Block or allow access to YouTube videos

This article applies to our On-Premise Appliance Filter and Firewall product only, not to Cloud.

 

The article shows how to allow, block or set a time quota for YouTube videos.

Prerequisites

As YouTube defaults to HTTPS, you must enable HTTPS Decrypt and Inspect for YouTube to block content.

Blocking and allowing YouTube

Allow YouTube

By default, YouTube content is not blocked, so you don’t need to allow access to YouTube.

Allow YouTube, but block certain videos

  1. Add the YouTube videos you would like to block to the Advanced > Video ID filtering section of a custom category: Custom categories
  2. Set up a Web Filter policy for your custom category with Block as the Action.

Block YouTube

Set up a Web Filter policy for YouTube, YouTube HD streaming, and YouTube Music, with Block as the Action.

Allow certain YouTube videos but block the rest

  1. To block YouTube, set up a Web Filter policy. Select YouTube, YouTube HD streaming, and YouTube Music, with Block as the Action.
  2. Add the YouTube videos you would like to allow to the Advanced > Video ID filtering section of the YouTube Allowed Videos and Playlists category: Custom categories
  3. Set up a Web Filter policy for YouTube Allowed Videos and Playlists with Allow as the Action.
  4. Order the Allow policy to be above the Block policy.

Allow certain YouTube videos in a Multi Tenant environment

  1. Create a Custom category with a clear name for each tenant.
  2. In the Advanced > Video ID filtering section of the custom category, add the YouTube videos the tenant should be able to access.
  3. Set up a Web Filter policy in the Global, can be overridden table. Select YouTube, YouTube HD streaming, and YouTube Music, with Block as the Action.
  4. Create a new Web Filter policy in the Global, can be overridden table. Select YouTube Allowed Videos and Playlists with Allow as the Action. You do not need to add video or playlist IDs to this category.
  5. Order the Allow policy directly above the Block policy.
  6. For each tenant, create a new Web Filter policy allowing the tenant-specific custom category made in Step 1 containing that tenant's approved video ID list.

Tip: Web Filter policies can be targeted at specific groups, but we recommend using the Everyone group. For groups needing open access to YouTube, create a Web Filter policy for that group to allow YouTube on a per-tenant basis.

 

Policy list for multi-tenant.png

Image 1: Example Web filter policies setup in a multi-tenant environment

 

Time quota

You can set a Time quota to limit usage to a certain amount of time: Creating Web Filter Quotas.

Set a Time quota on all videos

Set up a Web Filter policy for YouTube, YouTube HD streaming, and YouTube Music. Select Limit to Quota as the Action.

Set a Time quota on certain videos

  1. Add the YouTube videos you would like to apply the time quota for to the Advanced > Video ID filtering section of a custom category: Custom categories
  2. Set up a Web Filter policy for your custom category with Limit to Quota as the Action.
  3. If you have YouTube blocked, order your Time Quota policy above your Block YouTube policy.