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This article outlines all ways to protect your network by filtering potential threats and unwanted content through Filtering Policies. Here you'll find links that expand on all the filtering options as well as helpful tips to set up a Filtering Policy that fits your needs. 

What is a Filtering Policy? 

A Filtering Policy controls the type of content allowed (or blocked) on your network. Filtering Policies are stored within the DNSFilter infrastructure and update instantly with just a few clicks, and with pricing plans Pro and above can be applied to the User, Collection, Relay, Roaming Client, and Site attribute of the environment. 

If you're just starting out you'll find a default policy called Your First Policy waiting for you: these are all the most popular DNSFilter Filtering Policy options, so we pre-load it on new accounts for quick set up. This is useful as a trial Filtering Policy to test your network configuration.

See our article on creating a Filtering Policy when you're ready to customize a new policy!  

Filtering Policy Options

Navigate through these options in-app: From the DNSFilter dashboard, navigate to Policies and select Filtering. Select a new or existing Policy to edit.

Filter by Category. Block large lists of undesirable domains at once like Social Networking (goodbye Facebook, Instagram, TikTok), or restrict access to torrent sites by blocking the P2P & Illegal category.

Enable SafeSearch. This is a search engine setting that filters explicit content like adult content and graphic violence at the search level. 

Filter by Threat. Block domains that host potentially harmful resources like TOR traffic, Cryptomining apps, VPNs or Proxies that could circumvent DNS filtering, or Malware that compromises sensitive data. 

Apply AppAware. Block common application's full domain list in a single click, making it easy to block apps like Discord or GitLab.

Don't see the app you're looking for in AppAware? We also have a list of popular domains to add to Allow/Block Lists to help manage Filtering Policies.  

Create Allow and Block Lists to maintain complete control over your Filtering Policy. Add specific domains to allow/deny to adjust your query traffic.

Dive into Advanced settings to block threats like trackers, parked sites, or malicious domains.

Get more out of Policies

Schedule Filtering Policies for specific times of day or week.

Create Universal Allow/Block Lists to span across all other Policies.

Set up a Block Page with your company's logo to notify users that the content they're trying to access is blocked on your network.