Web Filtering Market – Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast Segmented By Component (Solution, Services), By Filtering Type (Domain Name System (DNS) Filtering, Uniform Resource Locator (URL) Filtering, Keyword Filtering, File Type Filtering, Others), By Deployment Mode (On-premises, Cloud), By Organization Size (Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), Large Enterprises) and By Industry Vertical (Government Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance (BFSI), Manufacturing, IT and Telecom, Education, Healthcare, Retail, Others), By Region, By Competition Forecast & Opportunities 2021-2031F

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 5.46 Billion
CAGR (2026-2031)	15.02%
Fastest Growing Segment	Large Enterprise
Largest Market	North America
Market Size (2031)	USD 12.64 Billion

Market Overview

The Global Web Filtering Market will grow from USD 5.46 Billion in 2025 to USD 12.64 Billion by 2031 at a 15.02% CAGR. Web filtering is a content control solution that restricts user access to specific websites by comparing requested URLs against an established database of authorized domains. The main drivers supporting market growth include the essential need for enterprises to ensure regulatory compliance, the requirement to maintain workforce productivity, and the necessity to defend against online security threats such as ransomware. This demand is reinforced by the rising prevalence of hostile cyber activity facing global businesses. According to ISACA, in 2024, 38% of organizations experienced increased cybersecurity attacks compared to the previous year.

Nevertheless, the market encounters a significant obstacle regarding the widespread implementation of encryption protocols including DNS over HTTPS. These privacy standards obscure web traffic visibility and complicate the inspection capabilities of filtering solutions, which can reduce their effectiveness in identifying and blocking malicious content without complex network configurations.

Key Market Drivers

The escalating frequency of web-borne cyber threats serves as a primary catalyst for the adoption of web filtering solutions. Organizations increasingly deploy these tools to intercept malicious traffic before it compromises internal networks. The rise in malware and phishing attacks necessitates robust URL analysis to block access to harmful domains. According to SonicWall, August 2024, in the '2024 Mid-Year Cyber Threat Report', global malware volume increased by 30% during the first half of the year compared to the same period in 2023. This surge compels businesses to integrate filtering mechanisms that can dynamically assess risk and enforce security policies, thereby reducing the attack surface available to threat actors seeking to exploit browser-based vulnerabilities.

Simultaneously, the expansion of remote work models and the accelerated shift toward cloud-based operations have redefined network perimeters, necessitating decentralized content control. As employees access corporate resources from unsecured networks, legacy on-premise appliances often fail to provide adequate coverage. According to Zscaler, June 2024, in the '2024 VPN Risk Report', 56% of organizations experienced a cyberattack exploiting VPN vulnerabilities within the last year, driving the transition toward cloud-native filtering architectures. This migration supports the implementation of Zero Trust strategies where user access is continuously verified. According to IBM, in 2024, the global average cost of a data breach reached USD 4.88 million, causing enterprises to prioritize these web security investments to mitigate potential financial liabilities.

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Key Market Challenges

The widespread implementation of encryption protocols presents a distinct challenge that impedes the expansion of the global web filtering market. Privacy standards such as DNS over HTTPS and TLS 1.3 are designed to encrypt domain name queries, which effectively conceals the destination of web traffic from network security tools. This technical opacity complicates the inspection capabilities of filtering solutions, rendering them less effective at identifying and blocking prohibited or malicious content without invasive decryption methods. Consequently, organizations encounter significant difficulties in maintaining visibility into network activity and enforcing acceptable use policies.

This reduction in effectiveness is particularly critical given the high volume of active cyber threats that necessitate robust filtering. According to the Anti-Phishing Working Group, in 2025, the organization observed 1,003,924 phishing attacks in the first quarter, representing the highest level of activity since late 2023. As attackers continue to exploit encrypted channels to hide such malicious campaigns, the inability of standard filtering tools to inspect this traffic creates market hesitation. Enterprises are less likely to increase investment in solutions that struggle to provide comprehensive protection against these obscured threats.

Key Market Trends

The Integration with Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) Architectures is fundamentally reshaping the deployment of web filtering solutions, moving the market away from standalone appliances toward unified, converged platforms. This trend is driven by the necessity to consolidate networking and security functions, allowing enterprises to apply consistent content control policies across distributed workforces without backhauling traffic to a central data center. The rapid market validation of this converged approach is evident in the financial performance of leading vendors who bundle filtering within broader SASE offerings. According to Cato Networks, February 2025, in its 2024 business performance update, the company reported that its annual recurring revenue grew by 46% compared to the previous year, surpassing USD 250 million as thousands of businesses replaced legacy infrastructure with integrated cloud platforms.

Simultaneously, the Incorporation of AI and Machine Learning for Dynamic Classification has become a critical technological evolution to address the volume and velocity of modern web traffic. Unlike static URL databases that struggle to categorize short-lived domains or user-generated content in real-time, AI-driven engines can instantly analyze page content and behavior to enforce granular policies. This capability is particularly vital for managing the explosive use of generative AI tools within the enterprise, which requires precise distinction between productive and risky applications. According to Zscaler, April 2024, in the 'ThreatLabz 2024 AI Security Report', enterprise AI and machine learning transactions surged by 595% between April 2023 and January 2024, compelling organizations to deploy dynamic filtering controls that successfully blocked 18.5% of these transactions to prevent data leakage and security risks.

