expertise for effective deployment.
  • Users find integration issues with Netskope challenging, particularly with third-party tools and initial setup complexities.
  • Users find the complex setup of Netskope One challenging, particularly with configuration and integration processes.

What Are Recent G2 Reviews of Netskope One Platform?

What Are G2 Users Discussing About Netskope One Platform?

Fortinet FortiProxy

Fortinet FortiProxy is a secure web gateway designed to protect organizations from internet-borne threats by integrating multiple security measures, including web and video filtering, DNS filtering, data loss prevention (DLP), antivirus, intrusion prevention, and client browser isolation. It ensures secure, optimized, and compliant internet access for enterprises of all sizes. Key Features and Functionality: - Advanced SSL Inspection: Utilizes powerful hardware to perform SSL inspection, effectively eliminating blind spots in encrypted traffic without compromising performance. - Security Fabric Integration: Seamlessly integrates with Fortinet's Security Fabric components such as FortiSandbox and FortiAnalyzer, and supports third-party security devices via ICAP and WCCP protocols. - High Performance and Scalability: Employs specialized ASICs to accelerate network and security functions, supporting proxy speeds up to 15 Gbps and scaling from small enterprises with 500 users to large organizations with 50,000 users. - Advanced Threat Protection: Incorporates FortiGuard Threat Intelligence Service, web, video, and DNS filtering, application control, client browser isolation, and integration with FortiSandbox and FortiNDR for comprehensive threat defense. - Content Caching and WAN Optimization: Offers static and dynamic content caching, multiple content delivery network support, reduced network latency, and lower bandwidth overhead. Primary Value and Problem Solved: FortiProxy addresses the critical need for secure and efficient internet access by providing comprehensive protection against a wide range of web-based threats. Its advanced SSL inspection ensures visibility into encrypted traffic, while integration with Fortinet's Security Fabric and third-party devices offers a cohesive security posture. The solution's high performance and scalability make it suitable for organizations of varying sizes, delivering robust security without compromising network speed or user experience.

Average Rating: 4.4/5.0

Total Reviews: 22

How Do G2 Users Rate Fortinet FortiProxy?

  • Has the product been a good partner in doing business?: 8.6/10 (Category avg: 8.9/10)
  • Ease of Use: 8.2/10 (Category avg: 8.7/10)
  • Ease of Admin: 8.6/10 (Category avg: 8.6/10)
  • Quality of Support: 8.8/10 (Category avg: 8.7/10)

Who Is the Company Behind Fortinet FortiProxy?

  • Seller: Fortinet
  • Year Founded: 2000
  • HQ Location: Sunnyvale, CA
  • Twitter: @Fortinet
    151,422 Twitter followers
  • LinkedIn® Page: www.linkedin.com
    16,564 employees on LinkedIn®
  • Ownership: NASDAQ: FTNT

Who Uses This Product?

  • Top Industries: Computer & Network Security, Financial Services
  • Company Size: 61% Medium, 26% Large

What Are Recent G2 Reviews of Fortinet FortiProxy?

What Are G2 Users Discussing About Fortinet FortiProxy?

Kaspersky Security for Internet Gateways

Kaspersky Security for Internet Gateway offers reliable protection against all forms of web-based threats including malware, ransomware, miners and phishing – while helping to reduce risk and boost productivity by controlling internet usage. • Multi-layered threat protection The solution combines proactive machine learning-based detection and analysis with real-time global threat intelligence to block malware, ransomware, wipers and miners attempting to attack systems via web resources. • Advanced anti-phishing Leveraging deep learning algorithms and reputational data from across the globe, the product’s stack of anti-phishing technologies blocks online phishing sites, however genuine they may appear. • Web control with categorization Kaspersky Security for Internet Gateway enables the restriction of access to certain websites and their categories – as well as traffic from particular applications – reducing your security risk and user distraction from non-work-related sites. • Flexible deployment options Kaspersky Security for Internet Gateway is offered as a standalone application or as an all-in-one, ready-to-use software appliance, for quick, hassle-free deployment.

Average Rating: 4.1/5.0

Total Reviews: 29

How Do G2 Users Rate Kaspersky Security for Internet Gateways?

  • Has the product been a good partner in doing business?: 6.7/10 (Category avg: 8.9/10)
  • Ease of Use: 8.3/10 (Category avg: 8.7/10)
  • Ease of Admin: 7.3/10 (Category avg: 8.6/10)
  • Quality of Support: 8.5/10 (Category avg: 8.7/10)

Who Is the Company Behind Kaspersky Security for Internet Gateways?

  • Seller: Kaspersky
  • Year Founded: 1997
  • HQ Location: Moscow
  • Twitter: @kasperskylabind
    1,291 Twitter followers
  • LinkedIn® Page: www.linkedin.com
    4,616 employees on LinkedIn®
  • Phone: 1-866-328-5700

Who Uses This Product?

  • Company Size: 66% Small, 21% Medium

What Are Recent G2 Reviews of Kaspersky Security for Internet Gateways?

What Are G2 Users Discussing About Kaspersky Security for Internet Gateways?

