Name: FortiGuard Web Filtering Service
Rating: 9 (28 reviews)
Author: Fortinet

Help Desk

Web and Video Conferencing

Customer Support

Batch Management Software

Product Lifecycle Management (PLM)

Development

Business Intelligence (BI)

Collaboration

Digital Rights Management (DRM)

Enhanced 911 (E911)

Facility Management

IP PBX

Operational Analytics

Policy Management

Enterprise

Accounting

Invoicing

Nonprofit Accounting

Subscription Management

Finance and Accounting

Applicant Tracking

Corporate Learning Management

Employee Recognition

Employee Scheduling

HR Management

Payroll

Stock Option Plan Administration

Talent Intelligence

Talent Management

Workforce Analytics

Workforce Management

Human Resources

Application Performance Management (APM)

Archiving

Build Automation

Cloud Cost Management

Cloud Storage

Code Review

Configuration Management Databases

Data Mapping

Density-Optimized Servers

Email Encryption

Firewall Security Management

Fraud Detection

IP Address Management (IPAM)

IT Service Providers

Integration Platform as a Service (iPaaS)

Log Management

Managed DNS

Network Performance Monitoring

Software-Defined WAN

System Monitoring

Web Scraping

WiFi Hotspot

Workload Automation

Information Technology

A/B Testing

Ad Serving & Retargeting

All-in-One Marketing

Audio Editing

Content Management

Email Deliverability

Email Marketing

Marketing Automation

Online Proofing

Search Engine Marketing (SEM)

Social Media Management

Social Media Marketing

Survey & Forms Building

Web Analytics

Marketing

Job Site Management

Project Management

Waste Management

Writing and Proofreading Tools

Professional Services

Customer Relationship Management (CRM)

Product Configuration

Social Commerce

Sales

Laboratory Information Management

Membership Management

Roofing

Vertical-Specific

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### Web Content Filtering
Users generally praise FortiGuard Web Filtering Service for its effective web content filtering capabilities. They appreciate the service's ability to block harmful and malicious websites, categorize content efficiently, and minimize the risk of data leakage. While some users have reported occasional miscategorization of websites, they acknowledge the quick turnaround for reclassifying sites and the ease of implementation through a user-friendly GUI. FortiGuard Web Filtering Service is particularly valued in corporate and educational environments for its accuracy in filtering out unwanted content, such as social media, adult websites, and phishing sites. Users find the service beneficial for maintaining a safe and secure network environment, especially in settings where stringent web filtering is essential for protecting sensitive data and ensuring productive online activities. (Source Reviews: [1](https://www.trustradius.com/reviews/fortiguard-web-filtering-service-2023-01-12-13-41-49), [2](https://www.trustradius.com/reviews/fortiguard-web-filtering-service-2023-01-11-17-27-37), [3](https://www.trustradius.com/reviews/fortiguard-web-filtering-service-2023-01-11-12-13-43), [4](https://www.trustradius.com/reviews/fortiguard-web-filtering-service-2021-09-06-21-03-47))

### Network Security
Users generally praise FortiGuard Web Filtering Service for its robust network security capabilities. They appreciate its effectiveness in blocking harmful and malicious websites, minimizing data leakage, and enhancing overall network safety. Reviewers highlight the ease of use and the comprehensive protection it offers across various platforms and devices. The service's ability to continuously update its database signatures and provide real-time protection against threats is also well-received by users. Additionally, FortiGuard Web Filtering Service is recommended for small and medium businesses, particularly for sectors like education where stringent website filtering is essential. (Source Reviews: [1](https://www.trustradius.com/reviews/fortiguard-web-filtering-service-2023-01-11-17-27-37), [2](https://www.trustradius.com/reviews/fortiguard-web-filtering-service-2023-01-11-12-13-43), [3](https://www.trustradius.com/reviews/fortiguard-web-filtering-service-2023-01-12-13-41-49), [4](https://www.trustradius.com/reviews/fortiguard-web-filtering-service-2021-09-06-21-03-47))

### Data Leakage Prevention
Some users praise FortiGuard Web Filtering Service for its robust data leakage prevention features, highlighting its ability to block harmful websites and minimize the risk of data leakage. They appreciate the ease of use and the comprehensive protection it offers across various platforms. On the other hand, a few users express concerns about the effectiveness of the data leakage prevention functionality, indicating a need for further enhancements in this area. Despite differing opinions, the overall consensus suggests that FortiGuard Web Filtering Service plays a significant role in enhancing data security by addressing data leakage risks. (Source Reviews: [1](https://www.trustradius.com/reviews/fortiguard-web-filtering-service-2023-01-11-17-27-37), [2](https://www.trustradius.com/reviews/fortiguard-web-filtering-service-2023-01-12-13-41-49), [3](https://www.trustradius.com/reviews/fortiguard-web-filtering-service-2021-09-06-21-03-47))

