Which Webfilter?

[bodminman]

Just moved to Lightspeed here after using RM Smartcache for so long and I'm loving it

 

I have used Smoothies in the past but like @zag I got frustrated with the complicated interface. Lightspeed is like a breath of fresh air!

 

[SiP]

I have to say the Lightspeed interface looks very attractive and you can tell it's heavily tailored for schools, we just have to look at getting a seperate firewall while smoothwall do a unified solution. I'd never thought of Sophos doing web filtering, I'll take a look.

[Edu-IT]

We're in the process of moving away from Smoothwall to Lightspeed so it's great to read so much positivity surrounding the product. Plus, with the Lightspeed, there's the MDM and MBC so it offers us much more for far less.

[wickit]

I have used a few over the years

currently using smoothwall, its good but not top of my list, It also very expensive. Im currently waiting for a sophos unit to test.

I'm a big fan of sonicwall, but have not had any dealing since the change to Dell, prices are good though.

I am currently active to look to see what else is out there now.

[bodminman]

I have used a few over the years

currently using smoothwall, its good but not top of my list, It also very expensive. Im currently waiting for a sophos unit to test.

I'm a big fan of sonicwall, but have not had any dealing since the change to Dell, prices are good though.

I am currently active to look to see what else is out there now.

 

Our RM Smartcache was so bad we ended up activating the content filter on our Sonicwall NSA40 device to give us an extra layer.

[Gaz]

Partial hijack: Is Lightspeed an appliance or can you run it on your own hardware? Do they do UK support?

 

I love smoothwall! yeah its not the easiest to use and configure but the job it does it does well. What does concern me about smoothwall is the direction that the company is headed with the price increase every year and the support issues that people are describing.

[SchoolsBroadband]

+1 for Lightspeed here.

 

As you all probably know we have a cloud based virtualised version of Lightspeed which means no capital costs and simple integration with our virtualised Fortinet security platform too so you get best of both worlds on the filtering and security.

 

Lightspeed is very easy to use and very powerful. With its MDM & VLE integration you're onto a winner.

 

Do let me know if you need a quote

 

Dave

[Oaktech]

We use our Palo Alto 3020 nextgen firewall to do our filtering. It is super granular and very effective. The only downside is that we are waiting for a software update to add a couple of features we need. At the moment the keyword filtering is a bit clunky and we don't have url substitution, but these are upcoming features. The support from Gamma, our provider has been excellent and the 3rd line from Exclusive Networks is even better.

[synaesthesia]

Would anyone be so kind as to provide a ballpark figure for the Sophos box, out of idle interest?

[Edu-IT]

+1 for Lightspeed here.

 

As you all probably know we have a cloud based virtualised version of Lightspeed which means no capital costs and simple integration with our virtualised Fortinet security platform too so you get best of both worlds on the filtering and security.

 

Lightspeed is very easy to use and very powerful. With its MDM & VLE integration you're onto a winner.

 

Do let me know if you need a quote

 

Dave

Is that for customers who don't have connectivity with you? I got part of an answer before, but then my communication with Schools Broadband seemed to dry up and I had no reply.

 

Partial hijack: Is Lightspeed an appliance or can you run it on your own hardware? Do they do UK support?

They do have UK Support, an US too. I was really impressed the other day when I had a response to a query in minutes.

Edited October 27, 2013 by Edu-IT

[ADMaster]

My LEA has lightspeed with a tier setup for each member school. Sometimes I wish I had a bit more control as a tier admin but over all very nice product.

I am certain it is an appliance, but can’t speak on pricing or anything as it is at the LEA.

[SchoolsBroadband]

Is that for customers who don't have connectivity with you? I got part of an answer before, but then my communication with Schools Broadband seemed to dry up and I had no reply.

 

 

They do have UK Support, an US too. I was really impressed the other day when I had a response to a query in minutes.

 

 

Hello,

 

we've just had this allowed by Lightspeed so yes we can do filtering even if you don't have our connectivity. Do get in touch if you'd like a quote

 

Thanks

 

Dave

[vyperz]

+1 for Lightspeed - we replaced the LA's Smoothwall and it's sooooo much better

[Roberto]

We're currently trialling a Sonicwall NSA 5600 to replace both our firewall and filtering boxes. We have a demo box on site which we've got working and so far I'm fairly pleased with it. Worth a look I'd say.

