Content Filtering Service

Unequalled content filtering enforcement.
 
Content Filtering Service enforces internet use policies that block computers located behind the firewall, from accessing inappropriate and unproductive websites over a LAN, wireless LAN (WLAN), or VPN.

Deployed and managed through a SonicWall firewall, CFS eliminates the need for additional hardware or deployment expenditures on a separate dedicated filtering server. A dynamically updated rating architecture cross-references all requested websites against a highly accurate database categorising millions of URLs, IP addresses and domains. The SonicWall firewall receives ratings in real time, and then compares each rating to the local policy setting. The appliance will then either allow or deny the request based on the administrator’s locally configured policy. IT admins can now display an advisory page prior to or require password when visiting designated web resources. Google and Bing proprietary SafeSearch browsing methods can be enforced in Content Filtering Service to limit safe search engine results. CFS enables administrators to block or apply bandwidth management to all or any combination of more than 50 predefined categories. Administrators can apply User Level Authentication (ULA) and Single Sign-On (SSO) to enforce username and password logon. CFS can block potentially harmful content such as Java™, ActiveX®, and cookies, as well as schedule filtering by time of day, such as during school hours. CFS also enhances performance by filtering out IM, MP3s, streaming media, freeware and other files that drain bandwidth.

CFS Features
Feature Description
Reputation-based content filtering Restrict and control the web content an Internet user is able to access. Reputation-based content filtering provides a reputation score that forecasts the security risk of a URL.
Inside/outside content filtering Enforce acceptable use policies and block access to HTTP/HTTPS websites containing information or images that are objectionable or unproductive with Content Filtering Service and Content Filtering Client.
Enforced content filtering client Extends policy enforcement to block internet content for Windows, Mac OS, Android and Chrome devices located outside the firewall perimeter.
Granular control Blocks content using any combination of categories. Filtering can be scheduled by time of day, such as during school or business hours, and applied to individual users or groups.
Web caching URL ratings are cached locally on the SonicWall firewall so that the response time for subsequent access to frequently visited sites is only a fraction of a second.
Local CFS Responder Local CFS Responder can be deployed as a virtual appliance in private clouds based on VMWare or Microsoft Hyper-V. This provides deployment flexibility option (Light weight VM) of CFS ratings database in various customer network use cases that require a dedicated on premise solution that speeds up CFS ratings request and response times, supports large number of allowed/blocked URL list (+100K), and adds up to 1000 SonicWall firewalls for CFS rating lookups.
CFS is included in both full protection service suites, Advanced Protection Service Suite (APSS) and Managed Protection Service Suite (MPSS)
"Total Secure" or "Secure Upgrade"

Look out for these terms in the product title. It indicates that CFS is included in the subscription.