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SecureSchool Questions
•   What is SecureSchool?
•   How does the SecureSchool filter work?
•   Can I have one level of filtering for students and a different one for staff?
•   If SecureSchool blocks a site the user wants to access, how do they go about getting it unblocked?
•   How often does SecureSchool update? 
•   Can SecureSchool replace my Proxy Server?
•   Can I filter by IP address or range of addresses?
•   Does SecureSchool support transparent authentication of Microsoft Windows domain accounts?
•   Can a trusted user be allowed to bypass the SecureSchool filter temporarily?
•   How do I back up my SecureSchool box?
•   How long has K12USA provided Internet filtering?
•   If a user requests a site to be unblocked, what is the turnaround time for acting upon the request? Are requests reviewed or acted upon automatically?
•   Does SecureSchool provide a means for warning the users that a site has been blocked? If so, does it disclose the reasoning behind the block? If so, can the school customize the message displayed to the user?
•   Does Secureschool support blocking by protocol or activity, e.g. email, chat, games, peer-to-peer transactions, etc?
•   Can the filter be easily disabled by staff without having “administrator privileges”?
•   Is it possible for one user to be disabled without disabling other users within the networked environment?
•   Is remote administration feasible? By district staff or company representative?
•   What logging options are included in SecureSchool?
•   Which operating systems are compatible with SecureSchool?
•   Which browsers are compatible with SecureSchool?
•   Is SecureSchool e-Rate eligible?
•   Is this an appliance or software that runs on an existing server? 
•   What information do you need from me to set up a SecureSchool filtering box?
SecureSchool Questions and Answers
Q.  What is SecureSchool?
A. 

SecureSchool is an Internet Filtering device for schools.  Go to //www.k12usa.com/secureapp.asp to read more about SecureSchool.
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Q.  How does the SecureSchool filter work?
A. 

SecureSchool uses several different filtering methods which can be mixed and matched to be customized for your needs.  They are:

  • Categorized lists of banned sites that we update
  • Your own lists of absolutely banned or absolutely allowed sites
  • Group filtering setups that let you filter different groups of users different ways
  • Weighted Phrase Filtering that lets you add your own rules and set your own threshold levels
  • Filtering according to PICS protocols
  • Configurable filtering of common file extensions
  • Configurable filtering of URL content
  • Filtering by IP address, including not allowing any IP addresses at all
  • Filtering of entire domains, parts of web domains, or single web pages
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Q.  Can I have one level of filtering for students and a different one for staff?
A.  Yes, you can create "groups" of users with different permissions.
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Q.  If SecureSchool blocks a site the user wants to access, how do they go about getting it unblocked?
A.  When a user attempts to access a site that is blocked, the user will get a form to fill out to request the site be allowed. The user then fills out the form indicating the reason for access to the site. Then the moderator for that user's group receives an e- mail with the unblock request and a link to review the site. The moderator can then choose to unblock the site and send an e-mail to the user letting him/her know the site has been opened, or deny access.
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Q.  How often does SecureSchool update? 
A.  It will update as often as nightly depending on whether or not there have been changes to the "blocklists" or the software
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Q.  Can SecureSchool replace my Proxy Server?
A.  SecureSchool is a proxy server (as well as a firewall) so it can replace your proxy server, (if you want it to). It would be best placed right after your router or cable modem and before the rest of your network. It has two network cables to facilitate this but it can also be connected in other ways if desired. Call us at 877-225-0100 or e-mail info@k12usa.com for details on other set-up options.
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Q.  Can I filter by IP address or range of addresses?
A.  Yes, you can filter by unique IP address or address range.
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Q.  Does SecureSchool support transparent authentication of Microsoft Windows domain accounts?
A.  Yes, if a user is logged on to a Windows 2000 domain using Internet Explorer they can be filtered by their username and no other login is required. If you are using groups for different levels of filtering, it will ask for a user name and password.
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Q.  Can a trusted user be allowed to bypass the SecureSchool filter temporarily?
A.  Yes, you can easily change a user to unfiltered status by using our web-based interface. You can even use this interface from anywhere with an Internet connection.
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Q.  How do I back up my SecureSchool box?
A.  You don't have to! We backup your SecureSchool box each night for you. This way, in case something ever happens to your appliance, we can ship you a duplicate right away; even overnight.
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Q.  How long has K12USA provided Internet filtering?
A.  We have provided Internet filtering since May of 2001
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Q.  If a user requests a site to be unblocked, what is the turnaround time for acting upon the request? Are requests reviewed or acted upon automatically?
A.  You do not have to wait for us to approve a site to be unblocked, it can be done by your staff immediately.
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Q.  Does SecureSchool provide a means for warning the users that a site has been blocked? If so, does it disclose the reasoning behind the block? If so, can the school customize the message displayed to the user?
A.  Yes. If a site is blocked, a request for unblock form will appear along with the reason the site was blocked. You can customize the message that appears. The user can then request the site be unblocked.
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Q.  Does Secureschool support blocking by protocol or activity, e.g. email, chat, games, peer-to-peer transactions, etc?
A.  Yes, all of these can be blocked if desired.
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Q.  Can the filter be easily disabled by staff without having “administrator privileges”?
A.  Yes, you can designate staff with permission to unblock sites and they need not be an administrator. This is done through an easy to use web interface.
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Q.  Is it possible for one user to be disabled without disabling other users within the networked environment?
A.  Yes, if user authentication is used or the IP address of the workstation is known.
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Q.  Is remote administration feasible? By district staff or company representative?
A.  Yes, that’s one of our best features! SecureSchool has a web-based interface, therefore it can be operated from anywhere with an Internet connection.
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Q.  What logging options are included in SecureSchool?
A.  Logs can be reviewed by day, by IP address, by website, by user, as well as other factors such as sites that were banned, or sites that were not filtered because they were allowed. There are 16 different ways to search the log files.
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Q.  Which operating systems are compatible with SecureSchool?
A.  SecureSchool is compatible with any operating system.
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Q.  Which browsers are compatible with SecureSchool?
A.  Internet Explorer is preferred but SecureSchool works with other browsers as well.
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Q.  Is SecureSchool e-Rate eligible?
A.  Good news! SecureSchool is now 60% E-Rate eligible, (base cost before options), thanks to its caching server (40% of cost) and firewall (20% of cost). Note: We believe our statements about E-Rate eligibility are accurate based on our reading of the new FCC guidelines. Actual eligibility is not guaranteed and will be determined by the SLC/FCC after applications are submitted.
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Q.  Is this an appliance or software that runs on an existing server? 
A.  SecureSchool is a hardware/software combination. The hardware part is an Intel manufactured Internet appliance. What that means is a 1U Rackmountable server. It is approximately the size of a pizza box and does not have, nor does it require, a keyboard, mouse or monitor. It is administered with a web browser.
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Q.  What information do you need from me to set up a SecureSchool filtering box?
A.  In order to configure your box, we will need the following information 1. Inside IP address and subnet mask (for the SecureSchool Box) 2. Outside IP address and subnet mask (for the SecureSchool Box) 3. Default Gateway 4. Static routes: 5. Do you need to put any servers behind it? (i.e. webserver) 6. Are you keeping your existing Firewall? 7. Do you plan on using proxy authentication? (if so we can upload your users for you)
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