NordLayer

NordLayer is a toggle-ready network security platform that helps businesses connect, protect, detect, and respond to cyber threats. Built on NordVPN standards, it ensures a secure and reliable connection to the internet and private company resources. NordLayer is designed for modern businesses of all sizes, offering cutting-edge business VPN, Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA), advanced threat protection, and threat intelligence. It helps companies meet regulatory compliance requirements and enhance cyber resilience while remaining hardware-free, scalable, and adaptable to any work model. With user-centered security and intuitive deployment, NordLayer integrates easily into any existing infrastructure, ensuring best-in-the-market protection for remote, hybrid, and on-premises teams. -- Looking for a partnership? The NordLayer Partner Program helps MSPs, resellers, and agents grow their businesses with high profit margins, dedicated training, 24/7 technical support, and no upfront investment. Learn more: nordlayer.com/partner-program

Average Rating: 4.3/5.0

Total Reviews: 127

How Do G2 Users Rate NordLayer?

  • Has the product been a good partner in doing business?: 8.5/10 (Category avg: 8.9/10)
  • Ease of Use: 9.2/10 (Category avg: 8.7/10)
  • Ease of Admin: 9.0/10 (Category avg: 8.6/10)
  • Quality of Support: 8.5/10 (Category avg: 8.7/10)

Who Is the Company Behind NordLayer?

  • Seller: Nord Security
  • Company Website:
  • Year Founded: 2012
  • HQ Location: Global
  • Twitter: @NordPass
    9,488 Twitter followers
  • LinkedIn® Page: www.linkedin.com
    2,009 employees on LinkedIn®

Who Uses This Product?

  • Who Uses This: CTO
  • Top Industries: Computer Software, Information Technology and Services
  • Company Size: 56% Small, 34% Medium

What Do G2 Reviewers Say About NordLayer?

AI-generated summary from verified user reviews

Pros
  • Users value the ease of use of NordLayer, benefiting from straightforward setup and flexible configuration options.
  • Users highlight the setup ease of NordLayer, praising its intuitive configuration and comprehensive documentation.
  • Users love the easy access NordLayer provides, simplifying secure connections and management for remote teams.
  • Users value the easy management of NordLayer, enabling simple user access and streamlined connectivity for teams.
  • Users find the easy setup of NordLayer highly beneficial, allowing for quick and straightforward configuration.
Cons
  • Users experience performance issues with slow connection times and limited troubleshooting capabilities, impacting usability and efficiency.
  • Users express frustration over limited features, particularly regarding admin controls and advanced security options in NordLayer.
  • Users experience connection issues with NordLayer, often facing slow connections and occasional drops despite strong internet.
  • Users experience complex configuration challenges with NordLayer, feeling restricted by limited options and slow support responses.
  • Users express frustration with the complex setup of NordLayer, especially for advanced configurations and support responses.

What Are Recent G2 Reviews of NordLayer?

What Are G2 Users Discussing About NordLayer?

Prisma Access

Palo Alto Networks Prisma® Access protects the hybrid workforce with the superior security of ZTNA while providing exceptional user experiences from a simple, unified security product. Purpose-built in the cloud to secure at cloud scale, only Prisma Access protects all application traffic with best-in-class capabilities while securing both access and data to dramatically reduce the risk of a data breach. With a common policy framework and single-pane-of-glass management, Prisma Access secures today’s hybrid workforce without compromising performance, backed by industry-leading SLAs to ensure exceptional user experiences.

Average Rating: 4.3/5.0

Total Reviews: 72

How Do G2 Users Rate Prisma Access?

  • Has the product been a good partner in doing business?: 8.6/10 (Category avg: 8.9/10)
  • Ease of Use: 8.2/10 (Category avg: 8.7/10)
  • Ease of Admin: 8.0/10 (Category avg: 8.6/10)
  • Quality of Support: 8.2/10 (Category avg: 8.7/10)

Who Is the Company Behind Prisma Access?

  • Seller: Palo Alto Networks
  • Year Founded: 2005
  • HQ Location: Santa Clara, CA
  • Twitter: @PaloAltoNtwks
    128,951 Twitter followers
  • LinkedIn® Page: www.linkedin.com
    23,492 employees on LinkedIn®
  • Ownership: NYSE: PANW

Who Uses This Product?

  • Top Industries: Information Technology and Services, Computer Software
  • Company Size: 47% Large, 27% Medium

What Do G2 Reviewers Say About Prisma Access?

AI-generated summary from verified user reviews

Pros
  • Users value the enterprise-grade security of Prisma Access, ensuring robust protection and threat prevention across all networks.
  • Users appreciate the seamless integration of cloud-delivered security and networking provided by Prisma Access for hybrid work environments.
  • Users value the granular secure access provided by Prisma Access for enhanced and controlled network connectivity.
  • Users value the comprehensive internet security of Prisma Access, ensuring robust protection against sophisticated web threats.
  • Users praise Prisma Access for its real-time threat protection, ensuring robust security across all applications and locations.
Cons
  • Users find the complex setup of Prisma Access frustrating and time-consuming, especially during troubleshooting and configuration.
  • Users find the complex implementation of Prisma Access challenging, particularly during setup and troubleshooting configuration issues.
  • Users find the complex configuration of Prisma Access frustrating, especially during setup and troubleshooting phases.
  • Users find the pricing to be steep, which may limit accessibility for smaller organizations and complicate decisions.
  • Users find the difficult learning curve of Prisma Access frustrating, particularly in setup and policy configuration.