[Cache]

Don't suppose someone who is using Lightspeed would mind PMing me some rough costs would they?

[bodminman]

Don't suppose someone who is using Lightspeed would mind PMing me some rough costs would they?

 

PM sent

[Edu-IT]

Hello,

 

we've just had this allowed by Lightspeed so yes we can do filtering even if you don't have our connectivity. Do get in touch if you'd like a quote

 

Thanks

 

Dave

How will it work in that instance, because Lightspeed is usually an inline filter. Will schools just point at the proxy port on Lightspeed in your setup? I can PM if you prefer.

[tj2419]

Anyone have any companies they have purchased lightspeed from? I had a quote but it worked out more expensive than smoothwall. The comments on here suggest they have had it for less than smoothwall?

 

Cheers

[SiP]

To be honest since opening this thread and having demos from both companies I have found Smoothwalll to be cheaper if you put everything into consideration, we're planning on going with the unified firewall/filtering solution, pricing Lightspeed with a separate firewall was more expensive. And I was really impressed with Smoothwall's customer services while we were looking for quotes and had questions, they were getting back to me faster than any other company I've dealt with

[SchoolsBroadband]

Anyone have any companies they have purchased lightspeed from? I had a quote but it worked out more expensive than smoothwall. The comments on here suggest they have had it for less than smoothwall?

 

Cheers

 

as requested PM'd within 24 hours

[SchoolsBroadband]

How will it work in that instance, because Lightspeed is usually an inline filter. Will schools just point at the proxy port on Lightspeed in your setup? I can PM if you prefer.

 

They'd used the client software to point to a special number of servers we have. They can still have full AD integration etc. No need to use it as a proxy and send traffic via it though (unless its IOS). The yes / no to get the site is sent back to the client to allow it to get to the site or not rather than all traffic go via the proxy. I hate proxies and we avoid them wherever possible as they generally just break stuff....

[sparkeh]

To be honest since opening this thread and having demos from both companies I have found Smoothwalll to be cheaper if you put everything into consideration, we're planning on going with the unified firewall/filtering solution, pricing Lightspeed with a separate firewall was more expensive. And I was really impressed with Smoothwall's customer services while we were looking for quotes and had questions, they were getting back to me faster than any other company I've dealt with

There are a fair few comments about the price of SW but, like you, when we priced up SW against Lightspeed, SW came out cheaper.

We haven't looked back since getting SW in, perhaps the UI isn't a simple as other products but to be honest you don't have to be a rocket scientist to find your way around (and its being worked on). Also, I have found support to be nothing short of awesome so far.

[jamiet1985]

Hi,

 

just reading this thread, Lightspeed sounds interesting.

could anybody pm me any prices that you would expect to pay please? and any personal experiences.

 

Thankyou

 

Jamie

[seawolf]

Hi,

 

just reading this thread, Lightspeed sounds interesting.

could anybody pm me any prices that you would expect to pay please? and any personal experiences.

 

Thankyou

 

Jamie

 

I recommend Phantom iBoss 100% over every other web filter I've used, including SW, iPrism, and Watchguard. In the past three years I've had a couple of vendors come trying to sell me their solution. Then, I show them what the iBoss can do and they soon realize they are the Goliath that has met their David with no hope of matching the iBoss even for 10 times the price. Yes, the SmoothWall is usually cheaper than the iBoss, but I see tons of techs on here stuffing around with their SW trying to figure out how to get it to do things the iBoss does out of the box with its eyes closed.

 

Can't comment on the LightSpeed unit one way or the other as I haven't touched it, but you should trial both the LightSpeed and iBoss before deciding. I would be really surprised if the LightSpeed beat it. If it does, let me know and I'll look at it myself if it's THAT good.

[Achandler]

Just searched for distributors of iboss int he UK and they are rather non-existant. 2 exist, 1 has a website was 1992 and the other doesn't have one.

 

One is alsoa PO box only address. Worrying if you want support on a product.