As cloud adoption accelerates, businesses are racing to lock down data security. The explosion in remote work and cloud apps has expanded the attack surface dramatically. Sensitive company information is now flowing outside the traditional network perimeter. This new reality is driving huge demand for cybersecurity solutions tailored to the cloud.
Two technologies leading the charge are secure web gateways (SWG) and cloud access security brokers (CASB). Adoption of SWG and CASB is booming – and for good reason. Together, they provide critical protection for your data, apps, and users in the cloud.
But SWG and CASB also have key differences in their capabilities and use cases. So how do you choose which one is right for your business?
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll dive deep on SWG and CASB to help you decide:
- What each solution is and how it works
- Head-to-head comparison of their pros and cons
- When to choose SWG, CASB, or both
- Deployment considerations for each
- Real-world examples and adoption data
By the end, you’ll understand these two technologies and feel confident picking the optimal cloud security platform for your needs in 2024 and beyond.
What is SWG and How Does it Work?
First, let’s quickly level-set on what exactly secure web gateways do.
SWGs act as an intermediary proxy between users and the internet. All user traffic is routed through the SWG for inspection and policy enforcement:
As traffic passes through, the SWG has full visibility and control. It can block restricted websites, filter out malicious code, monitor activity, and more.
Under the hood, SWGs use a variety of techniques to secure web traffic:
URL Filtering – Blacklists of prohibited sites and categories that users can‘t access. Stops threats and enforces acceptable use policies.
Anti-Virus Scanning – Static and heuristic scanning to catch trojans, viruses, spyware, and other “drive-by” malware from the web.
Advanced Threat Protection – Machine learning and sandboxing to detect zero-day web exploits and malicious behavior.
Browser Isolation – Renders web content offline away from endpoint devices as an added layer of protection.
Application Controls – Granular options to block, limit, or throttle usage of web apps like social, streaming, games, etc.
SSL Inspection – Decrypts HTTPS traffic for visibility into encrypted connections and stops threats from hiding in SSL/TLS.
These core protections all work together to harden web security and prevent breaches originating from web traffic. SWG is especially useful for locking down corporate networks and managed devices.
Now let’s look at how CASBs complement SWGs by securing the cloud side of things.
What is CASB and How Does it Work?
Cloud access security brokers sit between your users and cloud apps to monitor all activity and enforce security policies.
As a proxy, the CASB intermediates all connections between entities like users, devices, and cloud apps. This gives it full visibility over cloud usage and data flows. CASBs then leverage this visibility to:
Control Access – Limit which apps and accounts users can access based on contextual factors like device posture, geo-location, and more.
Prevent Data Leakage – Stop uploads of sensitive data like PII, IP, or financials to unsanctioned cloud apps.
Protect Accounts – Require stronger authentication, limit actions for suspicious logins, and lock compromised accounts.
Monitor for Threats – Use user behavior analytics to detect cloud malware, abnormal activity, unauthorized access attempts, and insider risks.
Encrypt Data – Apply data-level encryption and rights management to protect data stored in cloud apps.
Enforce DLP – Content-aware controls to restrict actions like sharing, downloading, printing, and editing based on data type.
These capabilities allow CASBs to extend on-prem security policies to the cloud. Companies gain control and visibility even with a distributed mobile workforce.
Now that we’ve explored how SWGs and CASBs work, where do they overlap and where do they differ?
SWG vs. CASB: Key Feature Comparison
SWG and CASB actually have quite a bit of overlap in their capabilities:
Similarities
- Proxy-based architecture for traffic inspection
- Cloud-delivered platforms (mostly for SWG)
- Goal of securing data and users
- Replace legacy firewalls
Differences
| SWG | CASB |
|---|---|
| Focuses on securing web traffic | Focuses on securing cloud apps |
| Controls based on web categories/URLs | Controls based on data types, app risk, etc |
| Device and endpoint-centric | User and data-centric |
| Malware scanning for downloads | Checking user behavior for anomalies |
| On-prem orientation | Cloud-first orientation |
While both are critical cloud security tools, SWG and CASB have different orientations and strengths based on what they were designed to protect.
SWG Pros and Cons
Pros
- Advanced protection against web-based malware/phishing
- Ability to restrict website access with high precision
- Visibility into web activity across managed devices
- Less latency impact than proxying all cloud traffic
Cons
- No visibility into cloud app behavior
- Bluetooth, Airdrop risks not covered
- Limited control over BYOD devices
- Must route all traffic through SWG appliance
CASB Pros and Cons
Pros
- Unified view across all cloud app activity
- Extend security controls to BYOD devices
- Protect against insider threats in the cloud
- Controls based on data types and activity
Cons
- Less focus on malware from web traffic
- Proxy model creates latency overhead
- More complex deployment and management
- Privacy concerns around data monitoring
As you can see, SWG and CASB each have areas they excel in based on their specific goals. Next, let‘s explore when each solution fits better.
