What is the best method to limit a user to access specific websites and block all others?

Question

What is the best method to limit a user to access specific websites and block all others?

David Evans 0

What is the best method for limiting a users access to specific websites and blocking all others? We have a small group of special users who will be accessing a virtual machine and we want them to only be able to access specific websites and block all others. Is there a method to accomplish this?

Rahul Jindal 11,491 Reputation points

2025-11-03T20:42:19.9833333+00:00

Are the devices onboarded on Defender for Endpoint? If yes, then you can leverage Web content filtering and\or Indicators of Compromise.
Sridevi Machavarapu 2,780 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-11-03T20:59:47.8633333+00:00

Hello David Evans,

Yes, you can do this. If the virtual machines are protected by Microsoft Defender for Endpoint, you can create a web filtering rule that only allows the websites your users need. All other websites will be blocked automatically.

If the VMs are in Azure, you can also use Azure Firewall to allow only the approved websites. This blocks everything else at the network level.

Here is the Microsoft guide for web content filtering: Web content filtering - Microsoft Defender for Endpoint

Hope this helps! Let us know if any further queries

Please upvote the comment if it's helpful for you in any way.
Sridevi Machavarapu 2,780 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-11-06T21:50:34.6666667+00:00

Hello David Evans,

Just checking in to see if you had a chance to check my above comment and whether the provided suggestions are helpful or not