This article addresses the Web search filtering feature available on the Cisco Meraki MX Security Appliance and how this feature could affect Google applications.
MX Security Appliances have the option to force all web searches to use Web search filtering. This feature can be enabled on the Security & SD-WAN > Configure > Content filtering page in Dashboard. Once enabled, Web search filtering is accomplished by rewriting every search URL. For Google searches, our rewrite follows the method outlined on their page on SafeSearch Lock.
Because Web search filtering enforcement relies on modifying the HTTP transmission, this feature does not work on encrypted web content (SSL/HTTPS). This impacts search engines that force queries to use HTTPS, including Google. To ensure users cannot circumvent Web search filtering enforcement with this caveat, the MX also offers the option to block encrypted searches. This option (shown in the above figure) will become available once Web search filtering is enabled.
The Block encrypted search option works by blocking HTTPS connections using the google.com certificate. This means that all Google applications that utilize that certificate will also be affected. Google mail will work while this option is enabled, but unfortunately other Google apps such as Google Drive will also be blocked.
Information on this feature and other content filtering options can be found in our documentation.