How to Whitelist a Website? A Step-by-Step Guide

Website whitelisting is a cybersecurity tactic in which an administrator explicitly regulates a policy or framework on managed devices in advance, which will be accessed by end-users.

With the functionality of whitelisting websites, IT admins can compile a list of pre-approved websites that will be only accessible by end-users on all devices that adhere to the frameworks.

The malicious intent of the cyber-attackers can be prevented by allowing the limited set of functionalities as deemed secured by the IT administrator. This can also be weighed as a lockdown measurement and frustrating to the end-users but can be on the verge of being a foolproof barrier to contingent cyber-attacks.

Rising threats from cyberattacks, such as ransomware, malware, phishing attacks, and spyware, have taken the business world by storm. SMBs are at higher risk than larger organizations. Studies say that most SMBs have faced severe financial loss due to data breaches caused by these random cyberattacks.

With MDM Software, it is possible to reduce the cyber-attacking risk by whitelisting websites on devices.

With the onset of BYOD as an enterprise culture, the threats and risks are taking an even graver shape. Company IT admins are exploring the options to whitelist sites on corporate-owned mobiles and desktops, which indeed is proving to be a valid way to minimize the hazards from the attack vector.

With a plethora of cyber threats on the rise, companies need to pull their security strings tighter than ever before, including using anti-spyware software. Whether an SMB or a larger enterprise, it became imperative to strengthen one’s defence.

What is Website Whitelisting?

Website whitelisting is a cybersecurity strategy where IT admins create a controlled environment by pre-approving specific websites that users can access on managed devices. 

This approach allows only the websites deemed safe and necessary for business purposes, effectively blocking access to all other sites. By doing so, it acts as a protective shield against malicious websites, phishing attacks, and other cybersecurity threats.

There is a whole wide world of hackers and cyber attackers operating from an ever-growing threat landscape with sophisticated ways to steal/abuse corporate data.

Company IT admins are hence advised to follow a multi-step procedure to build a heavy defense against these dangers, which include malware, spyware, trojans, malicious apps, phishing attacks, etc. However, whitelisting of websites can surely play a big role.

How to Whitelist a Website: Step-by-Step Guide

Today, more and more companies, irrespective of their sizes, are opting to purchase powerful MDM software that can allow the company to enforce dynamic security policies to safeguard corporate data and control device usage.

Scalefusion MDM solution does that and a lot more to ensure that your corporate-owned devices and sensitive company information are managed, monitored, and secured from a centralized and unified dashboard. 

Below is a step-by-step guide to configuring website whitelisting on different operating system (OS) platforms using Scalefusion.

Step 1: You need to login to access the Scalefusion dashboard. 

Step 2: After logging in, select “Allowed Websites” from the “Device Profiles & Policies” menu on the left.

As you can see, one website (https://scalefusion.com/) is already on the whitelisted website list. 

Step 3: In order to whitelist another website, click on the Whitelist a Website tab on the top right-hand side. Once you click, you will see the below screen.

Step 4: Under the Details section, enter the website’s name and well-formatted URL.

Then, choose if the shortcut should be visible on the Scalefusion home screen or not (like it is shown in the above image). Here, it is visible on the home screen. After clicking on Next, you will see the below Android settings tab.

The Android Settings tab is used to set the shortcut in Scalefusion Kiosk Browser and is hence not used for Google Chrome. So, click Next.

Similarly, Apple Settings is meant for configuring settings for Safari and ProSurf iOS kiosk browser and is not required here. So, just click on Save.

Similarly, Windows Settings is meant for configuring settings for the ProSurf kiosk browser and is not required here. So, just click on Save.

Step 5: After clicking on Save, your master list of Whitelisted Websites will be ready and it will appear like the below image.

Now on this page (refer to the above image), you have the option to take 4 actions under the Actions tab – edit, publish, unpublish and delete. 

Step 6: Click on Publish (the 2nd icon from left) to publish the website shortcut to the selected device groups, profiles, or devices, as shown below.

This is the common procedure for whitelisting websites for any platform, including Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows 10.

Apart from this, you can also publish the list of whitelisted websites directly by going to a particular device profile. 

