Comparing Forcepoint vs. Bluecoat SWG Solutions

Enterprises rely on the web to run their business, but it is also a primary channel for advanced threats, phishing and data loss. Secure Web Gateways (SWGs) are designed to reduce these risks — yet not all solutions deliver the same balance of protection, usability, and cost efficiency.

Blue Coat, part of Symantec, is known for its established SWG, but its legacy architecture creates complexity, multiple consoles, and high operating costs. Forcepoint Web Security takes a more modern approach. It combines advanced threat protection, unified policy management and integrated data security through the Forcepoint Data Security Cloud platform. The result is a smarter, simpler way to secure web access at enterprise scale.

Unified policy management across web, cloud and endpoint

Managing policies across multiple tools is a common pain point for IT teams. Blue Coat requires administrators to create and maintain separate policies, often with complex integrations to keep them aligned. This adds overhead and increases the chance of gaps.

Forcepoint Secure Web Gateway simplifies the process by enabling consistent policy enforcement across channels. A single policy can cover web, cloud and endpoint activity, reducing duplication and ensuring uniform protection.

For example, a financial services firm can enforce the same rule that prevents confidential reports from being uploaded to unapproved sites and from being shared through risky webmail. With Forcepoint, policies follow the data wherever it goes, streamlining governance and reducing risk.

Advanced threat protection features

Safe browsing needs to go beyond filtering URLs. Modern attackers weaponize legitimate sites, embedded code and file downloads to bypass legacy defenses. Blue Coat only offers Remote Browser Isolation (RBI) as an add-on and does not include Content Disarm and Reconstruction (CDR). Forcepoint Secure Web Gateway includes basic RBI features to cover uncategorized websites out of the box.  

Forcepoint Secure Web Gateway delivers both capabilities in one solution:

• Built-in basic Remote Browser Isolation (RBI) for safe access to risky sites
• Integrated Content Disarm and Reconstruction (CDR) that strips malicious code from downloads
• Layered defenses provided out of the box

RBI allows risky sites to be accessed safely in a remote session, while CDR sanitizes downloaded files by stripping out malicious code before it reaches the endpoint. Together, these defenses provide layered protection.

Centralized reporting and security analytics

Clear reporting is essential for tracking compliance and understanding user behavior. Blue Coat requires add-on components for detailed reporting, creating another layer of complexity and cost.

Forcepoint Web Security provides granular reporting and unified analytics out of the box. Security teams can see which sites are most commonly accessed, where policy violations occur and how threats are being blocked – all from a single console.

A global retailer, for instance, can quickly identify risky browsing patterns across store locations, then adjust policies proactively. With Blue Coat, gaining this level of visibility would require additional integrations and time-consuming management.

Built-In data security and DLP capabilities

Data loss is one of the biggest risks in web use, from employees accidentally sharing sensitive information to attackers exfiltrating data. Blue Coat requires extra agents and integrations to achieve Data Loss Prevention (DLP) coverage.

Forcepoint Web Security includes a unified agent with industry-leading DLP features:

• Embedded DLP protection across web, cloud, and endpoint activity
• Unified policies that follow data wherever it goes
• Simplified deployment without extra agents or external integrations

For healthcare, finance and other regulated industries, this built-in protection safeguards sensitive data as part of the gateway, not an afterthought.

Unified Secure Web Gateway and data security platform

Forcepoint has long been recognized by analysts for its leadership in data security. Its Secure Web Gateway is part of the Forcepoint Data Security Cloud, which unifies SWG, DSPM, DLP, CASB and insider risk capabilities into a single, data-first platform.

Blue Coat, by contrast, remains tied to Symantec’s legacy model of add-ons and integrations, resulting in more complexity, higher costs and slower innovation. Customers looking for a modern alternative find that Forcepoint provides the breadth of protection they need without the operational drag.

Choose simplicity and strength for safe browsing

Safe browsing demands more than blocking risky sites. It requires real-time protection from advanced threats, seamless policy enforcement and built-in data security – all without adding layers of complexity.

Forcepoint Web Security delivers on that vision. With unified policies, advanced defenses like RBI and CDR, centralized reporting and integrated DLP, it provides a complete solution that Blue Coat cannot match. Combined with the strength of the Forcepoint Data Security Cloud, these advantages make Forcepoint the clear choice for organizations that want to keep employees safe online while reducing costs and complexity.

To learn more about how a Forcepoint SWG can simplify and strengthen your web security, talk to an expert and consider signing up for a free demo.