Website-Echo

Submitted by vendor: Terri Rieber - ...
Last updated: 12/11/2010
About Company
Company Name: 
Pearl Software Inc.
Links to Third Party Reviews: 
http://internet-management-software-review.toptenreviews.com/pearl-echo-review.html
Library References (include Contact Info): 
Additional Comments About Company: 
Company Overview Pearl Software, Inc., founded in 1996, is a leader in the development of enterprise-class e-communications monitoring, filtering and control software solutions. Pearl Software’s products enable network administrators to centrally manage end-user Web, IM, Chat, Email, Newsgroup and File Transfer activity across multiple platforms including workstations, laptops and thin clients. Our Internet monitoring solutions manage usage in government agencies, corporations, hospitals, schools and libraries throughout the world. History Working with Microsoft, Pearl Software was among the first technology companies to conduct testing of advanced Windows OS networking components and became an early entrant in the home Internet filtering industry. As a result of these early research and development activities, Pearl Software created an efficient and reliable means to monitor and control the Internet activity of any Windows user. These capabilities were later extended to the Terminal Server, Citrix and Novell architectures. Pearl Software’s innovative solutions to the emerging problem of managing inappropriate Internet communications received many accolades from the technical press and civic leaders such as the White House’s Internet taskforce and PC Magazine Editor’s Choice. In 1998, Pearl Software introduced several new products which quickly gained traction in the Education and Government sectors. Many of these products are still in use today including TakeMeHome™, an application designed to safely manage Internet activity in public kiosks.
URL to product: 
http://www.pearlsw.com/products/websiteEcho/index.html
Platform and Pricing
Type of Product: 
Client only (must be installed on each PC)
Platforms Supported: 
Does Company Offer Library Discounts?: 
No
Cost of One Time Fee (for 50 users): 
$1250.00
Cost of Annual Subscription (for 50 users): 
$250.00
Complete Pricing Schedule: 
Filtering Technology
Process for Categorizing a Site: 
Website management
Percentage of Category Decisions Reviewed by Human: 
80%
Description of Each Content Category with Example URLs: 
http://www.pearlsw.com/resources/quoteOptions/echofilters.pdf
Categories Vendor Recommends for CIPA Compliance: 
45
Granularity of Your Block List: 
Block by hostname
Examples of Each Item Selected Above (Granularity): 
Frequency of Updates to Blocked Site List: 
Once every 24 hours to servers
Description of How Updates are Applied: 
Seemlessly to echo servers
Block Page Displayed or Blocking Transparent to User: 
Displayed
Additional Comments on Blocking: 
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
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.: 
Can filter by file type: 
Can block by extension--applies to all categories
Can block by extension within a category
General Administration
Can Have Multiple User/ Filter Profiles: 
Yes
Additional Comments on Filter Profile Options: 
Admin Can Selectively Enable Categories: 
Yes
URLs in Each Content Category Are Viewable: 
Provide URL Lookup: 
Keyword Blocking: 
Admin Can Disable
Admin Can Remove Sites From Category: 
yes
Users Can Recommend URL Recategorization to Company: 
Yes
Admin Can Modify Categorization of URL: 
No
Admin Can Add New Categories: 
No
Admin Can Add Sites to a Category: 
No
Admin Can Block Images But Not Text Within a Category: 
No
Reporting Capabilities: 
Yes - with customization
Integrates with Directory Service (LDAP, Active Directory or NDS): 
Active Directory
Can import URLs to Always Allow List: 
Must enter URLs manually
Number URLs One Can Add to Always Allow List: 
Unlimited
Overriding
Can Filter be Turned off at the Workstation: 
Yes
Describe Process and Options Available for Turning Off Filter at Workstation: 
Blocked Page Can Be Overridden by Admin: 
Yes
Describe Process and Options For Overriding a Blocked Page: 
Admin Can Turn Filter Off for a Period of Time: 
Yes
Process and Options for Turning off Filter for a Period of Time: 
Additional Comments on Overriding Options: 
Internal