### Implementation and Integration
Reviewers have expressed mixed opinions about the ease of implementation and integration of FortiGuard Web Filtering Service. While some users found the setup process to be straightforward and efficient, others encountered challenges with the interface and required additional support to navigate through it. The general consensus seems to be that once the initial hurdles were overcome, the service performed effectively in filtering websites and providing protection against malicious content. Users highlighted the benefits of not needing to install root certificates on all PCs within the network and the frequent database signature updates that streamlined the maintenance process. Despite some initial difficulties, users appreciated the level of protection offered by FortiGuard Web Filtering Service, especially in environments like schools and small to medium businesses where blocking inappropriate content is a priority. (Source Reviews: [1](https://www.trustradius.com/reviews/fortiguard-web-filtering-service-2023-01-11-12-13-43), [2](https://www.trustradius.com/reviews/fortiguard-web-filtering-service-2021-09-06-21-03-47), [3](https://www.trustradius.com/reviews/fortiguard-web-filtering-service-2019-11-22-08-54-45))

### User and Environment Customization
Users also find the role-based filtering feature beneficial, as it allows for tailored rules for different groups within the organization. The categorised web filtering further enhances the customization options, enabling users to block specific categories of websites based on their relevance to the organization's policies. Additionally, the ability to quickly whitelist individual sites and manage block/unblock categories easily contributes to a more streamlined user experience in customizing their environment. (Source Reviews: [1](https://www.trustradius.com/reviews/fortiguard-web-filtering-service-2023-01-12-13-41-49), [2](https://www.trustradius.com/reviews/fortiguard-web-filtering-service-2023-01-11-17-27-37), [3](https://www.trustradius.com/reviews/fortiguard-web-filtering-service-2023-01-11-12-13-43))

Difficult Interface: Some users initially found the interface of the Fortinet review service to be challenging, but eventually became familiar with it. However, a few reviewers still consider it difficult even after getting used to it.

Delays in Customer Support: There were reports of delays in receiving support from the customer service team. While one user had to escalate the issue to the project manager for assistance, eventually, the problem was resolved. It is unclear how many users experienced this delay.

Miscategorization of Websites: Users frequently complained that websites were often miscategorized by the Fortinet review service, resulting in false positives and legitimate sites being blocked. The number of users facing this issue is unknown.

FortiGuard Web Filtering Service has proven to be an invaluable tool for users seeking to filter harmful and damaging websites. Users have successfully utilized the service to minimize data leakage and maintain uninterrupted work environments. The ease of implementation has made it a popular choice, as it eliminates the need for manual maintenance of web filtering lists.

The service's versatility is evident in its application across different settings. It has been effectively used as part of proof-of-concept projects within departments and implemented in pilot programs at test high schools, middle schools, and elementary schools. Integration with firewalls in various locations, branches, and enterprises allows for separate rule sets tailored to different networks and users.

Business problems such as protecting against phishing attempts, preventing non-work related browsing, securing guest wireless networks, and enabling user activity logging have found their solutions with FortiGuard Web Filtering Service. Users also appreciate its user-friendly approach, which does not require installation of a root certificate on PCs. The service includes website categorization and antivirus protection to further enhance its capabilities.

Having been relied upon for approximately 4 years, FortiGuard Web Filtering Service has proven its effectiveness where other software solutions have fallen short. Its ability to block unwanted access and prevent malicious content extends across multiple platforms and operating systems, making it a powerful solution for organizations in need of comprehensive web filtering capabilities.

Fortinet headquartered in Sunnyvale, California offers the FortiGuard Web Filtering Service, a web content filter.

DNSFilter headquartered in Waltham offers DNS-Based Content Filtering & Threat Protection.

BASIC

ENTERPRISE

DNSFilter

FortiGuard Web Filtering Service

Web Content Filtering Solutions comprise appliances and software for censoring or preventing access to restricted web content deemed offensive or inappropriate.

