Users are spending more time online, reading their favorite sites, clicking on email links, or using a range of web-based SaaS services for both personal and professional purposes. While this type of free web activity is highly beneficial to company productivity, it exposes firms to various security and business concerns, such as threat propagation, potential data loss, and potential lack of compliance.
URL filtering has traditionally been used by businesses to restrict employees from viewing unproductive websites. With today’s URL filtering, companies can provide safe online access while protecting themselves from more complex dangers such as malware and phishing sites.
A URL filter is a list of web addresses or URLs that you want to block. You can also create a blacklist of websites for your child, no matter how they spell the website name.
There are two different types of internet filtering. The first type is network content filtering, while the second type is web-based content filtering.
- Network content filters scan your entire network for your internet traffic. This includes sites that your employees visited and sites they attempt to visit.
- Web-based content filters only monitor the traffic sent and received from a browser, which means there isn’t as much monitoring of internet use as there is with network content filtering.
What Is A URL Filter?
A URL filter is a computer program that helps you to control what websites your employees can visit. Most people need to limit or control what sites their employees access during the day, so many employers purchase URL filters.
Many URL filters have several other controls integrated into them, such as email policies and web access control. Email policies are designed to block employees from receiving harmful emails, while web access control prevents them from downloading harmful content onto their computers.
Url filters are only effective if every employee in your company is using the same filter at once. Many URL filters come with the ability to limit the number of licenses for specific programs. One license might be used by five employees, which means these filters can restrict the number of people who use it.
What Does A URL Filter Do?
A URL filter is a web filter that is used in the workplace. This is usually installed on the company’s network, but it can also be installed on an individual computer. A URL filter can block websites that contain unprofessional content, advertisements, or messages. It can also block outbound messages to prevent employees from sending messages to places they shouldn’t or messages that contain inappropriate language. The URL filter can also block specific attachments that may have a virus or other harmful content.
What Are The Benefits Of A URL Filter For Businesses?
There are many benefits to using a URL filter for a business. The first is the ability to limit the usage of inappropriate websites from your employees, allowing them to concentrate on work-related activities during working hours. Another benefit is that malware is also less likely to be downloaded onto the company’s systems.
While URL filters are handy, many employees have found ways to avoid them. One of the most common ways around the filter is to use a DNS server outside of your control. This can mean using a DNS from another country or a different company entirely. Another method that can be used is to use a proxy server, which allows them to get around the filter.
URL filters are not perfect, but they are one of the most effective ways for businesses to manage their employees online during working hours. This makes it much easier for workers to concentrate on work-related activities rather than visiting or browsing inappropriate websites that you might want to block.
How Can You Tell If Your Employees Are Using The URL Filter?
You can tell if your employees use the URL filter by looking at what websites they’re visiting. If they’re browsing through work-related sites, then they’re probably doing their job. If they’re spending too much time on games or social media sites like Facebook, then there’s a good chance that they’re not using the URL filter. You should also check to ensure that your employees aren’t accessing social media sites from their phones.
The best way to make sure your employees use a URL filter is by implementing it on every computer they use. You can do this with an install file, or you can do it by configuring the URL filter on your web browser. This is efficient for both companies and employees because they don’t have to waste time inputting their credentials every time they access social media.
Why Should You Buy A URL Filter For Your Business?
If you’re running a business, it’s essential to ensure that your employees focus on their work rather than surfing social media sites. This might seem like common sense, but if they don’t have access to the internet, then there’s no way they can get distracted. You can install a URL filter on every computer or configure the URL filter on your web browser so that you don’t need to input credentials for every site.
What Are Some Features That Come With Most Filters?
Several features come with most filters. One is the blocking of sites that are inappropriate or distracting. This can be anything from social media sites, to advertisements, to messages about gambling, alcohol, or other topics. Another function is providing internet access to employees at all times. Employees can use it without inputting their credentials every time they want for work-related websites – keeping them focused on their job.
The third feature is monitoring what messages your employees are sending to ensure they follow company guidelines and guidelines set in place by law. The fourth feature allows you to create rules for different users so that some people can’t access specific sites while others can access them under certain conditions. The last feature is a web portal where you can see what websites your employees have been visiting. This allows you to monitor their internet usage and hold them accountable if they’re not using the URL filter.
Conclusion
A URL filter blocks employees from accessing certain websites, which is particularly helpful in the case of confidential company information. It also provides you with an overview of how much time your team spends on what sites – so if they’re spending too long checking out Facebook or playing games instead of working, it will show up here. If you want to keep track of what’s being accessed by your employees and ensure that only appropriate content is accessible at work, a URL filter can help!
