Internet Use Questions: How do you handle these problems?

[jmair]

1: Filtering isn't defined as something other than 'reasonable', so couldn't we just ip block sites/protocols and apps as they become a problem? Why the excessive costs for managed filtering that we have to micromanage anyhow?

2: Internet use, who has the power to deny? Does your tech department outweigh the Admin staff that continue to request more and more openness and freedoms?

3: What level of network security are you required to have? Do you have a policy that states a certain standard?

 

 

 

For years I've been trying to run a fairly tight ship. But the complaints are becoming overwhelming as we all become more dependent on the internet. I've been thinking that I should 'flip' this current structure and have our WiFi and internet access wide open. Filter a little, throttle user traffic, but mostly keep it wide open. Does anyone else do this? Did I just give up and go full blown senile?

[elsiegee40]

It very much depends on your situation. You appear to be in the USA. Are you involved with schools?

 

Blocking stuff when it becomes a problem is rather bolting the stable door after the horse has bolted. Most would prefer not to have the problems in the first place.

 

Ultimately, the head of your establishment makes the rules. We, the technicians, simply apply them. The same applies to penalties and sanctions. They are set by management and we act "in accordance with policy"

 

Many of us are in UK schools where we have strict guidelines for the safeguarding of young people in our schools. Filtering is in place to protect both them and the school. Practically many of us use proprietary filters such as Smoothwall which update regularly and need little messing around with beyond us setting the initial rule set that we operate by.

[timbo343]

Many of times i have had this rant with my technicians about "we might as well not have filtering and block the bare minimum", i mean they have allowed pintrest at our place as they cant teach without it... not my decision! I would never run a network as the "flip" and always try to run it as tight as possible.

 

We try to block what is inappropriate but we dont get notified on sites that should be blocked if we dont spot them, there used to be a time when this happened... until key members of staff left. We make the call if a site is deemed appropriate or not.

[jmair]

Thank you for the feed back guys. I think the problem here lies with the lack of power the tech department has, being forced to adhere to the requests of the higher ups. I'm going to try and forge a policy that requires us to adhere to network security guidelines, and letting that be my Amulet of Power.

 

Thanks again.

Edited January 14, 2015 by jmair