M86 Security VuSafe

Overview:

Video sites such as YouTube provide access to educational content that enriches learning for students who have grown up in a Web 2.0 world. These sites also give teachers an effective way to supplement educational materials affordably in tightly-budgeted environments. However, finding and sharing video content can be challenging due to safety and compliance concerns. As a result, many school districts block video sites indiscriminately, but this has proven ineffective, if not counterproductive, for educators. As a matter of fact, YouTube has become a highly-requested tool for classroom use.

Teachers need a way to expose their students to useful videos without exposing them to the harmful content that often accompanies videos on sites like YouTube. To address the dual need for safety and access in schools, M86 Security developed VuSafe, an easy-to-use secure video library that enables teachers to find videos on YouTube and other video sites, add them to their own video libraries and share them with students—without inappropriate ads, viewer comments or outside links.

VuSafe Benefits

• Helps enforce Internet Acceptable Use Policies by protecting students from inappropriate content
• Allows users to add videos from a variety of video sites (not limited to YouTube
• Maintains compliance with education-based regulations such as CIPA, COPPA and FERPA
• Enables teachers to supplement learning tools free of charge, so they can stay within budget
• Ensures students remain on task by eliminating distracting peripheral content
• Easy to manage and administer; no hardware or software to install
• Allows use of iPads and other Flash-restricted devices by supporting HTML 5
• Brings teachers together through the VuSafe Community, allowing them to share videos and ideas
• Includes built-in policies for video submission, approval and viewing

It Takes a Community
It helps to find out what other teachers use for their students. The VuSafe Community is a place where teachers can browse videos posted from other schools and add them to their own VuSafe libraries.

Access to a Variety of Video Sites
Though YouTube is a popular video site, there are many places to find quality educational videos online. VuSafe allows teachers to use videos on a range of sites, rather than limiting them to YouTube alone.

About VuSafe:

Now an essential online medium, video is a useful way for teachers to supplement classroom learning and engage students in content they can't access on field trips or through books alone. However, finding and sharing videos can be a challenge due to safety and compliance concerns. That's why M86 Security created VuSafe—the secure, simple way to share Internet videos.

Through VuSafe, teachers can easily manage and share approved videos and other streaming content, while safeguarding students from inappropriate advertising, comments, links and other content present on sites such as YouTube.

VuSafe Is Easy for Everyone

School Administrators

The designated administrator can set up VuSafe for a school and easily invite teachers to use the site. Additionally, the administrator receives automatic notifications to approve newly-posted videos as well as online reports that detail video statistics.

VuSafe makes it easy for school administrators to:

• Enforce Internet Acceptable Use Policies by protecting students from inappropriate content
• Maintain compliance with education-based regulations such as CIPA, COPPA and FERPA
• Manage and administer a secure video site quickly (no hardware or software to install)
• Benefit from built-in policies for video submission, approval and viewing
• Allow the use of iPads and other Flash-restricted devices (supports HTML 5)

Teachers

Teachers are able to search for relevant videos and post them to their own VuSafe libraries. From there, they simply assign categories such as age range, teacher and subject; then share approved videos with their students.

VuSafe makes it easy for teachers to:

• Engage their students through the use of educational videos
• Supplement learning material sat no cost
• Ensure students remain on task by eliminating distracting peripheral content
• Connect with other teachers through the VuSafe Community, where they can find and add videos used in other classrooms

Students

Students log in to VuSafe using a teacher-assigned password and watch videos directly within a secure online environment.

VuSafe makes it easy for students to:

• Find teacher-assigned videos quickly by category or keyword
• Watch approved videos without being exposed to inappropriate or harmful content
• Access approved videos inside and outside of the classroom safely

VuSafe is a complementary service available to all K-12 educational institutions. However, schools that use VuSafe with the M86 Web Filter or M86 Secure Web Gateway receive an added benefit. These solutions enable IT administrators to block direct access to YouTube, while still allowing full use of VuSafe.

How Does VuSafe Work? It’s as Easy as 1-2-3:

Teachers

1. Search for educational videos on YouTube or other video sites
2. Add videos to their own VuSafe library and assign categories, including student age, teacher name and subject—even tag them by keyword
3. Share videos with students safely

Students

1. Log in to VuSafe with a teacher-provided password
2. Search for videos by approved category and only within their age range
3. View only approved videos without risky outside content

Designated School Administrators

1. Receive automatic notifications of newly-posted videos
2. Get online reports with statistics for their school, such as most-watched videos, most popular videos, most active teachers, etc.
3. Ensure students, teachers and school districts are safeguarded from inappropriate content and compliance breaches

Features:

Acing Security: VuSafe and M86 Solutions for Education

VuSafe is available for use by all education institutions. However, it works optimally with the M86 Web Filter and Reporter (M86 WFR) or M86 Secure Web Gateway (M86 SWG) because these solutions enable school districts to block source sites like YouTube, while allowing full access to VuSafe. When used alone, VuSafe provides a secure environment for video sharing as long as source sites remain accessible.

