Proactive Web Filtering

Phishing attacks are the security bane of companies of all sizes, in all industries. A seemingly innocuous email can actually be a spoofed message sent by increasingly sophisticated hackers seeking to infiltrate your network via a simple click.

These “social engineering” scams are effective because they take advantage of our tendency to “click first, think later”, especially if we believe the source of the link to be from a trusted source. Financial advisors should consider a multi-faceted approach to confronting Phishing attacks -- continuous employee awareness training, anti-Phishing plugins / toolbars, etc.

Another very effective Cybersecurity measure is to implement Cisco Umbrella (formerly known as OpenDNS) -- effectively an internet filter that restricts clicks/links from launching malicious websites, thereby preventing viruses or malware from locking up your system or exposing confidential client data to hackers.

Deploying Umbrella is a cost-effective solution, but requires optimization and best deployment methodology for maximum effectiveness. Contact RSI for a free, no obligation consultation on how Umbrella can be implemented for proactive phishing protection.

Web Filtering Types

There are several options when it comes to web filtering tools, and different types will work better in different environments. Common types of web filters include:

• Browser-based filters
• Network-based filters
• Content-limited ISPs
• Client-based filters

Choosing the right type depends on the policies or regulations that need to be adhered to and how scalable the solution needs to be.

Why Web Filtering is Important

Internet safety is a genuine concern for many reasons. Activity monitoring and web filtering can help enforce cybersecurity policies, prevent incidents and keep systems and data secure.

And since web filtering can prevent both malicious and inappropriate content from being accessed, it can contribute to building both a more secure and more productive environment.

How Web Filtering Works

Web filters all work by filtering out specific content, but different types of filters achieve this in different ways. For example:

• Content-based and keyword-based filtering – These approaches filter out websites based on specified content or keywords.
• Blacklists – Also known as "block lists," these filters allow the administrator to define a list of specific websites to block, allowing all others.
• Whitelists – Also known as "allow lists," administrators can use these to specify which sites to allow access to, blocking all others.
• DNS filtering – DNS filtering, also known as OpenDNS filtering, makes use of existing blacklists and whitelists of known malicious or safe web content to filter what can be accessed.