What is Web Content Filtering and how does it work?

A lot of people think that web content filtering plays “Big Brother”, an overly controlling tool, to increase surveillance of people visiting the internet. It is often misconstrued as a means that suppresses people’s right to access information.

In reality, accessing certain websites on the internet during office or school hours can be a source of distraction and security concerns.

Web content filtering aims to create a safe environment to protect users from online harm without spying on users. Consequently, it stops productivity from slowing down while protecting businesses from online threats.

What is web content filtering?

Web content filtering is the process that screens and restricts access to specific web pages. The aim is to block websites that could be unproductive or harmful if accessed.

Uses include keeping employees from visiting spammy websites or educational institutions trying to protect students from adult content.

It can be easy to confuse web filtering with URL filtering. But URL filtering is a type of content filtering. Content filtering can work by blocking keywords, file types, malware correlations, or contextual themes of content resources.

Why is web content filtering important?

Hacking, phishing, malware, and viruses are some of the biggest business threats. content filtering can prevent social engineering and fraud, especially phishing attacks.

Phishing websites are created by malicious users to impersonate legitimate companies in order to obtain sensitive data such as login credentials, personal information, accounting details, and legal documents.

Cybercriminals often use domain spoofing in phishing attacks. Cybercriminals fake a website name to trick users into interacting as if it were legitimate. When web content filters identify phishing websites by their URL or content, visits to those websites can be prevented.

Benefits of website content filtering

Enterprise web content filtering offers several benefits for individuals as well as organizations.

• Increases staff productivity: Cloud based content filtering systems in offices serves to filter non-work related content such as social media websites or other websites unrelated to work or considered distractions. They take up a vast amount of employees’ time, decreasing staff productivity levels.

• Improves internet bandwidth: The use of the internet that is not related to work can negatively affect an organization’s bandwidth. Limiting staff access to websites, such as video streaming sites, can improve internet bandwidth and enable faster connections for all employees.

• Minimizes malware infections: Blocking access to websites that carry a high risk of malware protects company data and users before such websites have a chance to introduce malicious payloads. By using Domain Name System (DNS) filtering, organizations can block the threat of internet-based malware, thereby reducing the remediation time and workload for IT teams.

• Reduces legal liability: Companies that actively monitor the website usage of employees are in a better position to manage undesired incidents. Since web filtering tools restricts employees from downloading content that contains offensive or illegal content, organizations can protect themselves from regulatory violations.

• Keeps kids safe: Web filtering helps administrators implement safety policies concerning system usage through the school’s network. To balance online access with safety, internet content filtering prevents access to obscene, adult, or violent images. At home, parents may not always be present to monitor the kind of content their children are exposed to. Plus, they may not know how to restrict harmful websites.

Web content filtering: Pros and cons

Content-based filtering, a critical component in managing internet usage in business environments, offers several advantages and some drawbacks. Here’s a detailed look at the pros and cons:

Aspect	Pros	Cons
Enhanced Security	– Protects against malware and phishing. – Reduces risk of data breaches.	– May inadvertently block safe sites, causing inconvenience.
Regulatory Compliance	– Helps in adhering to legal and industry standards.	– Requires ongoing updates to stay compliant with changing regulations.
Productivity	– Limits access to non-work-related sites. – Can be customized for balanced access.	– Overblocking can hinder access to necessary information for work.
Bandwidth Management	– Controls access to high-bandwidth sites, ensuring availability for essential tasks.	– Can slow down internet speeds due to the filtering process.
Content Control	– Offers granular control over accessible content. – Aligns with company policies and culture.	– Needs careful configuration to avoid overblocking or underblocking.
Safe Environment	– Creates a professional and respectful workplace by blocking inappropriate content.	– Might be perceived as intrusive, affecting employee morale.
Resource Intensiveness	– Ensures thorough content management and security.	– Resource-heavy in terms of time, management, and IT infrastructure.
Cost	– Long-term benefits in security and productivity.	– Initial and ongoing costs for implementation and maintenance can be significant.

