CFS: Enforcing Content Filter Policies on IP Addresses based on Schedules

10/14/2021 1296 28586

DESCRIPTION:

Feature/Application:

Configuring Content Filter Policies for limiting Internet access to certain times of the day using Schedules and enforcing it on IP addresses.

• This article gives step by step configuration that allows administrators to enforce time-based Internet access along with content filtering on IP addresses.
• In order to assign custom content filter polices on IP addresses the SonicWall must have premium content filter subscription and be running SonicOS Enhanced firmware5.2 and later.
  
  

  NOTE:CFS Premium version is required to create custom CFS policies.
  
  

For the purpose of this article we configure the followings Scenario.

• An IP Addressrange to be able to access the Internet only between 8:00AM and 5:00PM from Monday to Friday.
• Another range of IP Address to be able to access the Internet only during lunch time between 1:00PM and 2:00PM from Monday to Friday.
• Even during this period Internet access would be based on the categories allowed in the CFS policy.

RESOLUTION:

Resolution for SonicOS 6.5

This release includes significant user interface changes and many new features that are different from the SonicOS 6.2 and earlier firmware. The below resolution is for customers using SonicOS 6.5 firmware.

Creating Schedules

SonicWall has a number of pre-configured Schedules which are for various time periods and can be used for various purposes, if suitable. For this scenario we select the pre-configured Schedule, Work Hours, which will suit our purpose as it is between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM from Monday to Friday. For the lunchtime schedule we create a new one.

• Login to the SonicWall management Interface.
• Navigate to the Appliance | System Schedules page.
• Click Add.
• Set Schedule Name as Lunchtime
• Set Schedule type as Recurring
• Select the boxes under Mon,Tue,Wed,Thurs,Fri under Recurring.
• Set Start Time as 13:00 and Stop Time as 14:00
• Click Add to add this time under Schedule List.
• Click OK .
  

Set the Default CFS Policy as the most restrictive

• Navigate to Security Services | Content Filter
• Click on Objects|Content Filter Objects page(Link inside the Note) .
• Under CFS Profile objects.
• Click Configure on the Default Policy.
• Under settings | Category Configuration.
• Set Operation to Block  and click SET TO ALL(Please note: This would block all access to the Internet therefore do not enable CFS yet on LAN or DMZ zones).
• Click OK .
  
  
  
  

Creating new CFS Profile - Restricted Access

• Under the CFS Profile Objects tab click on the Add button.
• Enter a name for the new profile. For eg. Restricted Access
• Under the Category configuration select the categories to be blocked.
• Under Security Services | Content Filtering
• Create a new CFS Policy. EXAMPLE: Restricted Access.
• Select Schedule as Work Hours.
• Select Profile as Restricted access.
• Click OK .
  
  
  
  
  

Creating new CFS Profile -Lunchtime Access (Under objects | Content Filter objects)

• Under the CFS Profile objects tab click on the Add button.
• Enter a name for the new policy. For eg. Lunchtime Access.
• Under the Category Configuration tab select the categories to be blocked.
• Under Security Services | Content Filtering.
• Create a new CFS Policy. EXAMPLE: Lunchtime Access.
• Select Schedule as Lunchtime.
• Select Profile as Lunchtime Access.
  
  
• Now that custom policies have been created, it must be enforced on IP address ranges. 

Assigning CFS Policies on IP Addresses

The option CFS Policy per IP Address Range is available on the SonicWall Security Services | Content Filter page. Edit policy on which IP address range has to be assigned.

• Click Edit button(Restricted access policy).
• Under Source ,Create a new address object.
• Starting IP Address From enter 192.168.1.1.
• Ending Address To enter 192.168.1.100.
• Click OK.
  
  
  
• Click  Edit button(Lunch Access policy).
• Under Source ,Create a new address object.
• Starting IP Address From enter 192.168.1.101
• Ending Address To enter 192.168.1.150
• Click OK .
  

Enabling CFS

• Security Services | Content Filter, Under Global settings, tick of checkbox Enable Content Filtering Service.

