What is the Network Content Filtering Process for Schools?
A safe and secure online environment for students is a top priority for educational institutions. Network content filtering plays a crucial role in maintaining a productive and protected learning environment.
School staff in the increasingly digital learning landscape understand the importance of safe internet access for students. However, many key applications and methods of content filtering and web blocking systems used on school networks are overlooked or undervalued.
This blog explains the Network Content Filtering process, software requirements, monitoring tools, and methods of detection and intervention. Schools should always strive to improve understanding of safeguarding to ensure a fully safe and responsive learning environment.
Legal Requirements for Content Filtering- CIPA Compliant Software
The Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) is an important mandate to protect minors from harmful online content. Schools that receive federal funding are required to use CIPA-Compliant content filtering software to ensure safe internet access in education.
Content filtering may appear restricting to your students, but education on their rights and responsibilities as digital citizens helps them understand its importance. With Senso Learn’s Microlearning courses, your staff can learn key safeguarding information and methodology to pass on to students.
Web Filtering Solutions- Real-Time Web Blocking and Blacklisting
CIPA-Compliant school web filtering software should take a proactive approach to online safeguarding with real-time detection and removal of inappropriate content. Senso’s Safeguarding Cloud bundle uses combined AI and human filtering processes with the latest content keyword libraries to provide 99.9% coverage of malicious URLs and objectionable content.
When a website, search query, or other online content on your network contains a blacklisted keyword, this is instantly blocked from access, limiting exposure to harmful material. This activity is then flagged to your central remote assistant’s safeguarding dashboard with all relevant information, enabling you to identify patterns and trends in user behavior on your network.
AI Image identification
As part of modern content filtering software, all content is analysed with a combination of AI and human verification. However, traditional text-based filtering is outdated and can fall short of providing the protection from harmful imagery that is needed in schools.
Implementing AI in safeguarding provides an extra layer of safety as an independent, constantly updating content monitor is able to detect and act faster than a human. Keeping school computer use appropriate remains appropriate, creating a safer digital environment.
Updated Keyword Monitoring and filtering Libraries
Senso’s cloud-based content filtering libraries are constantly updated to include emerging trends and terms in inappropriate online material. New malicious actors and inappropriate terms pop up all the time, and it is our software’s job to detect and reduce harm wherever we can.
You can also update your own school’s content filtering software with independent lists of keywords and sites. Content filtering can be applied to reduce certain behaviors unique to your institution. Student device monitoring with live thumbnail views of networked devices provides great insight into online student behaviors that may impact learning. Using this tool, staff can identify and target specific actions for blacklisting and filtering.
Teams Chat Log Monitoring and Filtering
Cyberbullying is still a rising problem across the US, without appropriate student device monitoring, online communication can become a harmful situation for many. The rise of Microsoft Teams for hybrid learning and distanced working has driven an increase in unsafe communication, including bullying, sharing of sensitive information, and inappropriate language.
As a member of the Microsoft Azure Marketplace, Senso’s content filtering can be easily integrated with Microsoft Teams. Working similarly to our safeguarding procedures for the rest of the web, the harmful language and images that are detected in Microsoft Teams chat logs are addressed in real-time and flagged in Microsoft Teams monitoring reports on your dashboard.
Offsite Filtering and Intervention Systems
Regular reporting allows you to identify and prioritize events that occur within your institution in an instant. Tracking user behavior over time with our automated graphs and data tables in reports allows for informed and responsible decisions about interventions and future safeguarding plans.
Even when networked devices are used outside of school Senso’s safeguarding software and filtering capabilities still provide consistent protection for a safe online environment beyond the school gates.
Assisted monitoring is an all-new addition to our systems. Senso software works in partnership with the fully trained online safety experts at the South West Grid for Learning (SWGfL). This remote assistant process analyses behavior and harmful instances are prioritized to identify key trends and more serious issues that may not be intervened on if analyzed by general administrative staff.
Do you have Any More Questions about Content Filtering with Senso?
For detailed setup information, visit Senso’s support site for comprehensive guides and advice for frequently asked questions. You can also get in touch with our expert support team with our contact form.
If you are interested in Senso content filtering and would like to try it for yourself, you can claim your Free Demo. Right in time for coming back to school!