URL Filtering in IWSVA is a feature to filter Internet access that is based on the
categories of URLs, such as "Adult", "Gambling," and "Financial Services." When a
user requests a URL, IWSVA first looks up the category for that URL and then allows
or denies access to the URL based on the policies administrator has set up.
For a specific URL category, there are six actions in IWSVA: "allow" to permit the
access; "block" to stop the access; "block with override" to enter password to override
the blocking, "monitor" to allow the access but log the action silently; "time limit"
to set a time quota for selected URL categories, and "warn" alerts the user that there
is a problem with the URL they are accessing. Time Limit mode might be used instead
of just blocking or monitoring because:
-
Many companies cannot simply block some non-business related sites. When IT departments
lock down specific URL categories too tightly, users complain to HR and upper management
saying locking down sites for news, shopping, and other non-threatening or offensive
sites is too "draconian". This has a tendency to reduce moral and is one of the reasons
that some top employees have left for other competing companies to seek employment.
-
Having the ability to lock down with a time quota allows the company to offer some
freedom for employees to surf non-business related sites, but prohibits the abuse
of employees surfing too much on company time.
-
IT needs a way to limit the time used for harmless non-business URL categories to
keep productivity high.
