01 January 2011
Becta (British Education Communications and Technology Agency) is now winding down its operations and passing key areas such as e-safety and ISP accreditation over to the DfE (Department for Education). It has now awarded its final round of Accredited Internet Product Provider certifications for web filtering products to cover the transitional period. The Smoothwall Guardian Web Filtering product range has again achieved accredited status ensuring that the high standards required for protecting children in education are properly maintained. The testing standard is rigorous; Smoothwall Guardian again passed and notably blocked an impressive 100% of content in the pornographic/adult category and over 90% of content in the other categories which consisted of: Pornographic, adult, tasteless or offensive materialViolence (including weapons and bombs) Racist, extremist and hate material, illegal drug taking and promotion of criminal skills, proxy avoidance and software piracy.Smoothwall’s success is based upon Dynamic Content Analysis - a technology that screens the actual content and construction of web pages in detail, identifying and blocking objectionable material as well as dangerous hidden content. It also enables Guardian to detect and block the anonymous proxy sites used by students to evade web filters in schools. In addition, all of Smoothwall’s web filters incorporate blocklist content from the Internet Watch Foundation, which is updated daily.
Accreditation is awarded to either managed internet services or internet products. Accredited suppliers are either: accredited managed internet services: these offer internet access and a range of internet safety services. Managed internet services are those provided by commercial ISPs, local authorities and regional broadband consortia. accredited web content filtering products or services: these supply specific solutions to ISPs and may be provided as a managed service to its customer. Many of the internet services are jointly provided by commercial and public-sector organisations. For example, the telecommunication and internet access aspect may be supplied by a commercial entity, but the filtering of unsuitable internet content may be provided by a local authority. Becta web content filtering products and services requirements A web content filtering product or service must meet or exceed the following requirements as a minimum under the Becta Accreditation of Internet Services. Internet Watch Foundation Child Sexual Abuse Images and Content (CAIC) list It is a requirement of this accreditation that the Internet Watch Foundation CAIC list is implemented in all accredited products and services. Illegal content blocked The product or service must block 100% of illegal material identified by the Internet Watch Foundation. Inappropriate content blocked The product or service must be capable of blocking at least 90% of inappropriate internet content in each the following categories:
Adult: content containing sexually explicit images, video or text, the depiction of actual or realistic sexual activity
Violence: content containing graphically violent images, video or text
Race hate material: content which promotes violence or attack on individuals or institutions on the basis of religious, racial or gender grounds
Illegal drug taking and the promotion of illegal drug use: content relating to the use or promotion of illegal drugs or misuse of prescription drugs
Criminal skill/activity: content relating to the promotion of criminal and other activities
Gambling: content relating to the use of online gambling websites or information relating to the promotion of gambling and gambling advice. Changes requests to the filtered content
The must be a mechanism for an authorised member of a customer organisation to request amendments to the web content filtering service
The appropriate procedures must be in place to authenticate personnel that request changes to any part of the service. Security and virus protection
The service or product should include adequate protection against the following:
External malicious attacks
Viruses and trojans
Denial of service attacks
Email bombs and spam Support requirements
Support must be available through two channels: telephone and e-support (e-support includes email and or web based contact methods)
All support requests must be acknowledged within two working hours and assigned a unique reference number
A first attempt to resolve the support request takes place within the first four hours
Other areas that require compliance include system availability and capacity, service continuity, service management, customer service and requirements for Becta to have the appropriate access to any given service or product to enable monitoring evaluations to take place at any time during the accreditation period.