What Are Recent G2 Reviews of Prisma Access?

What Are G2 Users Discussing About Prisma Access?

Citrix Secure Private Access

Citrix Secure Browser is service protects the corporate network from browser-based attacks by isolating web browsing. It delivers consistent, secure remote access to internet hosted web applications with zero end-point configuration.

Average Rating: 4.5/5.0

Total Reviews: 51

How Do G2 Users Rate Citrix Secure Private Access?

  • Has the product been a good partner in doing business?: 9.1/10 (Category avg: 8.9/10)
  • Ease of Use: 9.0/10 (Category avg: 8.7/10)
  • Ease of Admin: 8.6/10 (Category avg: 8.6/10)
  • Quality of Support: 8.6/10 (Category avg: 8.7/10)

Who Is the Company Behind Citrix Secure Private Access?

  • Seller: Citrix
  • Year Founded: 1989
  • HQ Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL
  • Twitter: @citrix
    197,812 Twitter followers
  • LinkedIn® Page: www.linkedin.com
    4,236 employees on LinkedIn®
  • Ownership: NASDAQ:CTXS

Who Uses This Product?

  • Top Industries: Information Technology and Services, Banking
  • Company Size: 48% Large, 37% Medium

What Are Recent G2 Reviews of Citrix Secure Private Access?

What Are G2 Users Discussing About Citrix Secure Private Access?

Kitecyber

Kitecyber: The Security Agent for the AI Endpoint Era Kitecyber is a next-gen cybersecurity company built to protect sensitive data at its source: the endpoint, where work actually happens. In the age of AI agents, your most sensitive data - source code, customer records, credentials, financials, and IP - now moves through GenAI prompts, SaaS uploads, browser activity, private apps, and autonomous AI agents acting on a user's behalf. Kitecyber puts data security at the center, giving teams real-time visibility and control over where that data goes and who (or what) is moving it. Kitecyber is servicing hundreds of customers from SMBs to mid market enterprises like Policy Bazaar, Instavision, Duplocloud, Kloudfuse, AI4Process, Lily.ai, Sarvam.ai, Antino, Kiwico, origin63, Agnext, Tynor, Shoonya to secure their data and Gen AI usage. We also help customer meet compliance requirements for SOC2, ISO27001, GDPR, HIPAA, DPDP act, PCI DSS and others. Our customers span across technology, SaaS, Gen AI, Fintech, BFSI, Manufacturing, health tech and other regulated industries. AI has changed the endpoint threat model. AI copilots and agents can read, summarize, copy, and upload sensitive information at machine speed, often without clear security boundaries. Traditional tools weren't built for this: endpoint tools detect malware, network tools inspect traffic, legacy DLP enforced static policies, and VPNs trusted networks -- but none understand a world where an AI agent can exfiltrate data faster than a human can review it. Kitecyber closes that gap by making the endpoint the real-time decision point for data protection. At its core, Kitecyber delivers data security at the endpoint by understanding device posture, seeing user activity, data activity, classifying sensitive data, Operating system activity and network activity. This broad coverage provides much better security as compared to point solutions that see only part of the activity. It tracks data lineage and movement in real time, classifies data using document context in addition to pattern matching, and enforces the right action -- allow, block, warn, coach, log, or isolate -- at the exact point of risk. Around this data-security core, Kitecyber unifies the controls modern teams need into one lightweight agent and a shared trust engine, so there's nothing to stitch together and no blind spots between tools: 1) Endpoint & network DLP - protect sensitive data across files, clipboard, browser, GenAI, SaaS, and removable media 2) GenAI & AI agent security - control how users, copilots, and AI agents interact with sensitive data and external AI services 3) Secure Web Gateway - endpoint-based protection against phishing, risky destinations, and unsafe downloads, with URL filtering for SaaS and GenAI apps 4) SaaS app protection - govern access and data movement across sanctioned and unsanctioned SaaS apps 5) Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) - replace legacy VPNs with context-aware access to private apps and AWS, Azure, and GCP, based on identity, device posture, and least privilege 6) Unified endpoint management & compliance automation - manage devices, automate onboarding/offboarding, and enforce policy across Windows, macOS, and Linux Kitecyber follows a simple model: See, Decide, Enforce - continuously. The agent observes endpoint posture, user activity, browser behavior, data movement, SaaS access, AI interactions, and private app sessions; evaluates each action in context (who is acting, what device, what data, where it's going); and enforces the right control at the moment of action. Kitecyber also uses Gen AI to cut false-positive alerts, classify data by context, analyze suspicious process activity, and generate incident reports with root causes and remediations, significantly reducing the triage burden on SOC and NOC teams. Kitecyber is built for organizations that need enterprise-grade data protection without enterprise complexity. It's used by IT teams (fast deployment, device management, automation), security teams (visibility and control over data movement, AI usage, and insider risk), MSPs and MSSPs (modern DLP, SWG, SaaS, and ZTNA through one platform), and business leaders (protect data, reduce breach risk, and support AI adoption without slowing productivity). By consolidating device, data, web, SaaS, AI, and access security into a single endpoint-native agent, Kitecyber reduces tool sprawl and cost while strengthening protection - so teams can adopt AI confidently, knowing their sensitive data stays secure wherever work happens.

