Content Filtering in FireCloud

Applies To: FireCloud Internet Access This topic applies to accounts with a FireCloud Internet Access license.

You can use FireCloud to filter the content that your users can get access to. Content filtering uses the WebBlocker and Application Control security services to block specific content categories and applications. Both security services are enabled by default with recommended settings.

WebBlocker

WebBlocker helps you control the websites that are available to your users. WebBlocker uses a database that groups website addresses into content categories.

When a user tries to connect to a website, FireCloud looks up the address in the WebBlocker database and takes the action you specify for the content category. You cannot specify the action WebBlocker takes for uncategorized websites.

• View All Subcategories — Opens the subcategory page where you can select an option for each subcategory.
• Allow All — Allows all websites in all subcategories. No websites are blocked.
• Block All — Blocks all websites in all subcategories.

FireCloud does not add the websites in blocked categories to the Blocked Sites list.

Application Control

Application Control enables you to monitor and control the use of applications. Application Control uses over 1800 signatures that can identify and block over 1000 applications. You can use Application Control to block the usage of specific applications, and you see information about application use and use attempts in the FireCloud usage report. For some applications, you can block specific application behaviors, such as file transfer.

• View All Subcategories — Opens the subcategory page where you can select an option for each subcategory of applications.
• Allow All — Allows all applications in all subcategories. No applications are blocked.
• Block All — Blocks all applications in all subcategories.

Add Content Filtering Actions in FireCloud

For content filtering services, you can configure multiple actions and assign a specific action to each access rule in FireCloud.

For content filtering to apply to user traffic, you must also enable content filtering in FireCloud policies. For information about policy settings, go to FireCloud Access Rules.

When you add a content filtering action, it includes settings for WebBlocker and Application Control.

To add a content filtering action in FireCloud, from WatchGuard Cloud:

1. Select Configure > FireCloud.

2. Click the Content Filtering tile.
   The Content Filtering page opens.

3. Click Add Action.
4. To include the WatchGuard recommended blocked categories and applications in the action, select Start with WatchGuard Recommendations, then click Next.
   Select Start with No Blocked Categories or Applications to start the action with no blocked categories or applications.
   
5. In the Name text box, type a name for the action.

6. On the WebBlocker tab, review the recommended blocked categories.
   To filter the categories, in the Search box, start to type a category name.

7. To allow or block categories, on the right side of a category, click then select an option (Allow All or Block All).
8. To view the individual subcategories, on the right side of a category, click then select View All Subcategories.
   The subcategories page opens.

9. For each subcategory, select an option from the drop-down list (Allow or Block).
   To update all subcategories, click Block All or Allow All.
10. To enable an alarm for a subcategory, select the Alarm check box.
    When you select the Alarm check box, FireCloud sends an alarm regardless of whether the category is set to Block or Allow.
11. Click Update.
12. On the Application Control tab, review the recommended blocked applications.
    To filter the applications, in the Search box, start to type an application name.

13. To allow or block applications in a category, on the right side of a category, click then select Allow All or Block All.
14. To view the individual subcategories, select View All Subcategories.
    The subcategories page opens.

15. For each subcategory, select an option from the drop-down list (Allow, Block).
    To update all of the subcategories, click Block All or Allow All.

    When you configure Application Control to block all applications in a category or subcategory, make sure you know everything that is included and the expected consequences. For example, if you block Google Chrome, then other Chromium browser such as Edge are also blocked.

16. Click Update.
17. To save the content filtering action, click Save.
18. To apply this content filtering to user traffic, you must enable content filtering in a FireCloud policy and apply this content filtering action. For information about policy settings, go to FireCloud Access Rules.

Related Topics

FireCloud Access Rules

About the FireCloud Usage Report

Application Control and WebBlocker (Fireware Help)

About Application Control (Fireware Help)

About WebBlocker (Fireware Help)