NGAF Access Control Policy Not Blocking Social Media Sites

"I configured some access control rules on Sangfor NGAF, but users are still able to access social media sites like Facebook and Instagram. I double-checked the policy order and applied the rules — still not working. What could I be missing?"

easiest solution. blacklist the domain / url of the social media in SOC

If you've configured access control rules on a Sangfor NGAF to block social media but users can still access Facebook, Instagram, etc., here are the most common reasons and what to check:

✅ Troubleshooting Checklist
1. Application Control Module
Did you use Application Control or only basic ACLs (IP/port)?

Solution: Social media apps use dynamic IPs and HTTPS. Blocking them effectively requires Application Control (not just IP/port ACLs).

Go to: Policy > Application Control and ensure Facebook, Instagram, etc., are selected and set to "Deny".

2. Enable HTTPS Decryption (SSL Inspection)
Social sites use HTTPS, so NGAF cannot inspect traffic without SSL decryption.

Solution: Go to Policy > Security Policy > HTTPS Decryption and enable it.

Deploy the Sangfor CA certificate to user devices for SSL inspection to work.

3. Policy Priority and Order
Rules are matched top-down. A general "allow all" rule above your deny rule would bypass it.

Solution: Move your block rule to the top of the list.

4. Policy Scope (Source IP/User Group)
Your rule may be too narrow.

Solution: Check if the source IP or user group includes the users you're trying to block.

5. Caching or DNS Resolution
Devices might access sites using cached DNS or via IP.

Solution: Add a URL filtering rule too (under Web Filter > URL Filter) to block domains like *.facebook.com.

6. Logging and Hit Count
Check if your rule is being triggered.

Solution: Go to Monitor > Policy Hit or Logs > Policy Logs and verify the rule is matching traffic.

It's frustrating when security policies don't behave as expected! Given that you've already double-checked the policy order and applied the rules, here are several common areas you might be missing when trying to block social media sites like Facebook and Instagram on your Sangfor NGAF:

1.SSL Inspection / HTTPS Decryption (Crucial for Social Media):
- Most social media sites use HTTPS (encrypted traffic). Without SSL Inspection enabled and properly configured on your NGAF, the firewall cannot see the actual URL (facebook.com, instagram.com) inside the encrypted traffic. It only sees the destination IP address.
-Action: Ensure SSL Inspection is enabled, and the necessary certificates are deployed to your user's browsers/devices to avoid warnings. Configure the decryption policy to apply to the traffic destined for social media categories or specific domains.

2.Application Control vs. URL Filtering:
-Application Control: Sangfor NGAF excels at Application Control. Instead of just relying on URL filtering (which blocks based on web addresses), use the Application Control module. NGAF has deep packet inspection to identify applications like "Facebook," "Instagram," "WhatsApp," etc., regardless of the specific IP or port they use, even if the IP changes or is shared.
-Action: Create an Application Control policy, select the relevant "Social Media" or specific application categories (e.g., "Facebook," "Instagram") and set the action to "Block." Ensure this policy is placed above any general "allow" policies that might inadvertently permit this traffic.

3.Category Database Updates:
-The NGAF relies on regularly updated application and URL category databases to identify new social media domains, IPs, and application signatures.
-Action: Verify that your NGAF has the latest signature and category updates. If not, perform an update.

4.Policy Scope (Users/Groups/Zones):
-Are the blocking rules applied to the correct source zones, user groups, or individual users?
-Action: Confirm that the users who are still able to access social media are actually covered by the blocking policy. Check if there's an "Allow" rule higher up that applies to their specific source IP, user group, or destination.

5.Logging and Traffic Analysis (The "Why"):
-The NGAF's logs are your best friend here. Don't just check if the rule is applied; check what rule the traffic is actually hitting.
-Action: Go to the NGAF's Logs section. Filter by source IP of a user who can access social media, and by destination domain (e.g., facebook.com). Analyze the log entries for that specific traffic.
--Does it show "Allowed"? If so, which policy ID is allowing it?
--Does it show "Denied"? If so, what was the reason? (e.g., "SSL Decryption failed," "Application not identified," etc.)
--Is the traffic even passing through the NGAF in a way that allows it to be inspected (e.g., are they using a proxy/VPN outside the NGAF's control)?

6.DNS Resolution:
-If users are resolving social media domains via external DNS servers that the NGAF doesn't control or inspect, this can sometimes lead to issues, especially if blocking is heavily reliant on DNS-based methods.
-Action: Ensure users are using internal DNS servers that forward to the NGAF or that the NGAF itself performs DNS proxying/filtering.

7.Bypass Mechanisms:
-Are users employing VPNs, Tor, or other anonymizing services that bypass your NGAF's inspection?
-Action: Implement policies to detect and block common VPN/proxy protocols if necessary.