Web Content Filtering

Likelihood to Recommend

Support Rating

Microsoft SQL Server

Snowflake

Logi Composer

IT Manager

FortiGuard Web Filtering Service 2023-01-11 17:27:37

FortiClient

FortiManager

FortiGuard Web Filtering Service 2023-01-11 12:13:43

Outseer Fraud Manager

Database Administrator

FortiGuard Web Filtering Service 2019-11-22 08:54:45

FortiGuard Web Filtering Service 2023-01-12 13:41:49

FortiGuard Web Filtering Service 2021-09-06 21:03:47

TrustRadius is a technology and business research firm based in Austin, Texas. The company is known as a review platform for verified B2B technology and software reviews through a proprietary algorithm and human verification.

TrustRadius

Simple and easy

Command line

Difficult to use

Project manager

Web filtering

Different groups

Groups of users

Easy implementation

Ip addresses

Need to install

Rule sets

Social media

Easy management

Home

Web Content Filtering Solutions

We used FortiGuard Web Filtering Service as part of our Fortinet gateway to manage all our network connections between the world and our office. FortiGuard Web Filtering Service in particular helped us filter our harmful and damaging websites, as well as minimise data leakage, while still allowing people to perform their jobs without being impeded.

Rule-based web filtering
Categorised web filtering

Web sites are often miscategorised. I was regularly having to submit websites to the Fortinet review service to have them re-categorised correctly. So, users would report websites were blocked when they should not be. It happened a lot.

Rule-based filtering
Role-based filtering, i.e. can have different rules for different groups
Categorised web-based filtering

We can be confident staff cannot inadvertantly or deliberately access websites that contain porn, or other non-safe for work content
We can be confident staff cannot inadvertantly or deliberately access harmful and malicious websites
We can be confident data leakage is minimised

Snowflake, Microsoft SQL Server, Logi Composer (Zoomdata)

We need an easy way to filter malicious and unwanted websites from our corporate network. Manually maintaining a web filtering list would be too cumbersome to handle, so we subscribed to FortiGuard Web Filtering Service web filtering service.

Quick turnaround for reclassifying websites
Effective web filtering
Easy to implement with a GUI

Some websites are classified as Meaningless content, especially links used in emails to unsubscribe from lists. Luckily FortiGuard Web Filtering Service is responsive about reclassifying those quickly.

Accurate web filtering to reduce the amount of trouble tickets
Easy to manually whitelist individual sites
Quick turnaround for incorrectly categorized sites
Easy to manage block/unblock categories

We have always used FortiGuard Web Filtering Service, and their web filter has been immeasurably helpful in keeping our network safe from phishing websites, viruses and malware

Right now, we have FortiGuard Web Filtering Sevice as a proof of concept project within our department. We're also using 1 test high school, 1 test middle school, and 1 elementary school included in the pilot.

Easy Implementation.
Worked well with most of the apps we use.
GUI was easy to use.

Interface was not easy for some other users, but after they got it down, it worked well.
Took a little while to get help from support. Had to call the project manager to get help. But they took care of the issue after the fact.

It cost us almost little time to set up and pilot, so we didn't spend a lot of man-hours working on it. Implementation was easy.

RSA Web Threat Detection (WTD), DNSFilter

FortiGuard Web Filtering Service is providing us power to block unwanted access from our devices on our environment. It can block and prevent from malicious and harmful contents. Also it supports many platforms all around operating systems both laptops and mobile devices.

Good web filtering
Supports many platforms

Easy to use
Strong protection
Supports many platforms

We have used FortiGuard Web Filtering Service for around 4 years. We previously tried other software such as Squid Proxy, but it was not effective. Our problem was not solved until we tried using the FortiGate Next-Generation Firewall. There was no need to install a root certificate on the PCs, plus the category of website and antivirus protection was inside already. Previously when using Squid Proxy, we had to add the website names and compile them, which wasted a lot of time.

FortiGuard Web Filtering Service effectively protects websites. There is no need to install the root certificate on all PCs inside the network.
The database signature updates every hour, so we don't need to spend time updating the website to blacklist or whitelist.
It can protect very well. Whereas, some traditional proxies can not do that. For example, others can not block Youtube or Facebook.
It can also protect the search keyword, like in Youtube or other social media, Google, etc.

The functionality of FortiGuard is simple and easy to use but not advance.
The command line is difficult to use and understand.

It can block bad websites and categories so students and staff can not go to them.
It can block viruses or spam that come from the internet. It also blocks bad advertising on websites, so when browsing it looks clean with no alerts or ads.

The subscription is a bit expensive. However, taking its value into consideration makes it worthwhile.

FortiGuard Web Filtering Service

Overview

What is FortiGuard Web Filtering Service?