Step 7: Go to Device Management and click on Device Profiles from the drop-down. Then, click on the ‘Edit’ icon on the top right-hand side beside APPLY tab.

1. Whitelisting website for Windows with Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge Browser Configuration

With Windows 10/11 devices, you can update the device profile by editing/applying relevant settings, including the option to whitelist websites, and then saving the changes.

Whitelisting websites using Scalefusion UEM is easy and self-explanatory with a seamless user interface.

Watch the below video with stepwise instructions to whitelist websites on Windows devices:

2. Whitelisting website for MacOS

Likewise, in the case of a device profile with macOS devices, you can edit settings and choose to whitelist new websites on the associated page (refer to the following image).

To whitelist websites, click the Content Filtering tab on the left-hand side, then select the appropriate settings and click the Save button to update the device profile.

3. Whitelisting website for iOS Devices

Similarly, you can edit settings, including whitelisting of websites for a device profile with iOS devices, and the associated page will look like this.

Watch stepwise instructional video to whitelist websites on iOS devices:

4. Whitelisting website for Android Devices

For a device profile containing Android devices, the following page will open. Here, you will see the master list of whitelisted websites. Enable the website to be allowed on the selected device profile with the toggle button, click on Next, save all settings, and update the specific device profile.

Watch the below video with stepwise instructions to whitelist websites on Android devices:

Use Cases for Website Whitelisting

• Corporate Usage: For companies who have frontline executives working from remote locations and using corporate-owned devices for business purposes, allowed websites prove to be quite useful. 

• Kiosk Mode Applications: Website whitelisting can be seamlessly applied to devices locked in kiosk mode as well.

• Educational Institutions: Apart from that, schools and educational institutes should also leverage website whitelisting to limit unsafe and inappropriate website browsing by students on tablets/smartphones meant for study purposes.

Benefits of Website Whitelisting

1. Upgraded security: As we spoke earlier in the blog, a mal-intended website carrying a nasty code or a malicious app can cause several harms to your device, like hacking the data, installing ransomware, intruding the system network, or corrupting crucial company data.

Whitelisting websites stop all that from taking place as the IT grants permission to access only the selected/ limited websites meant for business purposes only.

2. Improved productivity: Employees have a natural tendency of browsing multiple websites, especially for personal entertainment. Social media websites, for example, are a big example of how employees are distracted due to unlimited access to the websites on the internet.

Although it doesn’t apply to everyone but still in maximum cases, it leads to the wastage of productive office hours. Website whitelisting automatically disallows employees’ unnecessary website browsing, which improves their performance and productivity at work!

3. Reduced data overages: Whitelisting websites will prevent employees from browsing unnecessary websites for personal/entertainment purposes, which will, in turn, eliminate the chances of excessive data usage that leads to unwanted charges or overages for the company.

Importance of Website Whitelisting

Let’s understand the various importance of website whitelisting.

1. Network Security Enhancement

Website or URL whitelisting is a crucial measure for IT admins to strengthen network security. By allowing access only to trusted websites, it significantly minimizes the risk of malware infections, phishing attacks, and other security threats. This proactive approach ensures that the network remains secure, protecting sensitive organizational data and reducing the likelihood of data breaches and unauthorized access attempts.

2. Operational Efficiency

Whitelisting streamlines network management for IT admins by reducing the number of security alerts and incidents that need to be addressed. It simplifies monitoring and maintenance tasks, allowing admins to focus on more strategic and value-added activities rather than constantly dealing with security threats from blacklist websites. This efficiency leads to a more stable and secure IT environment.

3. Regulatory Compliance

Implementing website whitelisting helps organizations comply with industry regulations and standards. By controlling access to only whitelisted sites, IT admins can ensure that their organization adheres to data protection laws, industry regulations, and internal policies. This helps in avoiding legal complications, potential fines, and maintaining a good standing with regulatory bodies.

Best Practices for Website Whitelisting

Now that we’ve explored the important part of allowing or blocking URLs, let’s understand some of the best practices.

1. Regularly Update Whitelist

It is essential to maintain an up-to-date whitelist by regularly reviewing and adding new trusted websites while removing obsolete ones. This practice ensures that the whitelist remains relevant and effective in providing secure access. Regular updates also help adapt to changing organizational needs and emerging security threats.

