The Implementation of Web Content Filtering

All groups that are aiming to fully protect the data that they are managing must strongly consider the implementation of web content filtering in their group. This is crucial for all modern companies in order to tackle the onset of the sophisticated campaigns that hackers are designing in order to trick workers to give them access to precious databases.

By adding a web content filter you will be able to filter a website’s content to check for anything that may have a malicious intent in relation to your devices and servers. This solution can stop employees from accessing specific groups of websites that are typically leveraged in order to launch a spam campaign or downloaded a file from a previously unvisited site that will encrypt your servers and request a ransom to be paid in order for you to obtain access once again.

There is also the added bonus of being able to stop staff from logging on to websites that are widely associated with time wasting including online shaping, travel websites, game playing portals, social media platforms, betting websites and adult content services. Anytime spent on this during the working day equates to lost money due to lost productivity. A website filter will enable you to switch off access to websites such as these, resulting in a more productive staff.

Another welcome result of using a content filter is the ensured adherence with certain required regulatory obligations. For instance CIPA compliance means that educational institutions must configure a solution that prevents young students from viewing inappropriate content.

These are only secondary to the main aim of stopping people from loaded pages that could have dangerous material such as files and malware for your servers and databases. Using this software will mean that your group is doing everything possible to obstruct the attacks of cybercriminals, aimed at robbing your body of money or private data that can be sold on the black market.

Most of these solutions come with three main types of filter:

  • Blacklist filter: This can turn off access to adult websites pornographic content or malicious imagery. If a request to load a website is typed then all available directories of malicious sites will be reviewed to see if it is mentioned there. If it is not then access can be allowed.
  • Category filters: This prevents defined categories of websites from being accessed on your network. Categories have been created by service providers in order to allow you to turn off access to a group of websites that you do not wish to have loaded on your network. These might includepornography, gambling and online dating.
  • Keyword filters give an extra level of control that allows you to turn off access to any websites that contain an established density of a certain word or term. Thresholds can be created by the network administrator .

Using a Content Filter for Websites: Things to Research before Investing

It would be wise to looking into these aspects prior to making a final decision on your purchase of this type of security:

  • Scalability: You need to know that, should your company grow, you won’t have to go through this process in a few years. Picking a vendor that can see to it that your solution is able to cope with your group growth is very important. Draft a list of everything that is currently in place with your group and the different levels of control that every user will need to have.
  • Compatibility: You don’t want to be in a position where you have agreed to buy a solution and then you discover that it is not compatible with the servers you have in place. Do some research and make sure that this will not be an issue when it comes to implementation.
  • Granularity: Most organizations need to give different levels of seniority in different departments; different levels of access permission. Ask how much of this is possible as it will prevent issues when the solution is being rolled out. This is also referred to as granularity and means the degree to which you can fine tune the solutions to specific departments or individual members of staff. For example the marketing team may need access to social media.

Additional Filter Website Features:

  • Filtering in a number of different languages
  • Automatically run updates and produced reports
  • Linking up with Directory Services
  • No Latency
  • Customer Support
  • Bespoke Options