November 5, 2007

Web Filtering: Two Things To Look Out For

I'm getting a big increase in the number of pitches coming my way about web filtering services, software and appliances. Most of the services provide pretty much the same thing - they just do it differently.

A Cymphonix (web filtering and security company) representative explained to me that the differentiation comes from being able to define where the bandwidth is being used up. For example, If one user is using bandwidth to download a movie or music that's not going to show up on an Internet browsing report. The user is not on a browser generating the traffic.

He went on further to explain that Network Composer by Cymphonix is the only solution that controls and prioritizes both browsing AND application activity for small and medium-sized organizations. I have not been able to independently verify this, however.

Monitoring what and who is browsing your network is important, but it's also important to know what applications are sucking bandwidth from your network.

You don't have to be the Grinch Who Stole Christmas and block all sorts of internet traffic, but you can prioritize your traffic so business use of the Internet gets priority over other uses.

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