SWGfL Internet connections

[sdc]

I think WE ALL need to make it clear the staff proxy and update proxy is not the way to go.

...

 

If you are unhappy about the unfiltered proxy and the way it was switched off with no warning (well muttered about two years ago).

 

Can we start some form of petition?

[atfnet]

please !!!! :-)

[steele_uk]

We have just realised that SWGFL have turned off the unfiltered proxy.

 

After calling their tech support they told us the new way of accessing the Internet would be by setting users and passwords up on a SWGLF Web App. Yes, thats a big step forward,- forget about AD itntegration, and who wanted policies based upon years groups or classes anyway?

 

Well fine, but what about all the schools that realised years ago that the SWGLF web filtering was crap and invested into another system,-Dansgaurdian, Bloxx, Websence to name a few. These all have fantastic controls, granular policies, user auditing and scheduling controls. They also require pointing at an unfiltered upstream.

 

I cannot belive they can just switch something off without consultation. Surely just lookng at the logs would tell them how much traffic was using the unfiltered proxy upstream, and that turing it off without warning would create a backlash?

 

It seems i am not alone, the tech support guy said he had been on the recieiving end of quite a few irate calls, which is a shame because it certainly would be someone with much less common sense that made such a decision.

 

Rant over:mad:

Edited November 6, 2008 by steele_uk

[atfnet]

It was caused by one school who had pupils using the unfiltered feed. Not sure which.

[philjones2000]

Is there no possibility of moving away?

 

I'm absolutely amazed that the plug was pulled like this with no date given. How am I meant to create 200 staff user names and show them the daft login system with no warning.

 

Extremely annoyed.

 

[sdc]

Ideally they should simply turn the unfiltered proxy back on... anyone care to write a template letter to them that we call all print off and send in?

[steele_uk]

It might also be worth a call to your LEA ICT Strategy Leader who make the payments to SWGFL on our behalf

[Jiser]

I want my facebook back!! Withdrawl symptons...

[philjones2000]

Have just got off the phone with Vikki Gardner at SWGFL:

 

1. The unfiltered proxy was turned off yesterday at 11. The decision to do so was taken at 5 the day before. This was due to the proxy being exploited in some way after the address was made public. She wasn't going to go any further.

 

2. As such there is no way they can turn it back on.

 

3. She regrets that we were not told in advance and also concerned that we were not told this initially by the help desk. I rang yesterday and as far as I was told it was a technical problem they were trying to fix. Only on the second call this morning was I told that it was off and to switch to the staff proxy.

 

4. I explained that although I had no problem with them tracking usage, the implementation of the system was severely lacking. I was now facing entering 200 user names 1 by 1 into their web interface and telling my staff of the annoying go to login.staffproxy etc. way to get unfiltered access. She was sympathetic and would take my concerns into consideration but there was nothing she could do now.

 

She was sympathetic through out my rant- but ultimately I was left with the same problem I started with!

[sdc]

South West Grid for Learning Trust - SWGfL News

Just been pointed to this - currently on the phone to SWGfL...

 

Quote: "Have you noticed some changes to your Internet browsing?"

 

Yes.... it stopped working...

 

And from another SWGfL document, quote: "SWGfL Filtering Developments - Putting you in control of your establishment’s Internet filtering"

 

Except, we've just lost some control...

Edited November 6, 2008 by sdc

[bgarston]

It was caused by one school who had pupils using the unfiltered feed. Not sure which.

 

 

As per usual it's the minority ruling the majority. IFL/SWGfL has done what’s easier for them and not what’s best for EVERYONE in schools. PR has been dire. I phoned SWGfL yesterday morning and their tech support dept didn’t know what was going on!

 

My job is difficult enough as it is without having to jump through any more hoops! It would have been better for everyone if the school(s) in question added rules to their local routers preventing unfiltered access and then tightened up on security.

 

Ben

[K.C.Leblanc]

Would an aceptable way forward be to suggest that the unfiltered proxy is only available to specified IP addresses?

[sdc]

Would an aceptable way forward be to suggest that the unfiltered proxy is only available to specified IP addresses?

 

That would work very nicely for us.

[TheScarfedOne]

As I mentioned in my post earlier, the Devon Region Network Managers Meeting is on 3rd December - I suggest we all raise this as an immediate concern. The service from the grid has, to be blunt been terrible over the past year - not only in terms of reliability, but also from feature changes like this with little/no warning. Has everyone recieved the invite yet? If not, I will post it up...

[K.C.Leblanc]

I phoned SWGfL yesterday morning and their tech support dept didn’t know what was going on!

 

Ben

 

Same, here, I'm sure you agree that once you've been lied to by an organisation you consider every piece of information from them in a different light.

[TheScarfedOne]

I know that there were a number of schools looking to move away from the grid last year due to cost increases. I wonder how many are looking at it now?? They need to start treating us like proper clients, the customer service is poor. Edited November 6, 2008 by TheScarfedOne

[steele_uk]

We spent quite a few grand on our own filtering solution which improved life enourmously for staff and students. It logs use, it integrates with AD and it gets regular updates of filtering, spyware and AV from a dedicated team.

We are only 14 months into the investment and the whole system has been been redundant by this ridiculous decision.

[steele_uk]

I know that there were a number of schools looking to move away from the grid last year due to cost increases. I wonder how many are looking at it now?? They need to start treating us like proper clients, the customer service is poor.

 

Can schools do that?

 

I was led to believe that the decision of what ISP schools use was held firmly by the LEA.

 

I was suprised at how many Dorset LEA staff are now listed as Members of the Trust Management site at SWGFL.

 

Surely a conflict of interests?

[bgarston]

Same, here, I'm sure you agree that once you've been lied to by an organisation you consider every piece of information from them in a different light.

 

 

Totally agree. I really don’t know what SWGfL had to gain by withholding information; I thought we were all on the same side! What incense me more are schools and LA’s actually pay for this “service”.

[triggmiester]

typical swgfl. Cant even get on using the staff proxy, is anyone else having trouble?

[TheScarfedOne]

I know that Exeter schools were - if any are on here, maybe they can post what they were up to.

 

Really???!!! Im surprised by that! Would have thought there was a conflict there.

[Bongo]

staff proxy is working fine here albeit a right pain for the techies! I don't envy the LA reps at the NMs meeting in tiverton next month, at the last one they got hammered because of the swgfl renewal costs

[TheScarfedOne]

@ Bongo - you were there then! Which School you from? Im from KEVICCS (Totnes).

 

They did get a hard time, and will do again this time me thinks. You coming to the meeting? Might be an idea for those going to bash some ideas around before hand...

[Bongo]

I was and had to laugh at the swgfl hard sell before the figures came out!!

 

Definitely going, I'm from Tivvy High so its a short walk up the hill for me

[localzuk]

Am I missing something here but can't you turn off the filtering lists on the normal proxy? We can here...

 

Can't those of you who have your own filtering solution simply do that?