SaaS Based URL Content Filtering Stops Shenanigans On Your Computer Network

If you're in charge of keeping students or employees in places where they should be when they're using the internet, you undoubtedly know just how difficult this can be.

Unless you're using URL content filtering software, it's easy for your underlings to drift off of the websites they're supposed to be using to visit other sites like Youtube, Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and whatever their other favorite online haunts are.

While this might not seem like a big deal on the surface, giving students and employees 'free reign' to visit whatever websites they want could actually put your network at risk in a number of different ways. Here are a few:

1. Reduces Legal Liability - Operating a computer network that allows others to freely access the internet could pose a legal threat in the event that someone on the network uses your workstation to download illegal, copyrighted or inappropriate content. If you aren't controlling what others are accessing on your network, you could be held legally responsible for their actions.
2. Improves Productivity - By limiting accessibility to streaming video websites, gaming websites, social networking destinations and other sites, employees and students can focus on their studies or job tasks that they're supposed to be doing online instead of just goofing around wasting time (and payroll.)
3. Enforce Acceptable Use Policies - What good is an acceptable use policy if no one is following it? URL content filtering gives IT managers all of the controls they need to block or limit access to websites they've deemed 'not important' to the goals of their Organization. These settings can be modified and personalized based on rules according to job title or connectivity requirements.
4. Reduce Bandwidth Requirements - When employees or students visit a website like Youtube, Vimeo or other streaming video sites, it's a drain on your bandwidth. By reducing or eliminating the ability to watch Internet videos on your corporate network, you're reducing your overall bandwidth requirements. This means that everyone gets a fair share of a speedy Internet connection, and not just those that are watching videos.

If you'd like to learn more about how you can start managing the content that your employees or students are accessing, please visit MostHost Web Security and get a no-obligation free quote on our SaaS based security services.