Netsweeper

Submitted by vendor: Netsweeper Inc.
Last updated: 12/14/2010
About Company
Company Name: 
Netsweeper Inc.
Number of URLs Company Has Categorized: 
www.netsweeper.com
# of FTE Maintaining Site List: 
2
Links to Third Party Reviews: 
Library References (include Contact Info): 
Additional Comments About Company: 
URL to product: 
http://www.netsweeper.com
Platform and Pricing
Type of Product: 
Network appliance
Type of Product: 
Can be run on client also
Type of Product: 
Hosted
Type of Product: 
Software appliance
Platforms Supported: 
Windows, Macintosh, Linux
Does Company Offer Library Discounts?: 
Yes
Cost of One Time Fee (for 50 users): 
$1000
Cost of Annual Subscription (for 50 users): 
Please contact Netsweeper
Complete Pricing Schedule: 
Filtering Technology
Process for Categorizing a Site: 
When a new website is discovered by any one of over 40 million worldwide Netsweeper users, the URL will be directed back to Netsweeper's headquarters where a proprietary, Artificial Inteligence tool will automatically download the specific address, scrap the content of the entire page, run the content by a series of templates designed and then intelligently assign the URL a category. The URL and the assigned category will then be delivered back to the original requesting user in addition to supplying this new information to a global network of categorization servers that store a database of over 3.8 billion pre-categorized URLs. This process takes 3 -5 seconds to run.
Percentage of Category Decisions Reviewed by Human: 
Nil, unless specifically requested for recategorization by a client.
Description of Each Content Category with Example URLs: 
Categories Vendor Recommends for CIPA Compliance: 
Granularity of Your Block List: 
Block by IP address
Block by hostname
Block by top level domain
Block to page level
Examples of Each Item Selected Above (Granularity): 
Frequency of Updates to Blocked Site List: 
Netsweeper operates in real-time. As new sites are found, they are immediately added to the Master Category List and distributied to the global network of content servers.
Description of How Updates are Applied: 
Not applicable. Netsweeper operates in real-time.
Block Page Displayed or Blocking Transparent to User: 
Displayed
Additional Comments on Blocking: 
Using the systems web-based administration tools, the administrator is provided the tools to deliver either standard or customized deny pages. Customized pages may also include Netsweeper's newest eSafety Messaging pages that are served up with specific information regarding the subject matter initially requested. Such categories now include the following to name only a few: social networking, pornography, criminal skills, profanity, substance abuse, weapons, etc.
Items that Can Be Included on Block Page (if applicable): 
There is a generic block page
Category causing the block
End user ability to override
Customizable message
Password override
Does filter provide dynamic filtering of pages as they are accessed?: 
Yes
Does content filtering work on a weighted system controlled by administrator: 
Yes
Describe how dynamic content filter can be changed by administrator, if applicable.: 
Netsweeper comes complete with an Web-based administration module that is completely managed by an assigned administrator. This super user will have access to the entire system and may even assign other administrative rights to others within the organization. These 'sysop' permissions can be as generous or restrictive as seen fit.
Can filter by file type: 
Can block by extension--applies to all categories
Can block by extension within a category
Can block by protocol--applies to all categories
Can block by protocol within a category
General Administration
Can Have Multiple User/ Filter Profiles: 
Yes
Additional Comments on Filter Profile Options: 
Using the WebAdmin dashboard, the system administrator is given the controls to fully manage the entire system. Netsweeper is designed to support multiple policies that can be assigned at the global level, a group level or even on a per user level.
Admin Can Selectively Enable Categories: 
Yes
URLs in Each Content Category Are Viewable: 
URLs can be looked up in a publicly available database
Provide URL Lookup: 
Keyword Blocking: 
Admin Can Disable
Admin Can Remove Sites From Category: 
no
Users Can Recommend URL Recategorization to Company: 
Yes
Admin Can Modify Categorization of URL: 
Yes
Admin Can Add New Categories: 
Yes
Admin Can Add Sites to a Category: 
Yes
Admin Can Block Images But Not Text Within a Category: 
Yes
Reporting Capabilities: 
Netsweeper comes complete with a proprietary, build-in reporting module that leverages the user request data for reporting purposes. Reporting on a per user basis is supported. Netsweeper also provides a number of canned reports with each Netsweeper system, however, administrators have the ability to create new reports on demand or to set up and schedule reports as requested.
Integrates with Directory Service (LDAP, Active Directory or NDS): 
LDAP
Active Directory
NDS
Other
Can import URLs to Always Allow List: 
Can import CSV file of URLs
Number URLs One Can Add to Always Allow List: 
Overriding
Can Filter be Turned off at the Workstation: 
Yes
Describe Process and Options Available for Turning Off Filter at Workstation: 
By deploying the Netsweeper client module, filtering can be disabled through the use of a username and password.
Blocked Page Can Be Overridden by Admin: 
Yes
Describe Process and Options For Overriding a Blocked Page: 
The Netsweeper Deny Page Override feature enables a user override a deny page originally served up. In doing so, the user will gain access to that site for a specified period of time. This time interval is again set by the system administrator.
Admin Can Turn Filter Off for a Period of Time: 
Yes
Process and Options for Turning off Filter for a Period of Time: 
The system administrator as the power to disable filtering using the system WebAdmin controls for a specified period of time, for all users or for a specific group by managing the policies that have been set-up in the system. This time based segments are ideal in a library setting when students are more apt to be in the library. Further, these policy settings can be established for different computers, thereby ensuring that computers in the children's section of a library are more restrictive regarding adult content than are computers in other sections of the same library.
Additional Comments on Overriding Options: 
Giving the authority to override the networks filtering controls must be considered carefully. Netsweeper offers a number of solutions that will enable this practice with greater controls that have clearly benefitted the libraries that have adopted Netsweeper.
Internal