Additionally, the M86 WFR enables district IT managers to control students’ online searches as well as access to applications such as instant messaging, peer-to-peer networks, anonymous proxies, remote desktop applications and games.

The M86 SWG provides real-time protection from malware, preventing sophisticated data-stealing malware from infecting school networks, and ensuring student and staff information remains confidential. IT leaders can secure and control the way administrators, teachers, and students use Web 2.0 resources without the need to completely block them.

Frequently Asked Questions:

1. What is VuSafe?

VuSafe is an online content library that enables schools/districts to create a secure environment for showing Internet-based videos in the classroom. Teachers can use VuSafe to find videos, post them to a VuSafe library, organize the videos using keywords and categories, and share them with their students safely. The service removes all outside content present on sites such as YouTube, eliminating access to inappropriate comments, advertisements or other non-approved videos.

2. What is the safe video viewing feature on VuSafe?

The safe video viewing feature works with the M86 Web Filter or M86 Secure Web Gateway. It enables a school administrator to block direct access to YouTube while allowing open access to approved videos on VuSafe.

3. Are there other benefits to VuSafe besides the safe video feature?

Yes. VuSafe allows teachers to find videos on YouTube and organize them by categories, such as teacher, class, topic, appropriate age range and tags. This gives teachers a single environment—like a classroom video channel—for assigning videos that students can watch in or out of the classroom.

4. How do I access VuSafe?

We recommend that a school administrator complete the initial enrollment for the school or district. The administrator can then set up teacher and student access to VuSafe and invite them to the site simply by sending an email.

5. My school district is not currently an M86 Security customer. Can we sign up to use VuSafe anyway?

Yes. All K-12 institutions can use VuSafe to find and organize videos. However, schools that use an M86 Web Filter or M86 Secure Web Gateway receive an additional benefit that enables administrators to block direct YouTube access, while still allowing full use of VuSafe.

6. Do I need special software to use this service?

No. VuSafe is a Web-based service that requires no additional software.

7. Will I be charged a fee to use VuSafe?

No. This is a free service offered to the K-12 education market.

8. I forgot my ID or password. How can I recover it?

Under the login field, select “I forgot my password”.

9. How do I change my account information (email address, telephone number, etc.)?

Administrators and teachers can change their account information by selecting "My Profile" after logging on to VuSafe.

10. How do I post videos on VuSafe?

Teachers can post YouTube videos in several ways, including: simple search and select method; by pasting a video URL into the corresponding field; or by pasting embedded code into the code field. Instructions are available on the “Submit Videos” page.

11. How does VuSafe protect students?

VuSafe is a self-contained website that enables teachers to post approved video content from YouTube for educational purposes. Unlike YouTube, VuSafe delivers only the video, removing all extraneous content that could be potentially harmful or inappropriate. When used with the M86 Web Filter or M86 Secure Web Gateway, administrators can block direct YouTube access while allowing continued access to approved videos through VuSafe.

12. Do I need any special equipment for VuSafe?

If you want to use VuSafe to find and organize videos, you do not need special equipment. If you want the capability to block direct YouTube access while still allowing VuSafe access, you will need an M86 Web Filter or M86 Secure Web Gateway.

13. Can I use VuSafe with other Internet filters?

The site's safe viewing feature works only with the M86 Web Filter or M86 Secure Web Gateway.

14. What is your technical support policy for VuSafe?

VuSafe is an easy-to-use Web 2.0 site that helps teachers find, organize and share videos. Because it is a free service, M86 Security does not provide direct customer support for the VuSafe site.

For those using VuSafe with the M86 Web Filter or M86 Secure Web Gateway, please refer to the product user guide on how to set up and use the product with VuSafe. If you experience issues using VuSafe with one of our products, please contact M86 Technical Support.

VuSafe does not work with other Internet filters, Web gateways or routers. M86 does not support or provide technical information on integrating these third-party products with VuSafe.

15. What version of the M86 Web Filter or M86 Secure Web Gateway do I need to work with VuSafe?

VuSafe will work optimally with the upcoming M86 Web Filter 4.1 and M86 Secure Web Gateway 10.1 versions, which are coming soon. Currently, VuSafe can be used to find, organize and share videos. However, the new product versions will enable schools to use VuSafe while blocking direct YouTube access.

16. What content can students access on VuSafe?

Students are only able to view videos approved by their school or teacher. They are not permitted to post videos or other content to VuSafe.

Documentation:

Download the M86 Security VuSafe Datasheet (PDF).