What does Sophos’ web filtering feature block?

The web filtering feature of Sophos is designed to enhance network security by blocking unauthorized or malicious websites that fall within predefined categories. This functionality allows administrators to set specific criteria that determine which types of websites users can access. For example, categories can include content related to malware, phishing, adult content, gambling, and other potentially harmful or undesirable websites.

By utilizing categories, Sophos can effectively protect users from visiting sites that may pose security risks or violate organizational policies without over-restricting access to legitimate and safe content. This approach allows for tailored web use that balances security with usability.

Blocking all websites without exception would hinder productivity and internet access, while targeting only social media platforms is too narrow and ignores a range of other categories that could be harmful. Additionally, blocking all sensitive content would likely lead to significant disruptions in legitimate workflows, as there are many legitimate websites that could contain sensitive information necessary for various business functions. Therefore, the focus on unauthorized or malicious sites based on configured categories is what distinguishes Sophos’ web filtering capabilities.