Many IT administrators face unexpected bandwidth consumption from streaming services like Spotify in workplace networks. The constant audio streaming, automatic updates, and podcast downloads can significantly impact network performance - especially when multiple employees use it simultaneously.

Here are three technical approaches to block Spotify effectively:

1. Firewall Blocking (IP/Port Level)

Spotify uses several IP ranges and ports. Block these at your network firewall:

# Example iptables rules for Linux firewall
iptables -A FORWARD -p tcp --dport 4070 -j DROP
iptables -A FORWARD -p udp --dport 4070 -j DROP
iptables -A FORWARD -m string --string "spotify.com" --algo bm -j DROP

2. DNS Filtering

Prevent domain resolution for Spotify services:

# Example entries for /etc/hosts or DNS server
0.0.0.0 spotify.com
0.0.0.0 api.spotify.com
0.0.0.0 weblb-wg.spotify.com
0.0.0.0 audio-fa.scdn.co

3. Application Layer Filtering

For more sophisticated blocking using enterprise solutions:

# Squid proxy configuration example
acl spotifydomains dstdomain .spotify.com .scdn.co
http_access deny spotifydomains

After implementation, verify the block using these methods:

• nslookup spotify.com (should return 0.0.0.0 or timeout)
• telnet spotify.com 443 (connection should fail)
• Packet capture to check for Spotify traffic

If complete blocking isn't feasible, consider:

• Bandwidth throttling for streaming services
• Scheduled access (block during work hours)
• Enterprise music solutions with caching

Be prepared for:

• VPN usage to bypass blocks (monitor VPN traffic)
• Mobile hotspot usage (enforce acceptable use policies)
• Legitimate business use cases (create exceptions if needed)

When multiple employees stream music simultaneously, Spotify can consume significant network resources. The protocol uses ports 4070, 80, and 443 with various endpoints like:

api.spotify.com
spclient.wg.spotify.com
audio4-ak-spotify-com.akamaized.net

The simplest method is DNS filtering. Add these entries to your internal DNS server or /etc/hosts file:

0.0.0.0 spotify.com
0.0.0.0 *.spotify.com
0.0.0.0 *.scdn.co
0.0.0.0 *.audio-ak-spotify-com.akamaized.net

For pfSense/iptables users:

# Block Spotify domains
iptables -A FORWARD -m string --string "spotify" --algo bm -j DROP
iptables -A FORWARD -m string --string "scdn.co" --algo bm -j DROP

# Block known Spotify IP ranges
iptables -A FORWARD -d 78.31.8.0/24 -j DROP
iptables -A FORWARD -d 193.182.8.0/24 -j DROP

For larger networks, consider these approaches:

• Configure your proxy server to block Spotify domains
• Implement QoS policies to throttle streaming traffic
• Use next-gen firewalls with application-layer filtering

Create a Group Policy to modify the hosts file:

Computer Configuration -> Preferences -> Windows Settings -> Files
Action: Update
File path: %windir%\System32\drivers\etc\hosts
Source file: \\domain\share\hosts_spotify_block

After implementation, verify with:

nslookup spotify.com
traceroute api.spotify.com
curl -v https://open.spotify.com

Monitor bandwidth usage before and after implementation using tools like PRTG or Wireshark.