Segmental Insights

The Large Enterprise segment is witnessing the most rapid expansion in the Global Web Filtering Market, driven by the escalating need to protect expansive digital infrastructures from complex security breaches. These organizations are heavily investing in filtering solutions to comply with stringent regulatory mandates, such as the General Data Protection Regulation, which enforce rigorous data privacy standards. Furthermore, the transition to distributed workforce models requires robust internet management strategies to maintain employee productivity and mitigate risks associated with accessing malicious or non-compliant online content.

Regional Insights

North America holds the largest share of the global web filtering market due to the strong presence of established security vendors and high internet penetration rates. The dominance of this region is supported by stringent regulatory mandates that compel organizations to implement internet safety measures. For example, the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) in the United States requires schools and libraries to utilize filtering software to block access to harmful content. Additionally, the increasing frequency of cyber threats drives enterprises to adopt network security solutions to ensure data protection and employee productivity.

Recent Developments

• In October 2024, Sophos announced a definitive agreement to acquire Secureworks in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $859 million. This acquisition was intended to accelerate the delivery of cybersecurity services and technology to organizations worldwide by integrating solutions from both companies into a broader security portfolio. The combination of their complementary AI-driven platforms, powered by automated prevention, detection, and response capabilities, aimed to provide advanced defense against modern adversaries. The deal brought together two industry leaders to strengthen security operations and managed detection and response services for small, mid-sized, and enterprise customers.
• In August 2024, Fortinet announced the acquisition of Next DLP, a company specializing in insider risk and data protection. This strategic move was intended to strengthen Fortinet's position in the standalone enterprise data loss prevention (DLP) market and enhance its Unified Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) solution. By integrating the acquired technology into its Security Fabric, the company planned to provide advanced data loss prevention capabilities and improved insider risk management across endpoint and cloud deployments. The transaction underscored the growing importance of securing data against internal and external threats in the evolving web filtering landscape.
• In May 2024, Palo Alto Networks and IBM announced a broad-reaching partnership to deliver AI-powered security outcomes for customers. As part of this collaboration, Palo Alto Networks agreed to acquire IBM's QRadar Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) assets for approximately $500 million. The alliance designated Palo Alto Networks as IBM's preferred cybersecurity partner across network, cloud, and security operations centers. Furthermore, IBM Consulting was appointed as a preferred managed security services provider for current and future Palo Alto Networks customers, facilitating the migration of clients to the Cortex XSIAM platform for next-generation security operations.
• In January 2024, Zscaler, Inc. announced the launch of an industry-first single-vendor Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) solution built on a Zero Trust AI foundation. This new offering was designed to assist organizations in reducing operational complexity and cost while implementing robust security policies across users, devices, and workloads. The company also announced the general availability of its Zero Trust SD-WAN solution alongside a portfolio of plug-and-play appliances. These innovations aimed to modernize secure connectivity for branch offices and data centers, effectively eliminating the need for traditional firewalls and VPNs by ensuring business policies dictate access.

Key Market Players

• Cisco Systems Inc.
• Broadcom Inc
• McAfee Inc.
• Palo Alto Networks Inc.
• Fortinet
• TREND MICRO INC.
• Forcepoint
• Sophos Group plc
• BARRACUDA NETWORKS INC.
• Zscaler

By Component	By Filtering Type	By Deployment Mode	By Organization Size	By Industry Vertical	By Region
Solution Services	Domain Name System (DNS) Filtering Uniform Resource Locator (URL) Filtering Keyword Filtering File Type Filtering Others	On-premises Cloud	Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) Large Enterprises	Government Banking Financial Services and Insurance (BFSI) Manufacturing IT and Telecom Education Healthcare Retail Others	North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

Report Scope:

In this report, the Global Web Filtering Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

• Web Filtering Market, By Component:

• Solution
• Services

• Web Filtering Market, By Filtering Type:

• Domain Name System (DNS) Filtering
• Uniform Resource Locator (URL) Filtering
• Keyword Filtering
• File Type Filtering
• Others

• Web Filtering Market, By Deployment Mode:

• On-premises
• Cloud

• Web Filtering Market, By Organization Size:

• Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs)
• Large Enterprises

• Web Filtering Market, By Industry Vertical:

• Government Banking
• Financial Services
• and Insurance (BFSI)
• Manufacturing
• IT and Telecom
• Education
• Healthcare
• Retail
• Others

• Web Filtering Market, By Region:

• North America
• United States
• Canada
• Mexico
• Europe
• France
• United Kingdom
• Italy
• Germany
• Spain
• Asia Pacific
• China
• India
• Japan
• Australia
• South Korea
• South America
• Brazil
• Argentina
• Colombia
• Middle East & Africa
• South Africa
• Saudi Arabia
• UAE