ProxySG TechBrief Downloading & Configuring Web Filter What is Content Filtering? URL filtering is the process of limiting a user s Web site access through a policy that is associated with a specific URL or topic category. URL filtering running on a ProxySG (On-Proxy) provides performance and policy extensions not found with a URL list alone. Because the Internet is ever changing, the Blue Coat ProxySG periodically downloads updates from the master Web Filter database so that your policy can incorporate new and updated sites. Why Enable Content Filtering? Companies cannot ignore the loss of productivity and the liability associated with unmanaged Web surfing. The ProxySG offers the capability to control access to undesirable sites on a category basis. More than 52 categories enable security administrators to deploy a consistent Web access policy. The entire Web Filter database is loaded into the ProxySG appliance to offer optimized performance. Copyright 2002 Blue Coat Systems, Inc. Configuring Web Filter URL Filtering There are four steps to implement the Web Filter database 1. Contact Blue Coat to obtain the Web Filter database 2. Enable content filtering on the ProxySG 3. Configure an automatic filter update schedule 4. Enable Web Filter categories using the Visual Policy Manager Step 1 Open An Account with Blue Coat Web Filter s URL filtering requires a purchased license for use of its database. For evaluation purposes you can receive a free 60-day license by accessing www.bluecoat.com and http://www.bluecoat.com/aboutus/sales/index.html. After your registration a Blue Coat sales representative will contact you with download instructions 1 Technical Brief
Step 2 Enable URL Filtering 1. From a Web browser go to the Blue Coat ProxySG management interface 2. Select the Content Filtering / General option 3. From the dropdown list select Blue Coat (Cerberian) and click on Apply 4. Select Web Filter (Cerberian) from the Content Filtering list (on the left of screen) to obtain the download screen shown below 5. Enter your username and password as supplied by Blue Coat 6. Click on Apply to save changes 2 Technical Brief
7. Click on Download Now to start the Web Filter download. You will see the following screen when the download starts. When completed, this screen will indicate that the download was successful. Step 3 Enable Automatic Downloading To enable automatic downloading of the database on a periodic basis follow these steps: 1. From the Web Filter screen select the Automatic Download tab 2. Check the box Download New Filter 3. Select a download time from the drop-down list 4. Check the days for the frequency that you want the filter list updated 5. Click Apply to save the changes Copyright 200 3 Technical Brief
Step 4 Enable Web Filter Categories via Visual Policy Manager To enable the Web Filter categories follow these steps: 1. Open up the Visual Policy Manager and add a new rule under any previously defined Web Access Layer by clicking the Add Rule button. If you have not added any layers yet, then you will need to create a Web Access Layer. See Blue Coat documentation for information on how to use the Visual Policy Manager 2. On the destination field, right click and choose set, a new window will appear, click on new and select categories 3. You will then be presented with a Category Listing 4. Select Adult/Mature Content, Gambling and Sports categories to test this policy 5. Click on OK 6. The pop-up window showing selected URLs and the new category list will be shown, click on OK. Install the policy to the ProxySG by clicking on Install Policies Testing Your Configuration To test your configuration you simply open your browser and type in a category-related URL: for example, www.sportsillustrated.com. You can also test sites in the other categories as well to verify they will be blocked. If you have configured the policy correctly, the Blue Coat policy will deny you access to this site if it is part of a restricted category. 4 Technical Brief
Conclusion The Blue Coat ProxySG supports numerous vendors to run URL filtering On-Proxy. The ProxySG supports automatic downloads of the Web Filter database and integrates the database with powerful policy functionality. Copyright 2004 Blue Coat Systems, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide. No part of this document may be reproduced by any means nor translated to any electronic medium without the written consent of Blue Coat Systems, Inc. Specifications are subject to change without notice. Information contained in this document is believed to be accurate and reliable, however, Blue Coat Systems, Inc. assumes no responsibility for its use. Blue Coat is a registered trademark of Blue Coat Systems, Inc. in the U.S. and worldwide. All other trademarks mentioned in this document are the property of their respective owners. Contact Blue Coat Systems 1.866.30BCOAT 408.220.2200 Direct 408.220.2250 Fax www.bluecoat.com 5 Technical Brief