M86 Web Filtering and Reporting Suite

Overview:

The M86 Web Filtering and Reporting Suite (M86 WFR Suite) provides organizations with comprehensive, powerful protection from Web security threats as well as policy control to ensure optimal productivity. This best-of-breed, appliance-based solution integrates Internet filtering, detailed forensic and executive reporting, and real-time monitoring of Web traffic and bandwidth use. It delivers reliability, unmatched scalability and ease-of-use in one affordable solution. Its Pass-by/SPAN port deployment options enable the solution to integrate with any network infrastructure easily —without causing downtime or bottlenecks.

The 8E6 Professional Edition Suite Includes:

• M86 Web Filter: Optimized for speed, it filters URLs, IPs, anonymous Web proxies, spyware, botnets, IM, P2P, social media and other sources of emerging threats. Uses the M86 Web Filter Database, enhanced by Intelligent Footprint Technology.
• M86 Security Reporter: Processes and displays Internet filtering logs without impacting filtering and network functions. Built on a dedicated MySQL database, it provides customizable, at-a-glance dashboards and executive reports along with intuitive and extensive forensic, drill-down reporting to prove user intent.

It also delivers up-to-the-minute graphical snapshots of Internet traffic and bandwidth use, and is supported by real-time management tools to identify and control user-generated Web threats and bandwidth use.

Features:

Deployment Options
M86 WFR Suite appliances can be deployed in-line or in pass-by/SPAN port mode. When installed outside the flow of network traffic in a “transparent mode,” rather than “stop and check” mode, the solution delivers zero network impact and fail-safe operation.

M86 Web Filter Database
M86 pioneered today’s technology for developing and building URL databases.The M86 Web Filter Database, regarded as the most complete and accurate ever compiled, was built from the ground up. Content verifiers from M86 Security Labs review, analyze and categorize Web sites using the most advanced technology.

Additionally, Customer Feedback Modules (CFM) track and collect clients’ most frequently visited uncategorized sites for inclusion in the database.

Best Value, Low Total Cost of Ownership
Appliance-based solutions require no additional software or hardware purchases, so one price covers the total solution. “Pass-by” deployment and single-source support enable M86 to offer the most value and lowest cost of ownership available today.

Scalable Appliance Options
Companies can choose the solution that best meets their needs:

• Small to midsize organizations: An affordable, single, integrated M86 Web Filter and Reporter appliance housed in rack-mountable 1U hardware.
  • Supports up to 7,000 workstations
• Large organizations: One scalable, dedicated M86 Web Filter and a dedicated M86 Security Reporter appliance.
  • Supports up to 30,000 workstations

Benefits:

Managing Internet Threats

The M86 WFR Suite enables organizations to enforce employee Internet use policies, ensure regulatory compliance and proactively secure the network, reducing potential liabilities associated with Web misuse and security attacks. Offering reliable, scalable solutions for companies of all sizes, M86 provides cost-effective protection from Web threats.

Single-source Provider
M86 “owns”, designs, supports and maintains every aspect of the solution. This includes the secured/hardened operating system; the Web monitoring, filtering and reporting applications; and the hardware platform. By controlling the entire solution, M86 eliminates performance or incompatibility issues due to third-party integrations.

Internet Content Filtering

• Internet Filtering: Includes URLs and/or IP addresses, HTTP, HTTPS, FTP, Newsgroups (NNTP), and TCP Ports.
• Internet Threat Blocking: Includes spyware, malicious code, phishing sites and botnets (IRC, command-and-control).
• Proxy-pattern Blocking: Uses unique signature-based/ pattern detection to block anonymous proxies.
• “X-Strikes” Blocking: Locks down a workstation when administrator-defined thresholds for Web access are exceeded.
• SafeSearch Enforcement: Forces the SafeSearch mode “on” for all searches, including images within search engines.
• Application Control: Uses signature detection to block more than 125 types of streaming media, gaming, P2P, remote desktop and IM applications. Helps organizations demonstrate compliance, mitigate security risks, prevent data loss and manage bandwidth more effectively.
• Multi-tiered/Multi-layered Administration: Administrators can define sub-administrator access control to their policy for specific AD/LDAP groups and users. Each sub-administrator can then create a unique filtering profile for their delegated users group(s)/IP range.
• Detailed Internet Usage Control: Provides the administrator the ability to block, warn and manage Internet usage.
• Calendar-based Time Profiles: Enables profiles to be set by day, day of the week or day of the month. Recurrences can be configured for daily, weekly, monthly and yearly settings.
• Directory-based Authentication: Includes Windows Active Directory, Windows NT, SunOne, open LDAP and transparent MAC authentication.

Real-Time Monitoring and Mitigation

• Real-Time Threat Dashboard: Offers graphical “gauge view” of online activity, displaying an organizational snapshot of multiple threat categories and top offenders based on predefined thresholds and policies. Gauges are customizable to monitor different groups and threats.
• Alert Notification: Delivers automatic, predefined notifications via email, SNMP, or as an alarm in the system tray for excessive URL activity or bandwidth usage. Alerts display information regarding the user in violation.
• Real-Time Mitigation: Locks out policy violators or users engaging in potentially threatening activity. Activated manually or automatically, the lock-out mechanism can be set to varying levels of restriction, from category lockout to complete quarantine.
• Bandwidth Monitoring and Reporting: Provides real-time bandwidth monitoring of inbound and outbound activity by protocol, port and user.
• Bandwidth Quotas: Enables administrators to set up bandwidth quotas by protocols or ports. They can mitigate threats proactively based on excessive bandwidth usage.
• Trend Charting: Displays historical trending of Web activity and bandwidth usage based on predefined categories or protocols, enabling optimization of threat gauge settings.

Historical Forensic Reporting

• Intuitive Graphical Dashboard Reports: Identifies anomalous Internet activities quickly through easy-to-read graphical reports, including the top-blocked users, top categories, top sites, etc.
• Custom or “Canned” Reports: Uses pre-set templates for quick reference, then drill-down for more details:
  • Executive Reports: Provides powerful visibility into all Web-related activity.
  • Detailed Forensic Reporting: Provides detailed drill-down reporting using unique criteria that help organizations build compelling forensic reports. User intent is gauged by documenting the full length URLs visited, as well as the search string used within a search engine text box.
  • Report Memorization, Scheduling and Distribution: Ensures specific data inquiries can be saved or “memorized” for immediate or future access. Custom reports can be scheduled, executed and automatically distributed via e-mail at a preferred frequency.
  • Archiving: For large installations or networks that generate significant Web traffic, M86 offers attached storage solutions to collect historical data for future inquiries.

Demo:

8e6 Professional Edition It's the most powerful Web monitoring, reporting and filtering appliance on the market. Get a full overview here. 14:41

Documentation:

Download the M86 Web Filtering and Reporting Suite Datasheet (PDF).