Pros and Cons of Web Content Filtering

Understanding these pros and cons is vital for making informed decisions about implementing and managing web content filtering. This knowledge can guide you in balancing security needs with user experience, ensuring that the filtering strategy aligns with the company’s goals and employee expectations.

What is the difference between DNS filtering and internet content filtering?

DNS filtering and internet content filtering are both methods used in managing and securing online content access, but they operate differently and serve slightly different purposes.

Aspect	DNS Filtering	Internet content filtering
Function	DNS filtering is based on the Domain Name System (DNS), which translates domain names into IP addresses. DNS filtering intercepts DNS queries and determines whether a domain is allowed or blocked based on predefined rules or policies.	Internet content filtering involves inspecting the content of web pages or URLs to determine if it should be blocked or allowed. It often works by analyzing the content in real-time.
Scope	It mainly operates at the domain level. If a domain is blocked, all content from that domain becomes inaccessible.	Operates at a more granular level, filtering specific pages, images, videos, or downloads within a website.
Use Cases	Commonly used to block access to entire websites that are known for malicious activities, hosting inappropriate content, or violating company policies. It’s an effective tool against phishing, malware, and other cyber threats.	Used to enforce internet usage policies within organizations, such as blocking access to social media, adult content, or streaming sites during work hours. Also helps in regulatory compliance by restricting access to sensitive or inappropriate content.
Implementation	Often implemented at the network level, affecting all users on that network. It’s also used in public Wi-Fi networks for content control.	Can be implemented via installation on individual endpoints or through network devices like firewalls and proxy servers.
Advantages	Quick to implement, less resource-intensive, and effective at blocking threats before they enter the network.	Offers more detailed control over web content, allowing for nuanced access policies.
Limitations	Less granular control over content. It can’t filter specific content on a website that’s generally allowed.	More resource-intensive, as it requires the analysis of content. Can sometimes slow down web browsing due to the filtering process.

DNS filtering vs. Internet content filtering

DNS filtering is more about blocking access at the domain level, making it a first line of defense against malicious sites and broad content categories, whereas internet content filtering provides deeper, more nuanced control over the specific types of content users can access on the internet.

How does web content filtering work?

The technology behind web filtering works by identifying patterns like objects within images or text strings that indicate harmful or undesirable websites.

By using predetermined rules, the content filter identifies commonalities such as objects within images or text strings such as keywords and groups them into categories such as adult, gambling, gaming, sports, and so on.

Once there is a match from a site seeking access, they are marked as objectionable and denied access. Applying this to your content strategy at early stages can reap a lot of benefits in the long run.

Content filters come as hardware or software and often are part of the firewall. Administrators can install web content filtering software on servers or can incorporate hardware on the network.

Mobile content filtering is steadily gaining importance, especially in the workplace, whether the endpoints are corporate- or employee-owned. Such undesirable sites are productivity sinks and pose malware risks.

Types of web content filtering

The following are different types of filtering:

• Server-side filtration: These filters manage web traffic for all users present on the server, say, of a large organization. Server-side filters are installed on a central server that links to all computers on the network, giving the company complete control over customizing filters.

• Client-side filtration: A client-side filter is installed on the end user’s system. These filters cannot be bypassed by the end users and are appropriate for a business environment that requires maintaining systems as per company policies.

• Search engine filtration: When these filters are turned on, search engines will only display results that are in line with the organization’s policy. Additionally, undesirable content not blocked by the company but deemed harmful by the filter may be blocked.

• ISP-level filtration: The filters implemented by ISPs use network-level filtering of broadband connections to block access to content.

Web content filtering policies to block all unwanted content

Web content filtering policies are a set of rules and guidelines used to control and manage internet access within an organization.

These policies define what types of web content are permissible and what are restricted when accessed through the organization’s network.

Implementing these policies is especially relevant in business environments, like a SaaS product company, to ensure secure, productive, and compliant use of the internet. Here’s a detailed breakdown:

Purpose:

1. Security: To protect against online threats such as malware, phishing, and other cyber attacks.
2. Compliance: To adhere to legal, regulatory, and industry standards regarding internet usage.
3. Productivity: To prevent distractions by limiting access to non-work-related sites during business hours.
4. Bandwidth management: To ensure adequate bandwidth for critical business operations by restricting access to high-bandwidth sites.
5. Creating a professional environment: To maintain a workplace free from exposure to inappropriate or offensive content.

