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Getting Started > The Websense Master Database
The Websense Master Database
Web Security Help | Web Security Solutions | Version 7.8.x
Related topics:
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Real-time database updates
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Real-Time Security Updates™
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Configuring database downloads
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Review Master Database download status
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Resuming Master Database downloads
The Websense Master Database houses the category and protocol definitions that provide the basis for managing Internet content (see Managing access to categories and protocols).
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Categories are used to group websites (identified by URL and IP address) with similar content.
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Protocol definitions group Internet communications protocols used for similar purposes, like transferring files, or sending instant messages.
A limited version of the URL database is installed with Websense Filtering Service, but it is a good idea to download the full Master Database as soon as possible to enable comprehensive Internet management capabilities. To download the Master Database for the first time:
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Enter your subscription key in the Web Security manager Initial Setup Checklist.
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If Filtering Service must go through a proxy to perform the download, also configure proxy settings in the checklist.
The process of downloading the full database may take a few minutes or more than 60 minutes, depending on factors such as Internet connection speed, bandwidth, available memory, and free disk space.
After the initial download, Filtering Service downloads database changes on a schedule that you establish (see Configuring database downloads). Because the Master Database is updated frequently, by default, database downloads are scheduled to happen daily.
If the Master Database is more than 14 days old, your Websense Web Security solution stops policy enforcement.
To initiate a database download at any time, or to view the status of the last database download, the date of the last download, or the current database version number, go to System tab of the Web Security Dashboard and click Database Download in the toolbar at the top of the content pane.
Real-time database updates
In addition to scheduled downloads of the full database, smaller, partial updates occur when needed. A real-time update might be used, for example, to recategorize a site that was temporarily miscategorized. These updates ensure that sites and protocols are managed appropriately.
Websense Filtering Service checks for database updates every hour.
The most recent updates are listed on the Status > Alerts page (see Reviewing current system status).
Real-Time Security Updates™
In addition to receiving the standard real-time database updates, organizations with a Websense Web Security, Web Security Gateway, or Web Security Gateway Anywhere subscription can enable Real-Time Security Updates to receive security-related updates to the Master Database as soon as they are published by Websense, Inc.
Real-Time Security Updates provide an added layer of protection against Internet-based security threats. Installing these updates as soon as they are published reduces vulnerability to new phishing (identify fraud) scams, rogue applications, and malicious code infecting mainstream websites or applications.
Filtering Service checks for security updates every 5 minutes. Because the updates tend to be small, they do not disrupt normal network activity.
Use the Settings > General > Database Download page to enable Real-Time Security Updates (see Configuring database downloads).

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Getting Started > The Websense Master Database
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