2. Implement Granular Control

Use granular control to tailor website access based on user roles and departments. This means creating specific whitelists for different user groups within the organization. Granular control minimizes unnecessary access and enhances security by ensuring that users can only visit websites pertinent to their roles and responsibilities.

3. Monitor and Review Access Logs

Regularly monitor and review access logs to detect any unusual activity or attempts to access non-whitelisted sites. This practice helps IT admins quickly identify and address potential security issues, ensuring that any suspicious activity is promptly investigated and mitigated. Consistent monitoring also provides insights into user behavior and access patterns.

4. Educate Users

Educate employees about the importance of website whitelisting and the reasons behind restricted access. User awareness can reduce frustration and enhance cooperation with IT policies. Providing training sessions and clear communication helps users understand the security benefits of whitelisting and encourages them to follow best practices.

5. Utilize Advanced Security Tools

Incorporate advanced security tools and software to automate the whitelisting process and enhance overall network security. These tools can provide additional layers of protection, such as real-time threat detection and automatic updates to the whitelist. Utilizing advanced tools helps streamline management for IT admins and ensures that the network remains secure against evolving threats.

What Next?

Website whitelisting is a powerful security measure that enables organizations to protect sensitive data, enhance employee productivity, and streamline device usage. With Scalefusion MDM, implementing website whitelisting is simple and efficient, providing IT admins with a centralized platform to manage and secure company-owned devices across multiple operating systems.

Whether your organization uses Android, iOS, macOS, or Windows devices, Scalefusion offers an intuitive and effective solution to ensure that only trusted websites are accessible. By taking this proactive step, businesses can stay ahead of evolving cyber threats and maintain a secure digital environment.

FAQs

1. What is URL whitelisting?

URL whitelisting is a security practice that allows access only to a predefined list of approved websites or URLs. It ensures that users, applications, or devices can interact only with trusted sites, reducing the risk of exposure to irrelevant websites, malware, or other online threats. For instance, a company might whitelist URLs to ensure employees access only work-related sites.

2. Why should I whitelist a website, and how does it reduce risks?

Whitelisting a website ensures access only to approved, trustworthy websites. By restricting access to irrelevant or untrustworthy websites, you:

• Protect sensitive information from exposure.
• Enhance security configuration to block malicious or phishing sites.
• Reduce risks associated with downloading malware or visiting inappropriate content.

Above, a comprehensive tutorial on whitelisting can help improve security and reduce bandwidth usage.

3. What is the difference between IP whitelisting and domain whitelisting?

• IP Whitelisting: Allows access based on specific IP addresses. For example, a company’s firewall or VPN can whitelist the IP of a trusted server to ensure secure communication, which reduces the risk of exposing sensitive information to irrelevant or untrustworthy websites.
• Domain Whitelisting: Focuses on permitting specific URL of the site or domains, like www.allowed-site.com, through content filtering in desktop or mobile web browsers like chrome browser, firefox or Safari browser.

4. What are the risks of not using a whitelist?

• Exposure to Malware: Increases the chance of visiting malicious websites.
• Data Theft: Sensitive information can be compromised on untrustworthy websites.
• Distraction and Inefficiency: Without a whitelist, users may access irrelevant websites, affecting productivity.

5. What is the key difference between whitelist and blacklist?

The fundamental difference lies in their approach to access control:

• Whitelist: Permits access only to entities on the approved list of websites (restrictive approach).
• Blacklist: Blocks access only to entities on the prohibited list while allowing others (permissive approach).

6. Which approach is better for managing internet access?

It depends on the context:

• Whitelist: Ideal for environments where security is critical (e.g., corporate networks, parental controls, or MDM systems). It allows access only to allowed sites, reducing the risk of exposure to untrustworthy websites.
• Blacklist: Suitable for general-use systems where blocking specific threats or irrelevant websites suffices, while most content remains accessible.

7. What are some tools to help with website whitelisting?

Tools that simplify website whitelisting include:

• Browser extensions like AdBlockers
• Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions.
• Built-in privacy and security settings in browsers.
• Proxy servers and firewall configurations.