Global Health Situation: Offsite Filtering and Remote Network Access

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Global Health Situation: Offsite Filtering and Remote Network Access

In light of the current global health situation, we want to extend our full support to you and your teams as you prepare for the possibility of a temporary school closure.

Please read the following guidance on offsite filtering and remote network access.

1. Activating remote filtering for users off-site

There are two ways to filter off-site. One is to redirect users back to your on-premise Smoothwall. You can combine this with VPN if you wish (see below). If your users aren’t using VPN there are a number of technologies to redirect back. Alternatively, you can use Smoothwall’s client-based Cloud Filter. Install this on any PC or Chromebook and it will filter the content of the Chrome browser without needing to contact your on-premise device.

If you would like to enhance your filtering with a 24/7 managed service for digital safety that is also easy and quick to install, please contact us.

Client Filter for Chrome and Chromebooks

Please speak to your account manager regarding client filtering for Chrome and Chromebooks. If you are unsure who your account manager is please contact us. When the new filter technology is switched on, follow the roll-out instructions in the link below.

https://kb.smoothwall.com/hc/en-us/categories/360001667479-Cloud-Filter

Redirecting

Global Proxy – The global proxy uses NTLM authentication and allows remote access to the Smoothwall Filter for iOS devices (via iOS Global HTTP Proxy), Android tablets, Chromebook, Windows and OSX laptops. More information can be found using the link below.

https://help.smoothwall.net/FilterFirewall/Content/8WebProxy/5GlobalProxy/GlobalProxy.htm

Connect Filter – This is a web redirector for Windows clients and devices. More information can be found using the link below.

https://help.smoothwall.net/FilterFirewall/Content/7Guardian/9ClientInterfaces/Dump.htm?Highlight=connect%20filter

2. Accessing your network remotely

The easiest and quickest way to allow users to access the network is using the SSL VPN. This is compatible with OpenVPN clients, and you can authenticate your users via Active Directory. Alternatively, L2TP is built into Windows and some other operating systems. This will require you to create users manually. More information can be found using the links below.

https://help.smoothwall.net/FilterFirewall/Content/3Network/4VPN/8SSLRoadwarriors/SSLRoadWarriors.htm

https://kb.smoothwall.com/hc/en-us/articles/360012413300-Setting-up-the-Smoothwall-SSL-VPN-Window-based-Client

3. Smoothwall uninterrupted service

In the event that Smoothwall employees are required to work from home please be assured that we will be fully operational and contactable through our normal channels with no interruption to your service.

If you have any questions relating to remote network access, offsite filtering or anything else relating to your Smoothwall solutions or student online safety please contact us. We are here to help

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