Geo-IP Filtering in CSE: A Smarter Way to Block Threats

The rules of cybersecurity have changed — and so has the battlefield.

Attacks that once targeted only the biggest enterprises are now striking organizations of every size. Even worse, rising geopolitical tensions have spilled from embassies into cyberspace, as nation-state hackers and global cybercriminals exploit the deep connectivity of our digital world. For small- to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) and the managed service providers (MSPs) that support them, there’s a growing need for simple, scalable tools that protect users no matter where they work. With remote and hybrid work here to stay, organizations need security that travels — without sacrificing strength, simplicity or user experience.

That’s why we’re excited to announce the continued expansion of our Secure Web Gateway (SWG) capabilities with Geo-IP Filtering in Cloud Secure Edge (CSE), SonicWall’s all-in-one cloud security solution for securing access to internal resources, SaaS apps, and the open internet. Geo-IP Filtering enables organizations to more granularly block and filter web traffic to high-risk countries, helping defend against foreign cyber threats, compliance violations and malicious activity.

What is Geo-IP Filtering?

Geo-IP Filtering allows you to block internet traffic based on geographic location. If an IP address originates from—or routes through—a restricted country, access is automatically denied before the threat ever reaches your users. That means you can block known trouble spots at the source and reduce your attack surface by cutting out traffic that doesn’t belong.

Why Does It Matter?

Block threats at the source: Stop malware, phishing and other attacks from high-risk regions before they ever reach your network.
Meet compliance requirements: Align with sanctions and internal policies by restricting access to prohibited locations.
Protect sensitive data: Reduce the risk of credential theft and data loss by limiting access to foreign-hosted sites.
Secure remote workers: Extend firewall-grade protection to employees no matter where they log on.

How Does It Work?

To use Geo-IP Filtering, you first need to enable an Internet Threat Protection (ITP) policy. From there, you simply toggle on Geo-IP Filtering and choose which countries to restrict. Cloud Secure Edge enforces the rule at the DNS level, blocking requests before risky sites can even load. These policies apply in near real time across all devices, giving you immediate and consistent protection.

Geo-IP Filtering: A Smarter Way to Protect

Cloud Secure Edge brings firewall-grade protection to users wherever they are. As flexible work becomes the norm, web-based threats don’t take days off — and neither should your security. With Geo-IP Filtering and other advanced web controls like DNS and URL filtering, CSE delivers the power of a firewall without requiring one at every location. Especially in today’s climate, where global events can trigger new digital threats overnight, it’s not just about staying prepared; it’s about staying protected, no matter where those threats originate.

SonicWall continues to deliver practical, powerful security features that help close gaps often missed by traditional tools or lean IT teams. Want to see how Cloud Secure Edge can help protect and connect your users wherever they are? Get a personalized demo of CSE or talk to our team today.