How to Create a Web Filtering Policy

The Web Filtering feature involves classifying websites into predefined categories such as Social Networking, Gambling, Adult Content, and more. By categorizing websites, organizations can selectively allow or block access to specific categories based on their policies.

In addition to category-based web filtering, users can utilize allow and block lists for specific URL exceptions.

These approaches help enhance security, productivity, and compliance by controlling network access to online content, ensuring a safer and more efficient web browsing experience.

To Create a Web Filtering policy, follow the below steps:

Navigate to Web Filtering

Navigation: Policy > Web Filtering

Configure Your Policies

To begin blocking or allowing access to content based on geolocation, navigate to the body of the Web Filtering Security Module shown above.

Once here, search for the specific web filtering category in which you would like to block or allow access to.

Example 1:

Let's assume you would like to Block your users form accessing Adult content on the internet.

You would do this simply by selecting the Red Minus = Block for "Adult" in the web filtering security module.

Example 2:

Let's assume you would like to Allow your users to access News content on the internet.

You would do this simply by selecting the Green Check = Allow for "News" in the web filtering security module.

After these block and allow decisions have been decided for each Web Category in your policy change, you can now proceed to Step 3.

If you are not sure which Web Filtering Categories you would like to block, please consider the following:

AT&T Recommended Web Filtering Policy:

By selecting to utilize the AT&T Recommended policy for Web Filtering, content will be blocked for the following categories:

Abused Drugs
Adult
Command and Control
Gambling
Greyware
Hacking
Newly Registered Domain
Phishing
Questionable
Ransomware
Real-Time-Detection
Weapons

The AT&T Recommended Policy can be turned on in the Dynamic Defense Portal's Geo Filtering page by clicking the down arrow on the right-hand side of the page.

Apply Your New Policy

Propagating configuration changes throughout the AT&T Dynamic Defense portal is a simple process.

Step 3a:

Making policy changes (e.g. adding, editing, or deleting policy rules) will be represented in a draft state shown on the right-hand side of the screen when the first policy edit is made. A draft will not be made active until you complete the remaining steps.

Step 3b:

When ready to apply your new policy, move your mouse over the "Draft" button and click "Apply Policy" to activate the draft state. Activating the changes effectively pushes the configuration changes to the network embedded security to be applied across your AT&T Dedicated Internet connection.

A prompt will appear asking if you are sure you want to continue. Here you can add any notes about the new policy and then select "Continue" to activate the policy.

Step 3c:

After applying the policy, the Draft state will then convert into a Pending state as the policy is pushed over the network to be updated within the AT&T Dynamic Defense Service.

Step 3d:

Once the policy is successfully updated within the AT&T Dynamic Defense Service the status will then be updated to an active state and a new notification will be populated to show success.