Average Rating: 4.8/5.0

Total Reviews: 48

How Do G2 Users Rate Kitecyber?

  • Has the product been a good partner in doing business?: 9.5/10 (Category avg: 8.9/10)
  • Ease of Use: 9.7/10 (Category avg: 8.7/10)
  • Ease of Admin: 9.1/10 (Category avg: 8.6/10)
  • Quality of Support: 9.8/10 (Category avg: 8.7/10)

Who Is the Company Behind Kitecyber?

  • Seller: Kitecyber
  • Company Website:
  • Year Founded: 2022
  • HQ Location: Santa Clara, California, United States
  • Twitter: @kitecyber
  • LinkedIn® Page: www.linkedin.com
    13 employees on LinkedIn®

Who Uses This Product?

  • Top Industries: Computer Software, Information Technology and Services
  • Company Size: 63% Small, 38% Medium

What Do G2 Reviewers Say About Kitecyber?

AI-generated summary from verified user reviews

Pros
  • Users commend the responsive and helpful customer support of KiteCyber, enhancing the overall experience and ease of use.
  • Users appreciate the ease of use of Kitecyber, enjoying a seamless installation and user-friendly interface.
  • Users highlight the excellent customer support and effortless onboarding process of Kitecyber, enhancing their overall experience.
  • Users appreciate the comprehensive security provided by Kitecyber, simplifying management with an intuitive platform and responsive support.
  • Users commend KiteCyber's reliability, noting its seamless integration and outstanding support for remote team management.
Cons
  • Users note the limited features in Kitecyber, wishing for more depth and easier access to tools.
  • Users express frustration over delays in executing high-priority action items, impacting responsiveness to critical needs.
  • Users find the usability issues of Kitecyber's dashboard a bit complicated and not very intuitive at first.
  • Users often face unwanted warning pop-ups about risky sites, disrupting their browsing experience with Kitecyber.
  • Users find that the difficult configuration may delay navigation until they become familiar with the settings.

What Are Recent G2 Reviews of Kitecyber?

Check Point SASE

The internet is the new corporate network, leading organizations to transition to their network security to Secure Access Service Edge (SASE). However, current solutions break the user experience with slow connections and complex management. Check Point SASE is a game-changing solution that delivers 10x faster internet security, SaaS Security, and full mesh Zero Trust Access and optimized SD-WAN performance—all with an emphasis on streamlined management. Combining innovative on-device and cloud-delivered network protections, Check Point SASE offers a local browsing experience with tighter security and privacy, and an identity-centric zero trust access policy that accommodates everyone: employees, BYOD and third parties. Its SD-WAN solution unifies industry-leading threat prevention with optimized connectivity, automated steering for over 10,000 applications and seamless link failover for uninterrupted web conferencing. Using Check Point SASE, business can build a secure corporate network over a private global backbone in less than an hour. The service is managed from a unified console and is backed by an award-winning global support team that has you covered 24/7.

Average Rating: 4.5/5.0

Total Reviews: 224

How Do G2 Users Rate Check Point SASE?

  • Has the product been a good partner in doing business?: 8.8/10 (Category avg: 8.9/10)
  • Ease of Use: 8.9/10 (Category avg: 8.7/10)
  • Ease of Admin: 8.9/10 (Category avg: 8.6/10)
  • Quality of Support: 8.9/10 (Category avg: 8.7/10)

Who Is the Company Behind Check Point SASE?

Who Uses This Product?

  • Top Industries: Information Technology and Services, Computer & Network Security
  • Company Size: 47% Medium, 34% Small

What Do G2 Reviewers Say About Check Point SASE?

AI-generated summary from verified user reviews

Pros
  • Users value the comprehensive security provided by Check Point SASE for distributed workforces and safe connections.
  • Users find Check Point SASE to offer ease of use with seamless integration and centralized management for remote access.
  • Users value the secure yet high-performing access of Check Point SASE, enjoying seamless management and reliability.
  • Users appreciate the comprehensive security provided by Check Point SASE, enhancing protection for distributed workforces.
  • Users find Check Point SASE to be highly reliable, ensuring seamless and easy secure access without significant issues.
Cons
  • Users find the complex implementation of Check Point SASE challenging, especially during initial setup and policy configuration.
  • Users find the complex configuration challenging, particularly during initial setup and policy adjustments.
  • Users often face a complex setup process with Check Point SASE, making implementation challenging for newcomers.
  • Users find the licensing costs too high, leading to challenges in justifying the value of features.
  • Users note a steep learning curve with Check Point SASE, making initial setup challenging for some.

What Are Recent G2 Reviews of Check Point SASE?

What Are G2 Users Discussing About Check Point SASE?

Skyhigh Security Secure Web Gateway

Skyhigh Secure Web Gateway SWG connects and secures your workforce from malicious websites and cloud apps from anywhere, any application, and any device. It protects users from threats and data loss with integrated Remote Browser Isolation RBI, Cloud Access Security Broker CASB and Data Loss Prevention DLP capabilities while providing the ability to access the web and cloud. Skyhigh SWG is consolidated into a fully converged platform and managed from the same single console as the rest of the Skyhigh SSE services.

Average Rating: 4.3/5.0

Total Reviews: 18

How Do G2 Users Rate Skyhigh Security Secure Web Gateway?

