{"id":113872,"date":"2024-09-02T06:52:19","date_gmt":"2024-09-02T06:52:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/devcherryroad.com\/cherryroad\/?p=113872"},"modified":"2024-09-02T07:30:45","modified_gmt":"2024-09-02T07:30:45","slug":"web-filtering-needs-and-solutions-for-k-12-schools","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/devcherryroad.com\/cherryroad\/2024\/09\/02\/web-filtering-needs-and-solutions-for-k-12-schools\/","title":{"rendered":"Web Filtering Needs and Solutions for K-12 Schools"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

How well are you protecting your K-12 students from online intrusions? Unfortunately, today\u2019s internet bears little resemblance to that of 2011 when Congress last updated the Children\u2019s Internet Protection Act (CIPA). In fact, the internet is a lot more threatening these days. According to GAO\u2019s analysis<\/a> 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<\/a> 2005 in schools in the United States.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Web filtering is a proven strategy for protecting K-12 students from internet threats. But If you haven\u2019t 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\u2019s E-rate: Universal Service Program for Schools and Libraries Universal Internet Services<\/a> program for failing to meet its criteria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But not all web content filtering solutions are equal. Older versions aren\u2019t designed for today\u2019s education environment. To keep K-12 students secure and safe, you need a robust web content filtering solution developed for education, like CherryRoad\u2019s Shark\u00c2\u00ae UTM<\/a>. 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Web Content Filtering?<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

Content filtering solutions aren\u2019t new. They\u2019ve 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Content filtering for schools can help cut costs by helping you meet the Children\u2019s 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<\/a> discounts directly to a school\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Signs that A Web Filtering Solution is Outdated<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

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\u2019s 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\u2019s probably outdated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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 \u201cfriends.\u201d Today\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some essential functions K-12 schools need in a school web filtering solution include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n