Filtering

The focus of this session is web content filtering solutions. Several filtering technologies will be described and discussed.
 * Filtering:**

Facilitators: Mark Hansen, ESU #3 (mhansen@esu3.org) Rob Uchtman, Westside Community Schools (ruchtman@westside66.org)

-- Notes -- Introductions took place.

Mark Hansen, experience with DeepNines. Rob Uchtman experience with iPrism.

Mark- you have to pick the best fit filter for your district according to their needs. DeepNines contract comes up in August. Had RFP posted and 9 vendors bid. NetSweeper did not integrate into directory services.

Rob - remote filter will block any browser you have. Some don't respect system proxy settings. Firefox is one of those so that web browser is blocked in Westside. You can upload custom script to the cloud. Network side you can kill certain scripts without killing the browser. Teachers have different permissions.

Mark- Most filters have typically been client based approach. Over past couple years whole new cloud approach. You have a client installed on computer and lock down in computer. Make configuration changes in local appliance and then upload to cloud. If you have 1-1 it will actually filter back to the cloud.

Rob- What are issues attendees have? How do you allow what is opened or blocked? Staff has input, if questionable evaluated by system people and administration. Don't get that many outside education. Have looked at Facebook. Are they actually preventing them from getting there? No. It's really hard to track if someone is doing something malicious.

Mark- Facebook: some districts allow staff access but block students. Makes it hard to know if the individual behind the computer is teacher or student. Most limit access via LDAP services but hard to keep up-to-date.

Julie- cannot access news articles about Facebook or Twitter.

Rob- Depends on the filter setup. The filter is doing keyword blocking. There are filters that will allow this i.e twitter.com/westsidesports.

Discussion on DeepNines blocking https. Don't want passwords and account numbers being read by filters.

ESU #3 RFP discussion- NetSweeper purchased Deep Nines and will allow purchase of either at same cost. However, NetSweeper won't integrate with LDAP. Web sites are added daily so how can a filter product keep up with it?

iPrism 4 year contract was $40,000. Parents have stated it works very well.

Policies for students bringing in own device? OPS- don't have time to eliminate from network. Westside- currently if it isn't an issue won't take device aways. Elkhorn- using deny list of unknow addreses through wireless controller. Recently opened up public access (filtered at student level).

TeacherTube open for everyone but kids don't use it. Students use United Streaming. Westside is 100% wireless- How do NESA testing? Wreless Teachers in other districts don't like wireless for NESA testing and some administrators won't allow it.

Final Comments: Filtering is a touchy subject with everyone. Some want it wide open some want it locked down. Need to balance educational benefit with security and protection of some material from students.