K-12 Education Content Filtering

K-12 Education Content Filtering

Best Effort Content Filtering Should Go Beyond Basic Black Lists

Because of the changing state of the Internet, URL blocking and categorization is no longer effective in controlling content.

On average, 50% of your Internet connection is used for browsing. Some of the browsing activity is critical, like research, homework and learning sites and some of it is recreational, like social networking, gaming and adult content. The other 50% of your Internet connection is used for Internet applications - both critical, like voice over I.P. and database backups; and recreational, like peer-to-peer, streaming media and music downloads.

Network Composer by Cymphonix is the only solution that addresses both browsing and application activity.

Traditional filters either use URL libraries or dynamic content analysis to determine inappropriate sites. URL libraries only include a small percentage of the Internet and dynamic content analysis engines introduce too much latency. Network Composer uses an optimized balance of URL categorization, keyword scanning and dynamic content analysis to give you CIPA-compliant filtering without introducing noticeable latency.

Full Visibility and Control of Web Content

Network Composer's content filtering capabilities for education & medium-sized organizations are unsurpassed. Network Composer uses an optimized balance of URL categorization, keyword scanning and dynamic content analysis to provide industry leading content filtering.

• Broad URL Categorization: 56 categories that provide granular control and reporting of user activity
• URL Database Matching: Commonly used site are matched against a comprehensive database
• URL Keyword Search: New or dynamically changing URLs pass through a rapid keyword search for on-the-fly analysis
• Dynamic Content Analysis: New or dynamically changing Web pages are scanned dynamically to keep up in real time with the ever changing Internet
• Search Engine SafeSearch Enforcement: Enforces safesearch on all major search engines
• Customizable User and Group Policies: Set content filtering and content control policies by individual users or groups. Seamless integration with LDAP servers.

Dynamically Prioritize Applications

Network Composer users Layer 7 application matching technology to make it easy to control how much bandwidth is allocated to specific applications. So, regardless of the port packets are passing through, the device can categorize the traffic and apply policy accordingly. This superior approach to controlling application traffic allows for better blocking of malicious applications while prioritizing resources for critical applications.

• Application Blocking: Completely block applications that you don't want passing traffic over your Internet connection
• Dynamic Application Bandwidth Control: Prioritize bandwidth based on priority so non-critical applications can still be allowed but at a lower priority than critical applications.
• P2P Application Control: Block or prioritize bandwidth usage for P2P applications
• Layer 3-7 Application Signatures: Over 650 signatures used to accurately identify applications
• Detection of Port Hopping Applications: Deep packet inspection ensures that port hopping applications like IM and P2P are properly identified
• Application Monitoring: Watch application traffic in real time or historically to find out what applications require the most resources and what users are consuming the largest amount of application bandwidth.

Secure Web Traffic Filtering

Because Network Composer is an in-line device that delivers deep-packet scanning, it also provides unparalleled content filtering over secure browsing traffic like HTTPS. Network Composer terminates SSL sessions to decrypt, scan and recrypt secure web content.

• Full HTTPS Content Filtering: Full content inspection for HTTPS sites, database match, URL key work search and Dynamic Content Analysis
• Certificate Verification: Checks SSL certificates for appropriate authorization to block sites with spoofed certificates
• SSL Certificate Filter with Deny Access Page: Unique to Network Composer, the device can display a blocked page for secured sites that have been blocked due to certificate violations

Granular Reporting

Network Composer provides administrators with visibility into details of your Internet traffic. The drill down capability allows you to get all the information you need on user/group activity, web traffic, application traffic and threat sources. The reporting engine is integrated into the Network Composer and does not require a standalone report server.

Real Time Reporting

• Total Internet Traffic
• Application Traffic , Total Traffic, Application set and application detail
• Web Browsing by URL, Category and User

Historic Reporting
Comprehensive Reporting for:

• Top Internet Users
• Top Bandwidth Users
• User/Group Activity
• Application Traffic
• P2P Usage
• URL/Category Usage
• And much more!

Report Broadcasts

Send regularly scheduled reports to those who need them - so they can make the right decisions for your organization.

Want to see Network Composer in Action? View a demo now.