URL filtering

To control access to online content, URL filtering has proven effective in French companies. Installing a system to filter illegal websites and malicious content is highly recommended for:

• Protect sensitive data belonging to the organization and its employees;
• Comply with applicable legal obligations;
• Increase employee productivity.

Our guide to URL filtering will help you understand the importance of blocking URLs in your business and implement a cyber defense solution tailored to your needs:

• What is URL filtering?
• Why apply URL filtering?
• An effective URL filtering solution in a nutshell
• Best practices for URL filtering

What is URL filtering?

Cybersecurity specialists recommend implementing filtering to prevent employees from accessing certain websites. Before adopting this measure, it is crucial to fully understand what URL filtering entails:

• How does it work?
• What are the benefits?

Technically:

URL filtering is simple. A server, called a filtering proxy, acts as an intermediary between the user and the website.

When an employee attempts to access a site, the filtering proxy analyzes the request and compares the site's URL with a database that complies with the company's filtering policy. This database, containing a list of malicious URLs, allows the proxy to grant or deny access:

• If the URL is not listed in the database, the proxy allows access because the site is considered safe.
• If the URL is present in the database, access is denied because the site is potentially dangerous.

The purpose behind URL filtering:

Employees may view URL filtering as a restriction on their Internet access. However, today, implementing an Internet access filtering solution is crucial to ensuring a satisfactory level of security. It is therefore essential to clearly explain the reasons, benefits, and challenges of implementing such a solution to ensure its acceptance.

The impact on employees' work

Originally, filtering systems were primarily designed to prevent employees from visiting websites that were detrimental to their productivity. Today, even though employees can still access these sites via their smartphones, URL filtering helps minimize distractions at their workstations, thereby promoting concentration and efficiency.

Who bears legal responsibility?

The employer is legally liable when an Internet connection is made available to employees in the workplace:

• If an employee downloads illegal content, the company may face criminal prosecution.
• If an employee uses the connection for malicious activities, the employer is liable.

Cybersecurity

URL filtering is primarily intended to strengthen cybersecurity in the workplace. When browsing the internet, employees may click on malicious links or access prohibited sites, thereby compromising the security of the organization's data and infrastructure. Blocking such access from the outset helps prevent online threats.

Why apply URL filtering?

Let's take a closer look at the benefits of implementing a URL filter in your company.

Enhancing security for the benefit of productivity

URL filtering can prevent employees from visiting malicious websites and sites unrelated to their work, such as social media, streaming platforms, and online gaming sites. This helps limit distractions and improve productivity, and above all reduces the possibility of employees falling victim to phishing sites and other threats using their work tools. It is important to note that employees can still access these sites via their personal devices.

Special case

To secure Internet access for mobile employees, DNS filtering services are available. This service is also suitable for the public sector to secure public Wi-Fi networks.

Ensuring compliance and legal accountability

Companies are required to comply with various legal regulations regarding IT security and internet access. According toArticle 6 of the French Law on Confidence in the Digital Economy (LCEN), companies must implement filters and retain connection data for one year.

It is strongly recommended to:

• Implement a filtering solution in addition to your firewall and antivirus software for optimized protection across your entire information system.
• Keep network connection logs for 365 days;
• Encourage employees to use a Wi-Fi network that is separate from the work network for personal use.
• Raise awareness and train employees so that they can recognize and adopt the right behavior when faced with a threat.

What are the legal risks your entity faces in the event of default?

• The employer is liable under civil and criminal law in the event of failure to secure the computer system.
• If an employee downloads illegal content, the employer may be held criminally liable as stipulated by the HADOPI law.
• If an employee uses the Internet connection for malicious activities, the employer may be sued in civil court.
• We invite you to discover our webinar led by our legal expert to better understand the legal implications of content access filtering.

Optimize your company's cybersecurity

URL filtering protects businesses by blocking various threats:

• Phishing: this method of stealing sensitive information, such as passwords and bank details, can be prevented by blocking fraudulent websites and emails.
• Malware: Malicious software such as viruses, ransomware, and spyware can cause considerable damage. URL filtering helps prevent these attacks.
• Access to illegal sites: sites containing child pornography, terrorism, or weapons sales are prohibited. Blocking access to these sites protects the company and its employees.

An effective URL filtering solution in a nutshell:

An effective URL filtering solution must have an extensive database that is updated in real time, offering accurate categorization and customizable filters. It must ensure reliable detection and blocking of malicious URLs, be flexible and adaptable to the specific needs of the business, and offer a user-friendly interface with responsive technical support. Compatibility with existing infrastructure and easy integration with other security tools are also essential.

A robust URL database:

The URL filtering system database must be comprehensive and constantly updated. At Olfeo, our database contains over 20 million domains, covering hundreds of millions of URLs. This comprehensiveness ensures 99.5% recognition of requests.

Fine-grained customization of categorization

Accurate categorization of sites is essential. Olfeo offers a list of 9 themes and 100 categories, allowing companies to customize filters according to their needs. Certain categories of employees can thus benefit from specific access privileges.

Best practices for URL filtering

If you are considering choosing Olfeo to control and secure the web content accessible to your employees, here is how to optimize security in your organization:

Key steps in setting up URL filtering

The installation and configuration of a URL filtering solution must be carefully planned. We provide a practical guide detailing all the necessary steps. Our technicians are also available to assist you with the implementation of our tool.

User awareness and training

When integrating a URL filtering solution, it is crucial to raise awareness and train employees. A good understanding of the benefits of the system reduces resistance to its use. To help you, Olfeo offers a white paper and an e-learning platform, Olfeo Awareness, to facilitate awareness of online security.

Filtering has become essential to protect networks from cyberattacks, ensure legal compliance, and improve productivity. Choose a powerful and effective filtering solution to meet these needs.

Would you like to invest in our URL filtering tool to secure your network? Are you unsure which solution to choose? Make an appointment for a free consultation with one of our experts to assess your company's specific needs and discover the benefits of our software!