 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Running more than one operating system - or even different versions of the same operating system - can make it difficult to implement an effective server Internet filter because a filtering system must be flexible and consistent for every computer.
A hardware server Internet filter usually relies on manually blacklisting user-specified lists of IP addresses, which isn't flexible enough to distinguish between individual sites hosted on those IP addresses. Reconfiguring the firewall is a blanket filter for every user, which can't be adapted for different user needs.
Software Internet filters offer more flexibility than hardware filters, but they still have problems. The methods they use for filtering can be very inaccurate and vary widely; for example, a keyword-based server Internet filter can often miscategorize sites because they don't account for context. There are also a couple of different ways to implement software filters. They can be installed as a web server Internet filter, so that they regulate all the traffic processed by that web server. A server Internet filter is more effective since it centralizes control so filtering is consistent. However, many software filters are installed on individual computers, and there can be problems
|
|
|
|
with compatibility, even between different versions of the same operating system. Trying to apply a server Internet filter in a mixed environment, such as a business that uses both a Windows and a Mac Internet filter, can be very difficult, requiring different programs and different Mac Internet filter settings.
Because iPrism is an appliance, it drops into place on the network. Like firewalls, iPrism is platform independent; it works effectively as a Windows, Unix, and Mac Internet filter, all at the same time. iPrism is a central place for all network traffic to be filtered, similar to a server Internet filter. iPrism meets the criteria of a dependable server Internet filter and Mac Internet filter:
- iPrism is flexible. Category-based filters make it simple to configure very precise Mac Internet filter rules. User profiles make monitoring even more customizable, since different Mac Internet filter profiles can be created for different users.
- iPrism is consistent. Like a server Internet filter, iPrism is a single configurable entity. It is possible to set up a single filtering policy across multiple local area networks and iPrism appliances. Even in mixed environments, iPrism functions as a single filtering unit, regardless of whether it's a Windows, Unix, or Mac Internet filter.
Server Internet Filter Home
|
|
|
|