  • Has the product been a good partner in doing business?: 8.2/10 (Category avg: 8.9/10)
  • Ease of Use: 8.7/10 (Category avg: 8.7/10)
  • Ease of Admin: 8.1/10 (Category avg: 8.6/10)
  • Quality of Support: 8.6/10 (Category avg: 8.7/10)

Who Is the Company Behind Skyhigh Security Secure Web Gateway?

  • Seller: Skyhigh Security
  • Year Founded: 2022
  • HQ Location: San Jose, CA
  • Twitter: @SkyhighSecurity
    17,573 Twitter followers
  • LinkedIn® Page: www.linkedin.com
    751 employees on LinkedIn®

Who Uses This Product?

  • Top Industries: Information Technology and Services
  • Company Size: 37% Large, 32% Medium

What Are Recent G2 Reviews of Skyhigh Security Secure Web Gateway?

What Are G2 Users Discussing About Skyhigh Security Secure Web Gateway?

Lightspeed Filter

Lightspeed Filter is the best-in-class solution that protects students from harmful material to ensure their online safety. To help districts maintain safety and CIPA-compliance, our solution is powered by the most comprehensive database of K-12 online content in the industry from 20 years of web indexing. Whether it's protecting take-home devices or customizing blocklists for grade level, we've got you covered with SSL decryption on all devices, on your network and off, all in the cloud. Fast and accurate roster syncing: Simultaneously sync any combination of student information systems (SIS) and directory services to one centralized place with Lightspeed SmartSync™ technology. Flexible policy management: Quickly locate and manage group policies, reports, and more with quick search functionality, sophisticated hierarchical breadcrumb navigation, and granular group filtering with Lightspeed SmartPolicy™ technology. Easy SSL Decryption: Provide multi-OS SSL decryption without the need to configure proxies, PACs, or trust certificates. Lightspeed SmartAgents™ put the power of a filter inside each device. Granular YouTube Controls: SmartPlay™ takes control of YouTube. Allow educational videos and block inappropriate content, thumbnails and time-wasters—in just a click.

Average Rating: 4.5/5.0

Total Reviews: 63

How Do G2 Users Rate Lightspeed Filter?

  • Has the product been a good partner in doing business?: 9.0/10 (Category avg: 8.9/10)
  • Ease of Use: 8.9/10 (Category avg: 8.7/10)
  • Ease of Admin: 8.9/10 (Category avg: 8.6/10)
  • Quality of Support: 8.7/10 (Category avg: 8.7/10)

Who Is the Company Behind Lightspeed Filter?

  • Seller: Lightspeed Systems
  • Year Founded: 1999
  • HQ Location: Austin, TX
  • Twitter: @lightspeedsys
    4,595 Twitter followers
  • LinkedIn® Page: www.linkedin.com
    249 employees on LinkedIn®

Who Uses This Product?

  • Top Industries: Primary/Secondary Education, Education Management
  • Company Size: 67% Medium, 20% Large

What Do G2 Reviewers Say About Lightspeed Filter?

AI-generated summary from verified user reviews

Pros
  • Users commend the exceptional communication from Lightspeed Filter, enhancing their experience and ensuring student safety and support.
  • Users value the comprehensive solutions provided by Lightspeed Filter, ensuring seamless support and student safety.
  • Users highly value the comprehensive content filtering of Lightspeed Filter, ensuring student safety and effective management.
  • Users praise the responsive customer support of Lightspeed Filter, ensuring a seamless experience for educational needs.
  • Users appreciate the easy setup of Lightspeed Filter, streamlining the process for effective web filtering and management.
Cons
  • Users experience access restrictions due to limited support hours, affecting early morning assistance availability.
  • Users experience insufficient support due to limited hours, affecting timely access to assistance when needed.

What Are Recent G2 Reviews of Lightspeed Filter?

What Are G2 Users Discussing About Lightspeed Filter?

Lauren Worth
LW
Researched and written by Lauren Worth
Updated November 19, 2024

Secure Web Gateways Topics

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Learn More About Secure Web Gateway Software

In today's interconnected world, the Internet has become the backbone of countless business operations, facilitating communication, collaboration, and access to information. However, with its benefits come significant risks like cyber threats and data breaches. SWG software regulates internet traffic, so only authentic websites enter your network. 

What are secure web gateways?

Secure web gateways offer businesses end-to-end cloud security to block malicious web traffic, activate Windows Defender and firewall protection mechanisms, and secure IP hosting to empower users with a smooth internet experience. SWG builds a fortress that prevents suspicious server-side sites from entering a company's database.

SWG software provides an extra layer of coverage over your DNS server so that your on-premise and cloud devices are connected securely to the internet. SWG software encrypts server side traffic and transmits only secure bits of information over to client side. It prevents unauthorized crawlers or malicious websites from leaving a trail on your systems by blocking access altogether.

The secure web gateways also secure file transmission protocol  (FTP)  processes from one client workstation to another. Even while sending data packets, these tools verify whether or not the information received is genuine. That gives an endpoint protection benefit to companies and omits any scope of data wrangling or theft.

How does a secure web gateway work?

