The Savvy CIO

This is part 3 of a series on IT Self-Assessment for small businesses. We’re providing information and guidelines for a simple IT check, giving you the ability to gain free insights into how your technology can serve your  business better. Each post covers a critical area of technology.

Security: Content Filtering

Function & Value

A content filter is a piece of hardware or software that acts as a screen between the Internet and your users. The filter uses pre-set and customizable categories to prevent access to types of web sites. The least aggressive filters block only malicious sites, while the most aggressive allow only approved, work-related web sites.

If your organization provides Internet access to minors, you need to know the legal requirements of Internet content filtering.

We advise every organization to use content filtering to block malicious websites. How content filtering is used beyond that depends upon weighing the pros and cons of filtering.

What kind of content filtering is right for your business?

Pros

(1) Content filtering protects your network from malicious web sites.

(2) Content filtering can improve productivity by blocking access to personal websites such as Facebook or webmail.

(3) Content filtering protects the speed of your Internet connection from data intensive uses. We have been asked many times to troubleshoot poor Internet connection speeds where streaming online radio stations were the culprits.

Cons

(1) Content filtering can block legitimate sites and cause user frustration.

(2) Content filtering could negatively affect morale. Some organizations allow personal sites to set a tone of trust with their employees. Company culture should be considered when it comes to how aggressively you will filter.

(3) Content filtering will add administrative overhead, as filters need to be customized to block or allow certain web sites.

Best Practices

Content filtering can be accomplished by a firewall with content filtering software, or by a DNS service. A firewall filter resides at your location, while a DNS filter is a web-based service. Both means use pre-set category templates for you to quickly set how aggressively you wish to filter, and both can be customized with the use of whitelists (sites to allow) and blacklists (sites to block).

We Recommend

Firewall filtering: Sonicwall TZ190 and other business-class firewalls

DNS filtering: OpenDNS for small and medium business

Content Filtering Self-Assessment

Content filter in use: ____________________________________

Benefits to your business from using a filter?

Negatives to your business from using a filter?

Types of web sites your business should be filtering:

1.

2.

3.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, August 19th, 2009 at 11:44 am and is filed under IT Assessment, IT Support, Security. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.