How to Block Custom URLs with Umbrella for Enhanced Security

Summary: Custom URLs can be used to deceive users and gain unauthorized access to sensitive data. To prevent this, organizations can use Cisco Umbrella to block custom URLs and enhance their security posture.

1. Introduction

Custom URLs are URLs that are created to mimic legitimate ones, but with slight variations that make them appear authentic. Cybercriminals use custom URLs to deceive users into clicking on links that lead to phishing sites, malware downloads, or other malicious activities. To prevent these attacks, organizations need to have a way to detect and block custom URLs.

2. Using Cisco Umbrella

Cisco Umbrella is a cloud-based security platform that provides DNS filtering, URL filtering, and cloud-delivered security services. With Umbrella, organizations can block custom URLs by creating policies that identify and block suspicious domains.

3. Creating Custom URL Policies

To create a custom URL policy in Umbrella, follow these steps:

Step 1: Log in to the Umbrella dashboard and go to Policies > Content Categories.

Step 2: Click on the Custom URL category and select the Block action.

Step 3: Click on the Create button and enter a name for the policy.

Step 4: Enter the custom URL that you want to block in the URL field.

Step 5: Click on the Save button to save the policy.

4. Testing Custom URL Policies

Once you have created a custom URL policy in Umbrella, you can test it to ensure that it is working correctly. To test the policy, follow these steps:

Step 1: Open a web browser and enter the custom URL that you want to block.

Step 2: If the policy is working correctly, Umbrella will block the URL and display a block page.

Step 3: If the policy is not working correctly, check the policy settings and make sure that the URL is entered correctly.

5. Conclusion

Custom URLs are a common tactic used by cybercriminals to deceive users and gain unauthorized access to sensitive data. To prevent these attacks, organizations can use Cisco Umbrella to block custom URLs and enhance their security posture. By creating custom URL policies in Umbrella, organizations can ensure that their users are protected from these types of attacks.

Title:

Introduction: This article will discuss the use of Umbrella to block custom URLs for enhanced security. It will provide a detailed answer on how to achieve this and also explain the reasons why it is important.

Q: What is Umbrella?

A: Umbrella is a cloud-delivered security service that provides protection against threats such as malware, ransomware, and phishing. It is a powerful tool that helps to secure networks, devices, and users from cyber threats.

Q: Why is it important to block custom URLs?

A: Blocking custom URLs is important for enhanced security because it helps to prevent users from accessing malicious websites that could compromise their devices or networks. Cybercriminals often use custom URLs to hide their malicious activities and trick users into clicking on links that could infect their devices with malware or steal their personal information.

Q: How can I block custom URLs with Umbrella?

A: To block custom URLs with Umbrella, follow these steps:

1. Log in to your Umbrella dashboard and click on the “Policies” tab.

2. Select the policy that you want to apply the custom URL block to.

3. Click on “Content Categories” and then select “Custom URL Categories.”

4. Click on “Add” and then enter the custom URL that you want to block.

5. Click on “Save” to apply the changes to the policy.

Q: Can you provide an example of how to block a custom URL with Umbrella?

A: Yes. Let’s say that you want to block the custom URL “www.example.com” from being accessed by users in your network. To do this, you would follow the steps outlined above and enter “www.example.com” in the “Custom URL Categories” section of the policy that you want to apply the block to.

Conclusion: Blocking custom URLs is an important step in enhancing the security of your network and devices. Umbrella provides an easy and effective way to achieve this. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can block custom URLs and protect your network from cyber threats.