Below is the stepwise procedure in which a secure web gateway functions to ensure secure information exchange between users and the Internet:

  • Traffic inspection:  Secure web gateways are activated whenever a person tries to browse the Internet from a company. These tools inspect, monitor, and route oncoming traffic to system browsers and compare it with network policies and guidelines to check credibility. 
  • URL filtering: During domain name server (DNS) activation, secure web gateways record the URL the user entered and analyze its structure. The URL needs to match a categorized directory of URLs for authenticity and genuineness. Only specific syntax-based URLs are open for users to check out and explore. It blocks and disavows uncategorized or unsafe URLs both from the server and client sides.  
  • SSL/TLS inspection: Secure web gateway solutions ensure that a company doesn't inadvertently upload critical files or post sensitive data (like payment numbers and intellectual property data) over the Internet. They trigger a secure socket layer (SSL) or transport layer security (TLS) to port data wisely through authentic protocols across the server. They encrypt data packets sent from the company's IP address and verify contents before passing it to the server.
  • Data loss prevention: Secure web gateways enable data transmission over on-premise or cloud servers without resulting in packet loss. It follows legitimate cryptography policies and data retention guidelines enforced by a company to receive data in a compatible and accessible way. 
  • Application control: Secure web gateway provides encryption and data masking services for web-based and cloud-native applications. It extends security to cloud storage platforms to protect company data and scrutinize online browsing. 
  • Threat detection and response: Secure web gateway has built-in threat detection and incident response features to prevent phishing attacks or malware. It audits web traffic and runs deep scans for downloadables to rule out any scope of malicious content.

What are the common features of a secure web gateway software?

Secure web gateway software offers many features to protect users against evolving cyber threats. Below are some of the core features commonly found. 

  • Malware detection and prevention: SWG detects unauthorized threats, malware, spyware, and harmful content from websites and blocks access to protect system devices. It also triggers firewall protection to defend the system against infected files.
  • Content filtering: SWG tools categorize content backend code from cookie data of an incoming web domain address. They compare the code against company policies and regulations and flag any drastic difference in content quality. They filter out lousy quality, insecure, and bot traffic from genuine and authentic websites.
  • Secure socket layer (SSL) and Transport layer security: The SWG protects your DNS hosting service by monitoring traffic data via secure socket layer (SSL) and transport layer security (TSL) and following cryptography policies. The data is encrypted and decrypted between senders and receivers' networks. It prevents data from getting lost or hacked when it reaches its receiver.
  • Advanced threat protection: SWG solutions offer threat and endpoint detection to increase cybersecurity for your on-premise or cloud infrastructure. The anti-breach capabilities protect your data exchange processes without worrying about privacy and regulatory concerns.
  • User authentication and identity management: Secure web gateways also empowers team members with a user authentication account to access certain websites without interruption. It re-evaluates member identities to ensure that data is accessible only by authorized members.
  • Comprehensive reporting and analytics: SWG software also captures real-time analytics for internet consumption and usage and provides detailed reports for IT teams. It gives insight into the average traffic that flows into the company database and instances of harmful or infected URL captures, which the system successfully identified.
  • Granular policy enforcement: Secure web gateway solutions act as a toll bridge between client systems and servers, enforce data policies and measures, and stop unidentified and spam log-ins and page visits.

What are the types of secure web gateways?

Organizations have a range of secure web gateways to choose from, each offering unique features. Here are the main types:

  • Physical secure web gateways involve deploying hardware appliances within an organization's on-premises infrastructure. Dedicated physical servers filter and monitor web traffic to provide security features directly within the local network. These servers offer an organization complete control over their security policies and data, which makes them suitable for environments with stringent compliance requirements or sensitive data handling needs.
  • SaaS secure web gateways allow organizations to leverage the scalability and flexibility of cloud computing without the need for on-premises hardware or maintenance overhead. SWGs deployed as SaaS applications offer rapid deployment, seamless updates, and accessibility from any location, making them ideal for businesses seeking cost-effective and agile security solutions.
  • Cloud-based secure web gateways entail setting up virtual machines to transfer web data within a cloud infrastructure, such as Amazon Web Services (AWS) or Microsoft Azure. They provide organizations with better customization options and control over the underlying infrastructure. However, this approach may involve more management complexity than SaaS offerings and require cloud configuration and optimization expertise.
  • Hybrid secure web gateways safeguard data on physical as well as cloud servers within a company’s IT network. Users can access their web applications and databases directly from physical servers and within the safety net of security. These systems provide encryption to data packets sent and received via cloud networks.
  • Proxy based secure web gateways filter web traffic via proxy servers and enable employees to only access safe URLs from their client devices. Proxy servers act as mainframe servers that redirect URLs from server to browser for safe internet usage.
  • Inline secure web gateways sift web URLs in real time and maintain the steady flow of uninterrupted web transfers between a network and a server. It is often used in hi-speed networks for immediate threat detection.

What are the benefits of secure web gateways?

