Filtering
The Schools Broadband Network operates the FortiGuard Web Filtering Service from Fortinet. This is a hosted service designed to provide Web URL filtering for schools, libraries, government agencies and enterprise businesses of all sizes. What this means is that websites accessed on the Schools Broadband Network go through a level of filtering to ensure that inappropriate sites are excluded and a "Web Page Blocked" message is displayed.
Fortinet is a member of the Internet Watch Foundation in the UK working to combat potentially illegal online content and prevent access to child sexual abuse. Fortinet's Web Filtering Solutions are also CIPA certified. The Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA) is a federal law enacted by US Congress in December 2000 to address concerns about access in schools and libraries to the Internet and other information.
Websites are categorised into one of 76 categories and access to a website is conditioned on the category being available to the school. Currently schools have the choice between two options A and B as to what categories are available for access within their school. Option B: a restrictive level which permits only educational websites as well as sites on a pre-determined 'white list'; and Option A is a less restrictive system which allows other websites in addition to what is available on option B. FortiGuard Web Filtering Categories v2.0 lists the available categories and which category is included within the two options.
Despite having some 30 million websites categorised it is possible that a website may be uncategorised or unrated. Where this is the case it is possible to suggest a category for this website to the filtering system. This can be done through the following link:
The system is automated and usually responds within 24 hours. Once the website is categorised, and assuming it does not come under the blocked categories, it should be possible to view the website on the Schools Broadband Network.
Where a website is in a category not allowed on the Schools Broadband Network but it is deemed that the website should be made available to schools, that website may be added to a Whitelist. All websites listed in the Whitelist are made available to schools. Where a website is in a category that is allowed on the Schools Broadband Network but it is deemed that the website is not appropriate for schools, that website is added to a Blacklist. All websites listed in the Blacklist are not accessible in schools.
Schools may switch between option A and B by filling out the Content Filtering Option form and returning it to the Service Desk. Schools may request that a website be reviewed for adding to the whitelist or blacklist by contacting the Service Desk.
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