Which filtering?

[mthomas08]

Sorry, I hope this is allowed.

 

Some questions popped up due to some visits and we're after knowing what EduGeekers have regarding Internet Filtering.

 

Apologies if this is a repeat, I had a look and couldn't find anything. This isn't a 'I prefer' or 'fed up with product X' but an interest what everyone at EG has.

 

Oh and another apology for any missed products -... like an easy one OTHER. If you do use anything else please post and state which it is. I can collate that data myself.

 

REALLY APPRECIATE YOU ALL!

 

Thank you!!!!!!

Edited February 27, 2025 by mthomas08

[mrbios]

Other: Sophos

[tom_newton]

Presume Control ID is supposed to be Control D?

[RLR]

Other: Fortigate

[mthomas08]

Presume Control ID is supposed to be Control D?

 

Sorry! Yes. I had to use Google to find the list and every site was useless providing a list.

 

Also missed Sophos! ugh.. typical.

 

Thanks guys keep it coming.

[Wave9_Lee]

You could add:

 

Sophos

Fortinet

Surfprotect (EXA)

SafteyNet (RM)

Protex

OPendium

Palo Alto

 

not sure you will get a fully representative example with your list

 

CoConnect are a provider, not a 'product' in the sense of the list you have.

 

Not criticising!

 

cheers

[Olliedawg]

Sophos here (not on list)

[mthomas08]

You could add:

 

Sophos

Fortinet

Surfprotect (EXA)

SafteyNet (RM)

Protex

OPendium

Palo Alto

 

Not criticising!

 

cheers

 

Oh i'm not taking it personal or anything. People can state which ones I've missed. I really appreciate everything!!!!!!! I know how busy everyone is and need a rough image of schools around the country and which products people use.

[Wave9_Lee]

Oh i'm not taking it personal or anything. People can state which ones I've missed. I really appreciate everything!!!!!!! I know how busy everyone is and need a rough image of schools around the country and which products people use.

 

 

What's the purpose may I ask?

[LeMarchand]

Other: Fortigate

[JOrdan01070]

other: Surfprotect

[mthomas08]

What's the purpose may I ask?

 

Nothing urgent but covering all the angles.

Some comments were made about our current one and believe we have one of the top 4.

[pete]

Smoothwall, backed up by Cloudflare and MDM-specific (Jamf in our case) filtering options.

[supportman]

Smoothwall, backed up by Cloudflare and MDM-specific (Jamf in our case) filtering options.

 

Interested which cloudflare service you are using and how its configured. Are you just using 1.1.1.1 as a DNS forwarder?

[Danp]

Other: GoGuardian

[tom_newton]

BTW, if you are having questions asked - I would suggest look at the UK Safer Internet Centre's appropriate filter accreditations https://saferinternet.org.uk/guide-and-resource/teachers-and-school-staff/appropriate-filtering-and-monitoring/appropriate-filtering/filtering-accreditation-scheme-for-uk-schools are a good place to start. If your provider is one of the ~5 on there then really you don't need to look for external validation in terms of your choices.

[TechMonkey]

It does depend on what requirements you have. Are you BYOD, 1:1 or all school owned? Are you trying to filter off site? Can you limit what OS you are needing? What about Guest users?

 

Personally, I haven't used anything else bar Smoothwall for years. It just hits all the bits I have needed with the fewest compromises.

 

One thing to bear in mind is the way KCSIE and the DfE requirements seem to be gradually tightening up. I can't guarantee it is going to happen but I could see actual real-time content filtering become a recommendation and then a requirement in the near future. This counts a lot of systems out, though they will say the filter content as they stop you seeing the content if the URL matches. Be very careful of sales speak here.

 

Anything that is only a DNS filter I would discount, full stop.

 

My list:

- Smoothwall

- Opendium

- Fortinet

- Sophos

 

Reasoning:

- Smoothwall as it is what I have used successfully for a long time

- Opendium is one I have had a demo of a few times and although lacks a modern UI, has great features under it and the team seem really good. Closest to Smoothwall I have seen & wish Smoothwall would take some of their features.

- Fortinet if you want one device and need a new firewall too. Not education geared and you need extra modules and beefy hardware to use it but it looked good and they seem to have the global coverage to pick up threates and new trends

- Sophos is one I have heard good things from but never had a need to use. Another not Education geared but seems to have a good reputation.

[mthomas08]

BTW, if you are having questions asked - I would suggest look at the UK Safer Internet Centre's appropriate filter accreditations https://saferinternet.org.uk/guide-and-resource/teachers-and-school-staff/appropriate-filtering-and-monitoring/appropriate-filtering/filtering-accreditation-scheme-for-uk-schools are a good place to start. If your provider is one of the ~5 on there then really you don't need to look for external validation in terms of your choices.

 

Thank you this is perfect actually. Ours is indeed there and the poll + posts all helps.

[tom_newton]

It does depend on what requirements you have. Are you BYOD, 1:1 or all school owned? Are you trying to filter off site? Can you limit what OS you are needing? What about Guest users?

 

Personally, I haven't used anything else bar Smoothwall for years. It just hits all the bits I have needed with the fewest compromises.

 

One thing to bear in mind is the way KCSIE and the DfE requirements seem to be gradually tightening up. I can't guarantee it is going to happen but I could see actual real-time content filtering become a recommendation and then a requirement in the near future. This counts a lot of systems out, though they will say the filter content as they stop you seeing the content if the URL matches. Be very careful of sales speak here.

 

Anything that is only a DNS filter I would discount, full stop.

 

My list:

- Smoothwall

- Opendium

- Fortinet

- Sophos

 

Reasoning:

- Smoothwall as it is what I have used successfully for a long time

- Opendium is one I have had a demo of a few times and although lacks a modern UI, has great features under it and the team seem really good. Closest to Smoothwall I have seen & wish Smoothwall would take some of their features.

- Fortinet if you want one device and need a new firewall too. Not education geared and you need extra modules and beefy hardware to use it but it looked good and they seem to have the global coverage to pick up threates and new trends

- Sophos is one I have heard good things from but never had a need to use. Another not Education geared but seems to have a good reputation.

 

Which features do you wish we would... shamelessly research? Always in the market for ways to improve!

[mthomas08]

Personally, I haven't used anything else bar Smoothwall for years. It just hits all the bits I have needed with the fewest compromises.

 

Just about internet filtering for education. Nothing more. Nothing less. Ty

[supportman]

Which features do you wish we would... shamelessly research? Always in the market for ways to improve!

 

Useful reports! 😂

 

I can link the thread from 10 years ago if you want hehe.

 

OK just joking it has improved a little, but I still find it difficult to send a "what did this kid view on Youtube today" report to SLT.

 

Its also still painfully slow to create those reports.

[tom_newton]

Useful reports! 😂

 

I can link the thread from 10 years ago if you want hehe.

 

OK just joking it has improved a little, but I still find it difficult to send a "what did this kid view on Youtube today" report to SLT.

 

Its also still painfully slow to create those reports.

 

Drop me a line with who you are, we will get you set up on the new reporting system!

[CrootUK]

Edit sorry was on mobile app which doesn’t show the voting system, have voted now. Edited February 27, 2025 by CrootUK

[craig2562]

Other: Sophos

[Sephiroth]

We use Lightspeed at endpoint and Sophos as a catchall.

 

I'd be interested to see the results once you've counted everything up.