Secure web gateway software offers numerous advantages for organizations. Some of the key benefits include:

  • Prevention of data breaches: SWG employs robust data loss prevention solutions to monitor and control the transfer of sensitive data over the web. By enforcing policies and inspecting outbound traffic, these gateways help prevent data breaches and unauthorized data exfiltration or brute force attacks.
  • Centralized policy enforcement: SWGs enable organizations to enforce consistent security policies and guidelines across their network infrastructure. By enforcing data privacy and maintenance policies, secure web gateway vendors ensure compliance with legal authorities and internal security standards.
  • Protection against modern cyber threats: SWG software incorporates advanced threat detection mechanisms to defend against sophisticated cyber threats, including advanced persistent threats (APTs) and zero-day attacks. By leveraging real-time threat intelligence, behavioral analysis, and machine learning algorithms, it identifies and blocks malicious websites that damage domain health.
  • Enhanced network efficiency: Secure web gateway software optimizes network traffic by allowing organizations to offload internet-bound traffic directly to the Internet rather than backhauling it via data centers. It improves network performance and reduces latency and congestion. 
  • Visibility and control over shadow IT: SWG software enables IT administrators to gain visibility and control over unauthorized or unapproved SaaS applications and services employees use for different agendas. By monitoring web traffic and enforcing access policies, these gateways help prevent shadow IT and optimize load balancing for your database storage systems (DBMS).
  • Better bandwidth management: Secure web gateway vendors offer bandwidth management capabilities to optimize network bandwidth usage and prioritize critical applications and services. By implementing traffic shaping policies and bandwidth throttling mechanisms, these gateways prevent critical projects from crashing and distribute network resources evenly.
  • Protection of remote users: SWGs protect remote workers and mobile users accessing the Internet outside the corporate network perimeter. Through secure remote access solutions and virtual private network (VPN) software integration, these gateways enforce consistent security policies and provide threat protection for remote devices, regardless of location.

SWG vs. firewall 

Secure web gateway software and firewalls are cybersecurity tools that protect sensitive data stored within a network infrastructure. However, they have distinct features and use cases. 

Secure web gateway software is a network security solution designed specifically to protect online company assets. It monitors inbound and outbound traffic, offers granular application security, ensures data compliance and integrity, and analyzes SSL and TLS parameters to avoid any hassles in sending or receiving data over the Internet. It acts as a barrier between client browser and server, audits transactional data, and scans for malicious URLs to prevent malware.

On the other hand, firewalls offer end-to-end encryption against general server traffic, not necessarily web traffic. They support port connections, hosted IP providers, and browser-based traffic that flows directly on your system. These firewalls provide coverage for browsers by scanning, detecting, and preventing unauthorized users from accessing a particular system's or device's files. 

SWG vs. CASB

While both SWG and Cloud access security brokers (CASBs) are crucial for organizational security, they address different areas of vulnerability. 

A secure web gateway solution provides encryption against web traffic while adhering to company policies and guidelines. It inspects outbound URLs, manages DNS calls, controls content quality, and ensures direct or indirect access from the client browser to the local server. SWG solutions audit external IP addresses and route the traffic to your system applications in a secure and company-aligned way to prevent any unwanted breaches or outages. They monitor inbound and outbound data exchanges over content delivery networks to prevent loss and vulnerabilities.

On the other hand, cloud access security broker (CASB) tools protect cloud service data protection and container registry management over virtual servers to give you holistic cloud security. They secure your application contents or containers against DDOS attacks or data wrangling. They also ensure that private data files aren't exposed over public data warehouses and that software transfers are always authorized and authentic. They offer runtime data protection and fault isolation for the cloud. 

Who uses SWG solutions?

Secure web gateways are essential tools professionals use in various roles within an organization. Here's how:

  • IT security teams that set security policies, configure threat detection mechanisms, and monitor web traffic for potential threats or use-policy violations.  IT teams use SWG solutions to eliminate unauthorized app usage and shadow IT incidents via a detailed advanced analytics report.
  • Network operations teams collaborate with IT or data security teams to ensure the seamless integration of software web gateway solutions into the network architecture, troubleshoot connectivity issues, and optimize network performance.
  • Risk management teams work closely with IT security teams to identify potential vulnerabilities, evaluate the effectiveness of SWGs in mitigating web-based threats, and develop risk mitigation strategies.
  • Cloud service providers that partner with DNS hosting providers to implement secure web gateway software with cloud database storage to allow secure web traffic transmission and prevent cloud breaches even if the systems are unmonitored. 

How much does a secure web gateway product cost?

Secure web gateways come in different pricing models. Each has its advantages and is suitable for various customer scenarios.

  • Perpetual license model allows one to pay a one-time fee for the software and own it indefinitely. Organizations from medium to enterprise level can opt for this license to avoid underutilization and frequent upgrades. 
  • Subscription-based pricing model typically involves paying a recurring fee (monthly or annually) for access to the software. The fee often includes maintenance, support, and upgrades, providing predictable costs and access to the latest features.
  • Bandwidth-based pricing model allows users to pay based on the volume of data processed or transferred through the gateway. It can be advantageous for organizations with fluctuating usage patterns or those who want to align costs directly with usage.

Challenges with SWG deployment 

Along with obvious benefits, SWG solutions also have a list of drawbacks that businesses face after purchasing the software.

