Schools Internet Suppliers and Advice

[BKGarry]

Hello all,

 

It is that time again where I am looking at our internet supply. We currently use the LEA which are charging quite a bit for a 300mbps connection with firewall and filtering.

 

I seem to remember back in the day there was a nice list of things to check with internet suppliers and filtering, to make sure that it covers x, y and z.

 

One thing I will be looking at it splitting getting filtering and internet from the same supplier, to see if that works out more cost effective.

 

I have gone to Exa, BT, the local Authority and Stone at the moment, and prices are definitely looking like we will move away from the LEA.

 

Does anyone remember the list, or have a list of requirements they have used to check filtering systems against, so that we make sure we get the correct functionality, as I do believe just URL and DNS filtering isn't considered good enough anymore but I may be wrong there.

 

Looking forward to all the input

[robyholmes]

You really need decrypted and inspect on any filtering you go with. Otherwise your blind to a large chunk of web traffic going over your connection.

 

Other things to consider are safeguarding reports, AD integration. How the filter authenticates you? IE do you need a client, are all your devices supported iOS, Android, Chrome etc.

[BKGarry]

Thank you @robyholmes

I am slowly building a big check list

Edited November 11, 2019 by BKGarry

[DSapseid]

I just have a pure unfiltered line (with a firewall provided by the ISP) then i have smoothwall for filtering. Works great and have done it this way for 8+ years even with when with the LEA.

[XiJ]

Make sure the filtering provider is a IWF member.

 

Worth checking the IWF website as well as https://www.saferinternet.org.uk

[BKGarry]

Thanks at XiJ

 

I found their RAG lists yesterday, very very useful

[maark]

Don't forget firewall - if you have pure unfiltered line - we have gone with Sophos XG which does firewall and filtering and pretty pleased with it.

[BKGarry]

Just waiting for a price back for a Sophos XG. I am looking at the possibility of splitting it this way