How to Test

In order to test the above scenario, have hosts with IP address in the range 192.168.1.101 to 192.168.150 go online during Lunchtime (1PM to 2PM) hours and outside Lunchtime hours. If the hosts are unable to go online outside Lunchtime hours and able to go online during Lunchtime hours then the Schedule configured in the CFS Policy assigned to the IP address range is being successfully enforced. However, hosts within the IP range  will not be able to access any sites belonging to the blocked CFS categories at any time of the day.

Resolution for SonicOS 6.2 and Below

The below resolution is for customers using SonicOS 6.2 and earlier firmware. For firewalls that are generation 6 and newer we suggest to upgrade to the latest general release of SonicOS 6.5 firmware.

Creating Schedules

SonicWall has a number of pre-configured Schedules which are for various time periods and can be used for various purposes, if suitable. For this scenario we select the pre-configured Schedule, Work Hours, which will suit our purpose as it is between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM from Monday to Friday. For the lunchtime schedule we create a new one.

• Login to the SonicWall management Interface.
• Navigate to System | Schedules page.
• Click Add.
• Set Schedule Name as Lunchtime.
• Set Schedule type as Recurring.
• Select the boxes under Mon,Tue,Wed,Thurs,Fri under Recurring.
• Set Start Time as 13:00 and Stop Time as 14:00.
• Click Add to add this time under Schedule List.
• Click OK .
  

Set the Default CFS Policy as the most restrictive

• Navigate to Security Services | Content Filter.
• Click Configure against SonicWall CFS.
• In the SonicWall Filter Properties windows, click Policy tab.
• Click Configure on the Default Policy.
• Click  URL List tab.
• Check the box under Select all Categories (Please note: This would block all access to the Internet therefore do not enable CFS yet on LAN or DMZ zones).
• Click OK .
  
  

Creating new CFS Policy - Restricted Access

• Under Policy tab click Add.
• Enter a name for the new policy. EXAMPLE:  Restricted Access.
• Under the URL List tab select the categories to be blocked.
• Click  Settings tab
• Under Filter Forbidden URLs by time of day select Work Hours. This is one of the pre-configured schedules.
• Click OK.
  
  
  

Creating new CFS Policy -Lunchtime Access

• Under the Policy tab click Add.
• Enter a name for the new policy. EXAMPLE:  Lunchtime Access.
• Under the URL List tab select the categories to be blocked.
• Click Settings.
• Under Filter Forbidden URLs by time of day select Lunchtime. This is the newly added custom schedule.
• Click OK .
  
  
  
• Now that custom policies have been created, it must be enforced on IP Address ranges. 

Assigning CFS Policies on IP Addresses

The option CFS Policy per IP Address Range is available on the SonicWall Security Services | Content Filter page. Scroll down the Content Filter page and check the box under Enable Policy per IP Address Range.

• Click  Add .
• Under IP Address From enter 192.168.1.1.
• Under IP Address To enter 192.168.1.100.
• From the drop-down menu under CFS Policy, select Restricted Access.
• Click OK .
  
  
  
• Click  Add .
• Under IP Address From enter 192.168.1.101.
• Under IP Address To enter 192.168.1.150.
• From the drop-down menu under CFS Policy, select Lunchtime Access.
• Click OK .
• Click Accept .
  
  
  
  

Enabling CFS on zones

• Navigate to Network |Zones.
• Click configure on LAN or DMZ zone.
• Check the box under : Enforce Content Filtering Service..
• Select the CFS Policy as Default.
• Click OK .
  

How to Test

In order to test the above scenario, have hosts with IP address in the range 192.168.1.101 to 192.168.150 go online during Lunchtime (1PM to 2PM) hours and outside Lunchtime hours. If the hosts are unable to go online outside Lunchtime hours and able to go online during Lunchtime hours then the Schedule configured in the CFS Policy assigned to the IP address range is being successfully enforced. However, hosts within the IP range  will not be able to access any sites belonging to the blocked CFS categories at any time of the day.