---
title: Block site using Site Access Control
description: "## Block a site using Site Access Control GAT Shield allows your users to manage the end-user browsing. It will enable the Admins to **create** rules and **block, allow** (if blocked by another rule), and **warn** users when end-users visit…"
url: "https://gatlabs.com/knowledge/tech-tips/block-site-using-site-access-control/"
updated: "2025-06-25"
category: URL Filtering
tags:
  - GAT Shield
---

# Block site using Site Access Control

## Block a site using Site Access Control

GAT Shield allows your users to manage the end-user browsing. It will enable the Admins to **create** rules and **block, allow** (if blocked by another rule), and **warn** users when end-users visit different websites.

### Site Access Control

In Shield, navigate to the **Site Access Control** section

![](https://gatlabs.com/knowledge/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/2025-06-05-13_33_51-Window.png)

The menu option will be expanded, where you can view different sections

- User-defined categories
- Predefined categories
- Rules
- Block partial content on pages
- Events
- Block page configuration 

Navigate to **User Defined Categories > New Category.**

![](https://gatlabs.com/knowledge/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/2025-06-05-13_39_40-Window.png)

There are a few ways to add a list of web pages to the rules.

- Via**List or clipboard**
- Via **Spreadsheet**
- Via **Web Search**
- Via **Recent Browsing**

Each way uses a different method to add the URLs to the rule.

- **List or Clipboard** - enter the Site URLs to block them manually or via copy/paste.

![](https://gatlabs.com/knowledge/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/2024-09-04-15_09_29-Shield.png)

- **Create from a Spreadsheet** - **Create a new spreadsheet** and add the Sites needed, or **select an existing spreadsheet** to enter the URLs.

![](https://gatlabs.com/knowledge/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/2024-09-04-15_11_33-Shield.png)

- **Web Search** - Search for a keyword and block or allow all sites found by the **Search**.

![](https://gatlabs.com/knowledge/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/2024-09-04-15_15_41-Shield.png)

- **Recent Browsing** - this is a list of URLs generated from the last 90 days' browsing history.
  - When the spreadsheet is generated, it will be sent as an email to the Admin account.

![](https://gatlabs.com/knowledge/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/2024-09-04-15_40_17-Shield.png)

- - Use the generated spreadsheet and import from**Spreadsheet > Select the existing spreadsheet.**The generated spreadsheet will be shown as an option to be selected.
    - Select the sheet, and the URLs will be added as a category of sites.

![](https://gatlabs.com/knowledge/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/2024-09-04-15_58_34-Shield.png)

- - - Alternatively, copy and paste the URLs via the **List or Clipboard option.**

### Create the Rule

When the Site URLs are added, enter a name and description for the rule and click **Create.**

![](https://gatlabs.com/knowledge/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/2025-06-05-13_43_14-Window.png)

### Activate the Rule

When the category is created, there will be a new button to click on the**Create rule.**

![](https://gatlabs.com/knowledge/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/2025-06-05-13_46_03-Window.png)

You will see a new window. Fill in the details.

- **Rule name** - enter the rule name.
- **Category** - the newly created category name will be shown.
- **Action** - select the action to be done, such as blocking or allowing the URLs.
  - Redirect - enter a page where the users will be redirected if they visit the blocked site (optional).
- **Scope** - select the users to whom the rule applies.
- **Create** - click to create the block or allow the rule.

![](https://gatlabs.com/knowledge/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/2025-06-05-13_49_49-Window.png)

### Result for the User-defined Categories

After creating the rule, you can find it under **Rules.**

![](https://gatlabs.com/knowledge/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/2025-06-05-13_52_34-Window.png)

As a result of the created**Site Access Control rule, the end-users (scope of users) will be affected, and the social media and gaming websites will be blocked.**

![](https://gatlabs.com/knowledge/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/facebook-blocked.gif)