Components:

1. Categories of blocked content: Lists types of websites or content categories to be blocked, such as adult content, social media, gaming, streaming services, etc.
2. Whitelists and blacklists: Defines specific websites or domains that are always allowed (whitelisted) or always blocked (blacklisted).
3. Time-based restrictions: Specifies when certain restrictions apply, like allowing more freedom during breaks or outside of work hours.
4. User or group-based policies: Tailors restrictions based on user roles or departments within the organization (e.g., more strict filtering for general staff, less for IT department).
5. Exception handling: Outlines the process for requesting access to a blocked site if it’s needed for legitimate work purposes.
6. Policy enforcement: Describes how the policy is enforced technically, such as through a network firewall or web filtering.
7. Monitoring and reporting: Details the monitoring process and how violations or attempted violations are reported and handled.
8. Policy review and update procedures: Establishes a schedule for regular reviews and updates of the filtering policy to adapt to new requirements or challenges.

Best practices for implementing Web Filtering policies

• Transparency: Clearly communicate the policy to all employees, explaining the reasons and benefits.
• Balance: Find a balance between overblocking and underblocking to maintain security without overly restricting access.
• Customization: Tailor the policy to the specific needs and culture of the organization.
• Feedback Mechanism: Allow for employee feedback and suggestions regarding the policy.
• Regular Updates: Keep the policy updated in line with evolving online threats and organizational changes.

What does web content filtering looks like with Scalefusion?

Scalefusion offers two solutions to implement web content filtering – through Scalefusion UEM and Veltar. 

With an advanced endpoint management solution like Scalefusion UEM, IT administrators gain the following capabilities: 

• Control of the web content that end-users can view on the browsers of managed devices. 
• They can block or allow URLs based on the company’s policies. 
• They can either manually add URLs to the block or allow list or can upload a CSV file.  

Similarly with Veltar admins get enterprise web-content filtering capabilities such as: 

Adding domains in bulk through a CSV file. 

Selecting categories of websites to block (e.g., social media, adult content).

Entering specific domains, sub-domains, top-level domains, etc to block or allow urls. 

Wrapping up

People believe that web content filtering interferes with individuals’ rights, which has been the subject of a contentious discussion. The reality is that internet filtering protects companies and their data from harmful and malicious content while ensuring that end-users get access to legitimate information on the web. 

With Scalefusion’s extensive product suite you gain granular control over your organizations browsing through two different solutions – Scalefusion UEM and Veltar, accessible from a single dashboard. 

Schedule a demo with our product experts to explore more about Scalefusion. Experience the magic of Scalefusion hands-on with a 14-day free trial today! 

FAQs

1. What is the difference between URL filtering and web filtering?

URL filtering blocks access to specific websites by matching exact URLs, like blocking example.com/badpage. It’s precise but limited. Web filtering goes further—blocking entire categories like social media, adult content, or streaming, using keywords, domain reputation, and content analysis. It offers wider protection, especially useful in schools and businesses.

2. How do businesses benefit from web content filtering?

Web content filtering helps businesses boost security by blocking harmful sites, protect sensitive data from phishing or malware, and improve productivity by limiting access to distracting content. It also supports legal compliance and creates a safer browsing environment.

3. Can web content filtering help protect against malware?

Yes, web content filtering helps protect against malware by blocking access to malicious sites and detecting harmful content patterns, adding an extra layer of security against online threats.

4. Can filtering software or hardware really block all unwanted content?

Filtering tools can block most harmful content like violence, malware, and adult content but evolving websites can bypass them. Regular updates and using both software and hardware filters offer stronger, more reliable protection.

5. How to remove content filtering?

To remove content filtering, you’ll need admin access to disable or adjust settings in the firewall, router, or filtering tool. Be cautious—removing filters may expose users to harmful or inappropriate content.