When Should You Choose SWG vs. CASB?
The decision between SWG and CASB depends largely on your business priorities and cloud usage.
When SWG is the Right Choice
Secure web gateways make the most sense when protecting your corporate network perimeter is the top concern. Specific drivers include:
- On-prem resources are critical, cloud usage is minimal
- Tight web access restrictions for employees
- Advanced protections against web-based malware
- Many managed Windows/Mac OS devices to secure
For example, a defense contractor with classified data may rely heavily on SWG to lock down web traffic from the corporate network.
When CASB is the Better Fit
Cloud access security brokers tend to be better options when cloud security is the primary driver. Use cases where CASB works well:
- Growing usage of SaaS apps like Office 365, Slack, Salesforce
- Rise of mobility and BYOD among employees
- Strict regulatory requirements around data security
- Desire for visibility into all cloud activity
For instance, a healthcare company may choose CASB to meet HIPAA compliance by extending controls over patient data to cloud apps.
Using SWG and CASB Together
For maximum security, SWG and CASB can work hand-in-hand to cover both web and cloud vectors.
This defense-in-depth approach ensures there are no gaps in your security posture as you utilize both on-prem and cloud resources.
While effective, running SWG and CASB together does increase complexity. Carefully evaluate if the added security value justifies the extra costs.
Deployment Considerations for SWG and CASB
Depending on your use case, there are a few key considerations around deploying SWG or CASB:
On-Prem vs. Cloud
- SWGs often reside on-prem as an appliance for low-latency inspection. But cloud-delivered options exist too.
- CASBs are typically only available as cloud-based deployments.
Routing Traffic
- SWGs require redirecting all web traffic through the proxy, which can mean configuring routers, VPNs, etc.
- CASBs are either API-based or reverse proxy models. Both are simpler to route traffic through than SWG appliances.
Performance Overhead
- SWGs add minimal latency when deployed on-prem. Cloud-based increases latency.
- CASBs slow down traffic more given they proxy all cloud app requests. Need to size accordingly.
Vendor Selection
- Top SWG vendors: Symantec, Cisco, Forcepoint, McAfee, Zscaler
- Leading CASB vendors: Netskope, Bitglass, Symantec, Proofpoint, Microsoft
Take these factors into account when planning your rollout. And don’t hesitate to leverage experts if the deployment seems daunting.
Real-World Examples of SWG and CASB Deployments
To ground the guidance into real-world results, let’s look at a few examples of how companies have adopted SWG, CASB, or both:
Energy Company
- Chose standalone SWG to lock down web activity from corporate network
- Block unsafe websites and prevent web-based malware
- Limited cloud usage made CASB unnecessary
Tech Startup
- Deployed CASB-only due to remote workforce and cloud-first model
- Gain visibility into shadow IT and protect sensitive customer data
- Employees use personal devices minimizing value of SWG
Hospital System
- Uses joint SWG + CASB for defense-in-depth
- SWG protects 1000+ managed hospital computers
- CASB meets HIPAA compliance in the cloud
These examples showcase how different environments call for different tools. Evaluate your priorities, risks, and resources to determine if SWG, CASB, or a joint deployment is right for you.
Adoption of SWG and CASB Continues Growth Trajectory
The rapid adoption of SWG and CASB underscores their critical importance in securing today’s cloud-enabled enterprises.
- The SWG market is projected to grow from $3.3B to over $9B from 2020-2025 as companies lock down web access.
- CASB adoption jumped from 20% of large firms in 2016 to over 60% in 2024 as cloud apps proliferate.
- By 2025, over 75% of midsize and enterprise organizations are forecast to be using a CASB.
As cyberthreats grow more advanced and sophisticated, technologies like SWG and CASB will only increase in strategic value.
Making the Right Cloud Security Choice for Your Business
In today’s mobile-first, cloud-first world, SWG and CASB provide mission-critical security for your data and users. As you evaluate these two technologies:
- Consider your priorities – Is web security or cloud security more important right now?
- Weigh your deployment trade-offs – On-prem vs cloud, performance factors, etc.
- Leverage real-world use cases – Draw inspiration from other companies deploying SWG and CASB.
- Involve experts – If unsure, tap providers for advice on architecting the right solution.
By understanding the core capabilities, use cases, and deployment options for SWG and CASB, you can craft an optimized cloud security strategy. This will ensure your business is fully protected as you accelerate cloud and digital transformation in 2024 and beyond.
Have questions on selecting the right cloud access security technologies like SWG or CASB? Our experts are here to provide vendor-neutral guidance based on decades of experience. Contact us to get started.