Filter Backstop overview

Use Filter Backstop alongside Cloud Filter Extension to provide whole-device filtering for Windows devices, extending protection beyond the browser to apps.

• Use Cloud Filter Extension for full, dynamic, real-time content filtering in Chrome and Edge.
• Install the Filter Backstop app on top to apply URL and domain filtering to everything else.

For full details of functionality, see: Smoothwall Agents and Extensions Overview.

Key benefits

Filter Backstop provides:

• Filtering for legacy and alternative browsers to Chrome and Edge.
• Protection for users beyond the browser across the entire device, not just within it.
• A safety net to prevent users from bypassing filtering using installed applications.

When users attempt to access blocked content:

• Apps can be opened, but network traffic is dropped, so the blocked app won’t work.
• When using a browser without the Cloud Filter Extension, users see a different Block page than the Cloud Filter Block page.

Image 1: Example Block page for Filter Backstop.

Device Compatibility

Filter Backstop is compatible with a broad range of Windows devices, with these requirements:

• Devices must be running Windows 11.
• Devices must be managed through the Mobile Device Management (MDM) solution Intune or Group Policy.
• Devices must have the Cloud Filter Extension deployed.

Deploy Filter Backstop

Contact your Customer Success Manager to discuss using Filter Backstop.