RM SafetyNet - experiences please

[sparkeh]

So first up, please, this is not an opportunity to RM bash

 

Having just received our Smoothwall renewal and fallen off my chair, I am looking at alternatives so we can compare.

 

We have broadband from RM and are happy with it so have taken a look at the cloud based SafetyNet which seems to cover most bases (transparent filtering is due to arrive in the spring (fingers crossed) and is so, so, so much more affordable.

 

So, I was wondering if anyone had experience of using the cloud based SafetyNet, along with the AD sync and the reporting feature.

 

All opinions welcome

[Boredguy]

We've been using Safetynet for the past 15 years, and it does what it says on the tin. It filters.

 

I've not yet got the AD Sync, since we didn't want to pay extra for it and did not want to have to reset all the users passwords (which is moot now that we have to have all users passwords changed every 45-90 days)

 

The reporting feature is basic but functional. I can certainly get a list of any sites accessed by Staff (as long as they logged into the bypass page so it puts the name next to the sites)

[sparkeh]

I've not yet got the AD Sync, since we didn't want to pay extra for it

Interesting, I have a quote that says the sync tool is included in the cost.

[Boredguy]

It was not when we put our renewal order in for the ISP connectivity back in Feb as it was only just going into trial. I would assume the price is built into the total product now.

[Steve21]

Transparent proxy should already been enabled, was a few years back now

 

We use filtering on top of Smoothie, but find there's a lot of basic things that SWGfl doesnt do especially well on it's own. Like reporting etc.

 

AD Sync is extra so we never used it, we just have the flat filtering across the whole connection.

 

No real issues with it, but for a secondary I think it lacks the granular details you want nowadays really. As an example without bodges/DNS etc you couldn't enable YouTube safety etc

 

Steve

[Steve21]

Interesting, I have a quote that says the sync tool is included in the cost.

 

Which version? There's free AD sync under the Rm unify side etc, but the "User based filtering" is additional costings, or always has been when we asked:

 

The user based filtering feature is an option and there will be an additional charge for this. However, as a valued customer you are able to use RM SafetyNet with user based filtering for a period of Twelve months without any additional charges. If you decide to keep it, (which we’re sure you will!), the price of RM SafetyNet will increase to £250.00 per year for a primary school and £450.00 per year for a secondary school from 01/09/16

 

Steve

[sparkeh]

Ok I have attached the brochure I was sent to make sure that we are talking about the same thing

I think I might have read the transparent thing wrong, "user based" transparent filtering is coming next spring. I guess that means you still have a transparent proxy but can't yet filter by user.

This has been quoted at £250/year.

 

 

Safetynet.pdf

[Boredguy]

Transparent filter is available to all clients with the filtering options that you have set as "standard" for all users, and as you say you can not see usage by user.

 

You can still set specific proxy server addresses for your clients and this is recommended especially if you offer staff the ability to bypass the majority of the filter rules if you do not get the User Based filter option.

[Steve21]

Yep that's the one, The user filtering for a primary is an additional £250 on top of the normal filtering costs.

 

If you want any more detailed screenshots or info etc give us a shout and one of us can ping some up I'm sure

 

Steve

[sparkeh]

Yep that's the one, The user filtering for a primary is an additional £250 on top of the normal filtering costs.

 

If you want any more detailed screenshots or info etc give us a shout and one of us can ping some up I'm sure

 

Steve

Ok read the small print, SafetyNet is included in the broadband price, the user filtering is the £250 extra. Got it!

[stjtech]

Hi,

 

Have a look at this https://www.diladele.com/ if you have the time and VMWare/Linux available to set it up. I am using it and it does everything we need.

[korifugi]

Moved a site to it a while back - it does a good job, adding sites / exceptions is nice and easy too.

[sparkeh]

Moved a site to it a while back - it does a good job, adding sites / exceptions is nice and easy too.

Thanks that's really good to hear.

 

Oh and just for info for those with an RM connection, a self-service firewall is on the roadmap for 2017

[abaxter2]

Been using SafetyNet for around 10 years - had no problems and happy with the service.

 

Currently using the addon of Transparent filter but only for BYOD - all students who use domain machines go via proxy (just to make sure!)

 

Not used the AD sync yet but will do when I rebuild to server 2016 next summer.

 

It is great to hear that a self-service firewall and user based transparent filtering is coming next year.

[mats]

You'll quickly get sucked into (paying for) RM Unify and connecting your ad to their cloud. They refer to user group based filtering as "granular" and it's not been out long (if it's out yet - I gave up waiting).

 

Diladele - great if you can get authentication working, but one of the things that swung it for smoothwall here was the ease of getting it talking to ad for auth. They also cut us a good deal.