Great thread and plenty of great responses thus far. I've not been able to=
locate a single device/service that does it all. I'm in support of a layer=
ed approach for security, encompassing perimeter email filtering, user base=
d content filtering and network, workstation and server virus protection. =
=20
For perimeter email filtering I suggest looking into outsourcing to a filte=
ring service rather than use an on premise device. Free is always a nice p=
erk if it fulfills the requirements, so consider Microsoft Live@edu or Goog=
le Apps for Education. I'm not suggesting a wholesale migration to their m=
ail platforms, just use them to host your MX records, filter the mail and f=
orward it on to your mail server for delivery. This scenario will reduce t=
he amount of inbound email to your on premise mail server because the junk =
will be quarantined in the cloud. =20
For user based content filtering on campus all of the device vendors listed=
perform well. I'll add SmoothWall to list of appliance or "virtual machin=
e instance" vendors. Those with a virtualization infrastructure can realiz=
e cost savings benefits from running a virtual machine of the SmoothWall Gu=
ardian software rather than buy another appliance. http://www.smoothwall.n=
et
For those with 1:1 devices leaving the relative safety of the campus conten=
t filter, I suggest using a client side proxy to enforce the campus filteri=
ng policies when off site. I am aware of both M86 and SmoothWall offering =
mobile solutions. Be warned, when attempting to protect device off campus =
the OS comes into play and you must ensure the developers are targeting you=
r platform for solutions.
Protecting the network, servers and workstations becomes more platform depe=
ndent than email and web content filtering. Many routers are capable of do=
ing inspection/mitigation of packets down to the application layer and some=
switches can also do this. This gets expensive and I'm not convinced it i=
s as effective as scanning the servers and workstations. I feel the file s=
erver should run on access virus scans and workstations should also run vir=
us scanning software. =20
Perhaps the latter portion of my suggestion is beyond the scope of your inq=
uiry. Do consider layers where appropriate. =20
All the best to you in your new role with TEAM Charter Schools. =20
Ryan R. Fox
TADS Technology Group
www.tads.net
612.548.3336
twitter: ryanRfox
-----Original Message-----
From: A forum for independent school educators [mailto:ISED-L@LISTSERV.SYR.=
EDU] On Behalf Of Pamela Livingston
Sent: Saturday, May 01, 2010 6:22 AM
To: ISED-L@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU
Subject: What Content Filtering Software do you use?
Dear ISED-L Colleagues (with apologies for cross posting),
On 5/17 I'll be joining TEAM Charter Schools in Newark, NJ as Dir. of =20
IT. I am hoping to ask any Tech Directors/Network Managers out there =20
a question.
What content filtering appliance (for incoming and outgoing mail - =20
protecting the network and computers and also preventing access to =20
inappropriate Websites - and hopefully allowing some easy reports) do =20
you use and are you happy with it? Any pitfalls/challenges/caveats to =20
report?
We will have elementary school students, plus we accept Federal =20
money, so are required to do some filtering. I've used Barracuda as =20
well as Websense before, but that was several years back.
Thanks very much in advance,
Pamela
----------------------------------------------
Pamela Livingston
livingstonp@mac.com
Author of "1-to-1 Learning: Laptop Programs That Work"
Blog: http://1-to-1learning.blogspot.com
Twitter: plivings
973-476-4819
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