How well are you protecting your K-12 students from online intrusions? Unfortunately, today’s internet bears little resemblance to that of 2011 when Congress last updated the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA). In fact, the internet is a lot more threatening these days. According to GAO’s analysis of K-12 Cybersecurity Resource Center (CRC) data from 2016 to 2020, thousands of K-12 students were impacted by 99 reported data breaches. Other studies show 1300+ breaches since 2005 in schools in the United States.

Web filtering is a proven strategy for protecting K-12 students from internet threats. But If you haven’t updated your web content filtering solution recently, you may not be protecting students as well as you think. That can cost you. A lax security approach risks fines, audits, and lawsuits, as well as student safety and data. It also risks the loss of discounts from the government’s E-rate: Universal Service Program for Schools and Libraries Universal Internet Services program for failing to meet its criteria.

But not all web content filtering solutions are equal. Older versions aren’t designed for today’s education environment. To keep K-12 students secure and safe, you need a robust web content filtering solution developed for education, like CherryRoad’s Shark® UTM. This security solution can help you deal effectively with the new online challenges you face, like a mobile-focused student body, increased use of social media, and stealth attacks over encrypted traffic.

What is Web Content Filtering?

Content filtering solutions aren’t new. They’ve been around for a while. They block access to offensive, inappropriate, and dangerous material using both hardware and software to censor objectionable content. In addition to serving as an extra layer of protection from security threats, web content solutions provide overall Domain Name System (DNS) security protection that prevents users from accessing potentially dangerous web pages or IP addresses.

Content filtering for schools can help cut costs by helping you meet the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) criteria. In early 2001, the FCC issued rules implementing CIPA and provided updates to those rules in 2011. The 2011 CIPA update tied E-rate program discounts directly to a school’s internet safety policy. These discounts can range anywhere from 20% to 90% on services. Failing to meet CIPA criteria, however, can cost you these discounts. Content filtering solutions can also help you streamline FCC compliance, cutting risk and saving time.

Signs that A Web Filtering Solution is Outdated

Older versions of web filtering solutions lack the education-related functions needed to take student protection to the next level. Telltale signs that your web filtering solution is inadequate are a filter that’s just an add-on to a security suite, has limited policy tools, supports only English, lacks authenticated access capabilities, and provides only standard evidence logging. If this sounds like your content filtering solution, it’s probably outdated.

Older versions of web content filtering solutions focus almost exclusively on blocking inappropriate content. Unfortunately, too narrow a focus on blocking objectional material can cause K-12 schools to miss other possible threats, like student radicalization, online scams, and chat room “friends.” Today’s web filtering solutions are more robust. They can not only block objectional material. They can also help you deal with the new internet challenges that K-12 schools now face.

Some essential functions K-12 schools need in a school web filtering solution include:

  • Database blocking
  • URL and keyword block/allow
  • Group- and user-based filtering policies
  • Schedule-based filtering policies
  • AntiAnti-virus filtering
  • GoogleÔ account support
  • Chromebook extensions
  • Daily category list updates
  • Remote security protection

The right web content filtering solution with functions like those above can help K-12 schools strike the right balance between safety, access, value, and performance.

Shark UTM: Network Security, Flexibility, and Performance

Shark UTM by CherryRoad is a next-generation security appliance with powerful web content filtering features. It offers the performance, flexibility, and security K-12 schools need to protect today’s students. Designed specifically for education environments, Shark UTM offers a host of security functions that include:

  • Intrusion prevention
  • Packet filtering
  • DDoS detection
  • IPv4 and IPv6 packet filtering and mitigation
  • Malware/IPS/IDS logging and reporting
  • Certificate management suite malware
  • Application firewall
  • Secure web portal
  • Remote access services

Shark UTM also offers compelling management features like powerful dashboards, backup and restore system configuration, complete access logs, and real-time logs and statistics. Backed by 24×7 technical support, Shark UTM includes automatic firewall/OS updates. Plus, it has a proven track record and meets CIPA criteria.

Failure is not an Option

Failure is not an option when it comes to protecting K-12 students from today’s internet threats. Protecting students gets more challenging each year as the internet evolves and new threats emerge. These new threats are forcing K-12 schools to do more and more to protect K-12 students. Schools that ignore these new threats risks fines, audits, lawsuits, and E-rate discounts as well as student safety.

Web content filtering solutions are a proven and effective strategy in defeating internet threats. But not all of the solutions are the same. Many older versions, for example, are costly, cumbersome, and porous. They also lack the “firepower” needed to beat the new threats K-12 schools face. Shark UTM is designed specifically for education environments. It’s among the industry’s top web content filtering solutions. It can help K-12 schools take on and beat today’s internet threats and online intrusions.

Cherry Road’s highly skilled and engaged people have decades of experience helping K-12 schools and school districts beat their content filtering challenges. To request a free demo of Shark UTM, email us at info@cherryroad.com .