Secure Computing's SmartFilter™ 3.0 Simplifies Internet Access Management
Easy employee Internet access management starts with regulating Internet access according to organizational policies using point & click administration of employees and groups across pre-defined categories of inappropriate Web sites. SmartFilter's Control List lets organizations select from 30 predefined categories of URLs to be filtered, but also provides flexibility by allowing administrators to add up to 10 of their own customized categories of restricted URLs. URL filtering can be set to block the user, to coach them and to permit them to access the Web site at a different time or at a slower response rate, thereby conserving network capacity.
Flexible, policy-based management provides fine-grained administration of users and user groups. Policies provide the ability to block by file type, personal pages, time of day, day of week, search engine key words and phrases and URLs defined as IP addresses. Administrators can use the comprehensive policies that come with SmartFilter 3.0 or they can create their own policies such as blocking and coaching messages. They can also create their own list of exempt and restricted sites. A new browser redirection feature also gives the administrator the option to point users to a specified URL, such as the organization's Intranet page.
Real ease-of-use comes from the analysis and reporting that helps organizations understand how their employees are using or misusing the Internet. SmartFilter 3.0 comes bundled with Wavecrest Computing's Cyfin® Reporter for SmartFilter. This scalable, easy-to-use application lets organizations audit and analyze outbound Web usage activity providing both detailed and summary management reports.
"SmartFilter makes managing employee Internet access easy," said Patrick Prue, manager, Network Services at Fantom Technologies Inc, a beta user of SmartFilter 3.0. "The new features, management console and configuration options provide us the flexibility to effectively manage employee access. My overall impression of this release is that it is heads above the previous versions in user friendliness and administration."
"Organizations – especially large ones – need a combination of features and manageability when it comes to tailoring access management to their needs," said Mike Gallagher, VP & general manager of Network Security Division, Secure Computing. "For corporations that provide Internet access, SmartFilter 3.0 features the most comprehensive policy enforcement tools and options for managing employee productivity, enhancing network bandwidth, and reducing legal liabilities. SmartFilter, in the tradition of all Secure Computing product offerings, provides a complete Internet filtering application that is flexible, scalable and simple to use."
Pricing and Availability
SmartFilter is available now on a multitude of proxy servers, firewalls, and caches. A free, 30-day evaluation can be downloaded at www.smartfilter.com. Pricing is based on the number of users in the organization and includes a one- or two-year subscription, 24-hour technical support, upgrades, and maintenance. For example, a 2000-user license is $4.60/user or $9200 for a one-year subscription.
About Secure Computing
Headquartered in San Jose, California, Secure Computing Corporation is a global leader in providing "safe, secure extranets for e-business™." Secure Computing solutions provide managed access to Web sites, applications, and networks, including strong authentication, role-based authorization, secure access gateways, and Web filtering. Secure Computing's worldwide partners and customers include Fortune 50 organizations in financial services, healthcare, telecom, communications, Internet companies, and government agencies.
Secure Computing Corporation, 4810 Harwood Road, San Jose, California 95124 Phone: 408-979-6100 Fax: 408-979-6501