  • Impacts performance: Secure web gateways implement stringent security measures, such as deep packet inspection and content filtering, which sometimes lead to latency issues and degrade the overall user experience, especially during peak traffic periods or when handling large volumes of data.
  • False positives and negatives: Secure web gateways rely on complex algorithms and signature databases to identify and block malicious activities. However, these systems may sometimes generate false positives, flagging legitimate web traffic as malicious or false negatives, and fail to detect actual threats.
  • Bring Your Own Device (BYOD): The proliferation of BYOD policies introduces additional complexities for secure web gateways, as they need to secure network access for a diverse array of devices with varying security postures. BYOD policies also increase the risk of data leakage and unauthorized access, necessitating comprehensive data protection measures within SWGs.
  • Integration complexity: Integrating secure web gateway software with agent legacy systems is difficult and poses many compatibility issues. Secure web gateway vendors also provide firewall defender services or built-in antivirus software to reduce integration complexities and empower users to onboard faster.
  • Scalability challenges: As organizations struggle with large volumes of data, some URLs can trespass the secure web gateway. Failure of scalability issues can lead to system vulnerabilities and malicious URL entries that expose the system to cyber attacks or hacking.
  • Shadow IT visibility: Many users register on third party applications without informing IT teams or data security teams. Accessing external apps and sharing information leads to an increase in shadow IT as network resources are being consumed by unauthorized applications. Mostly, IT is unaware of these transgressions because these networks are encrypted or obscure during SaaS audits.
  • Evolving threat landscape: As generative AI gives a leeway to phishers and hackers to dodge robust security networks, secure web gateways need improvement in spotting and ruling out these instances to stay abreast with evolving threat landscape and keep devices protected.

Why do companies need a SWG?

Businesses need a secure web gateway software to set a standard for their web browsing policies and operations within their teams so that no unwanted content or files enter the system. It protects the IT network, resources, and software through business policies for a smooth user experience. 

Below are some reasons for investing in secure web gateway software to ensure a seamless browsing experience.

  • Protection against cyber threats: SWG shields a business's internet processing operations. It selectively allows users to access high-quality websites for information exchange and vets and monitors incoming internet traffic. Raising alerts or warnings for harmful websites can alert users of potential malicious websites or phishing encounters.
  • Regulatory compliance: Secure web gateways load and transfer data from the client to the server in alignment with company policies and regulation guidelines. That stops a user from following unethical web practices. 
  • Control of employee Internet usage: These tools also provide data-driven insights regarding employee Internet consumption. It enables IT teams to keep track of Internet consumption and eliminate shadow IT for teams.
  • Software as a service (SaaS) optimization: Scrutinizing web applications and web traffic proves effective in optimizing your SaaS stack and monitoring consumption. It also tracks browsing behaviors and informs if any team over-utilizes a specific web application.
  • Cloud security: It not only safeguards on-premise systems but also extends antivirus and anti-malware abilities across cloud data pools and applications that might host a decent volume of data. It permits secure cloud data exchanges over cloud servers or wireless connections.

How to choose the best web security gateway for your business?

Choosing the best web security gateway isn't a one-size-fits-all solution. Here's a roadmap to guide your selection process:

  • Assess the network landscape to determine the features and processing power required in the SWG. Consider the number of users relying on the SWG, as this impacts scalability and performance needs.
  • Align the SWG with business needs by determining data sensitivity and identifying critical security and compliance requirements to protect against malware, phishing, or data breaches.
  • Prioritize features and performance: To draw out a difference for best secure web gateway, pick radical feature-packed software offering URL inspection, SSL and data loss prevention. Conduct a demo as well to not fall victim to slow load time or server breakdown later.
  • Consider vendor and deployment options. Research the vendor's track record and customer support offerings. Based on your infrastructure and budget, choose the best SWG tool. Evaluate how the SWG can scale to meet future growth. Consider pricing models and total cost of ownership (TCO).
  • Make an informed decision. Pilot programs or proof-of-concepts can help you test different SWG solutions before committing. An intuitive and user-friendly interface simplifies administration and reduces training needs. Continuously monitor your SWG's performance, effectiveness, and return on investment (ROI) to ensure it adapts to your evolving needs.

How to implement secure web gateway solutions?

After purchasing the software, every business decision maker needs to implement a strategy for smooth onboarding. It involves running pilots across teams and sharing ideas on activating them without running into errors.

  • Assess security needs and goals: Analyze your company’s current IT architecture, database security network, content delivery network and server loads to evaluate where to fit the SWG solution without disrupting the services. Identify which features like data loss prevention, threat intelligence or anti-malware are critical to you and need to be activated.
  • Choose the right SWG solution: Take into consideration both your on-premise and cloud service providers to shortlist an SWG solution that is compatible with both. Ensure that all app users across the company network can acquire web protection for their internet operations with SWG software and  no URLs are approved without permission.
  • Planning and integration: Check the expected user volume to ensure the SWG can handle the traffic smoothly. Then, set up the SWG to fit seamlessly into your security setup, like firewalls and CASBs. This way, all your security tools can work together, and you can set policies and allow user permissions for your tech stack.
  • Defining security scope: Categorize IP addresses and decide on a browsable and secure web domain structure. Use the SWG's URL filtering to block malicious sites and enforce company policies. For extra security, turn on features like malware scanning or DLP to stop data leaks.
  • Configure and enforce policies: Set up internet policies and general data protection regulations for data security and networking teams to enforce certain data standards and browsing guidelines for the teams in an organization. These policies will act as a guidebook post implementation and educate users on how to spot suspicious internet activities.
  • Maintaining a secure environment: Teach your team about the SWG and how to use the Internet responsibly. Monitor the SWG for signs of trouble, update your security policies regularly, and conduct security audits to find and fix any weak spots.