Configure Web Content Filtering for Windows

Web content filtering controls access to websites enabling organizations to restrict corporate devices from accessing those URLs that do not align with their security policies. Hexnode UEM’s Web content filtering feature allows IT administrators to remotely manage and enforce web filtering policies across all managed Windows devices. Admins can blocklist specific URLs to prevent access or allowlist trusted URLs to ensure specified availability of websites. You can enforce this method of preferred website across browsers like Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox.

How to set up Web content filtering for Windows devices?

To configure Web content filtering for Windows,

1. Log in to your Hexnode UEM portal. Navigate to the Policies tab. Click on New Policy to create a new one. Enter the Policy Name and Description in the provided fields.
   (or)
   Click on any policy to edit an existing one.
2. Navigate to Windows. Select Web Content Filtering under Security.
3. Click on Configure.
4. Select the Blocklist / Allowlist option.
5. Select the browsers on which the web content filters should be applied.The available options are:
   • Microsoft Edge
   • Google Chrome
   • Mozilla Firefox

If you select Microsoft Edge, the blocklisted or allowlisted URLs will apply only to that browser. Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox will not be affected, and the users can access all websites from them.

Blocklist Website URLs

When a website is blocklisted, users are prevented from accessing it. To blocklist web URLs, specify the URL to be blocklisted in the text field and click Add.

Allowlist Website URLs

When a website is allowlisted, users are only able to access the allowlisted websites and are blocked from accessing others. To allowlist web URLs, enter the URLs to be allowlisted in the text field and click Add.

You can also upload the URLs to be blocklisted / allowlisted in bulk as a CSV file.

Associate the policy with Windows devices

If you have not saved the policy yet,

1. Go to Policy Targets > +Add Devices. Alternatively, you can choose to associate the policy to either device groups, users, user groups or domains from the left pane.
2. Choose the target device/devices.
3. Click Ok. Click Save.

If you need to add more devices, click on +Add Devices again and repeat the above steps. This won’t affect your previous selections.

If you are on a page that lists the policies,

1. Select a policy.
2. From Manage drop-down, choose Associate Targets.
3. Choose the target devices and click Associate.

What happens at the device end?

On the device end, when a user tries to access blocklisted URLs through the selected browser, access will be denied. Also, the browser displays a warning message that the site is blocked by the organization.

For allowlisting, only the websites explicitly included in the allowlist can be accessed—any attempt to visit other sites from the selected browser will be blocked.