Understand Content Filtering

About content filtering

What is content filtering? - Content filtering is a system that enables an organisation to monitor the activities of all personnel who have access to a PC... [Read More]

The future of content filtering - Many companies already monitor emails and web activity and this is set to continue due to increased legislation... [Read More]

Why content filtering? - Some 1 billion emails are sent every hour and 50% of those contain sensitive information... [Read More]

Benefits of using content filtering - One of the benefits is greater productivity. If 40% of employees’ activities are spent on non-work related activities, organisations can be losing many hours of valuable resource in an age when the cost of running a business is already extremely high... [Read More]

Disadvantages and potential pitfalls - Big Brother – content filtering can be seen to be interference by senior management and the general perception amongst employees might be that the management don’t trust their personnel... [Read More]

Download and Go! - If you don't have time to read the whole Understand section online you can download the content in our ebook as a pdf and read on the go.

Buying and installing content filtering

Four steps to successfully buying a content filtering system - If users access the internet via a dedicated server, then it might be possible for only the server needs to have a content filtering system installed... [Read More]

Points to remember when installing a content filtering system - It is unlikely that you will install a content filtering system yourself but by knowing the following steps you will be aware of what the process is, in order to achieve a fully functioning system. As a simplistic guide for a small business of, for example, 10 users in one office, the following would be necessary:
... [Read More]

Content filtering case studies

Websense delivers tangible results - 125 hours a day of improved productivity plus secure web access for accident advice helpline. Accident Advice Helpline (AAH) is the UK’s largest compensation claim specialist, providing a service for thousands of people who want to claim compensation for injuries incurred as a result of a third party negligence to include road traffic accidents, accidents at work or accidents in public places... [Read More - pdf]

Allied Cash advance keeps money moving safely - The payday advance business requires a good deal of time on the Internet to verify critical financial information. However, as employees at Allied Cash Advance visited popular Web sites such as social networking sites and search engines, they were unknowingly opening the door to viruses, phishing attacks, spyware and malware—and their computers were showing the strain... [Read More - pdf]

10 Steps to Corporate Security - A simple guide for your business... [Read More - pdf]

Questions and answers

What is content filtering? - Content filtering, or content monitoring as it’s also called, is a system that enables an organisation to monitor the activities of all personnel who have access to a PC or laptop computer... [Read More]

Why do I need it? - You need to ensure that important documents and other confidential information are not leaving your organisation. You also need to make sure that emails of an insulting nature are not sent and if they are, you are then able to track the instigator. Likewise for staff who ‘surf’ for inappropriate material on the internet... [Read More]

What about the legal issues? - You need to be aware of the legal issues and coordinate either with a lawyer or your HR department as you need everybody to agree to a written Acceptable Use Policy... [Read More]

What is an Acceptable Use Policy? - An Acceptable Use Policy or AUP is a document that outlines what employees can or can not do with their PCs. It covers everything from email i.e. who can use it and what should it be only be used for, as well as what can be looked at on the web and if and when it can be used for personal purposes... [Read More]

< Read more questions and answers about content filtering.

In summary about content filtering

There are many excellent filtering systems available and it may be best to test a few for a week or so before progressing to a full purchase.

It would also be prudent to get professional advice as this particular area of technology may be seen as contentious. Ultimately, many companies allow reasonable use of the internet for personal reasons just as they would for using the phone, but suffice to say that the internet, while a useful tool and email a great way of communicating, can be misused and prove to be distracting.