Visitors Edition
Already a member? Sign In.
Need help? Our Trial Membership program will get you help on any IT project you're working on. You'll get access to our research, tools, advice and project help.
Membership Help?
Want to learn more about our membership options, pricing, or to get a product demo? Get in touch with one of our reps using an option below.
Vendor Landscape: Web Content Filters
Protect your network from threats coming in and getting out.
Last Revised: June 20, 2012
More DetailsYour Challenge
- Picking the right Web Content Filter (WCF) for an SME is less about features and more about usability and affordability. These products are mainly commoditized, so the true differentiation between products is how intuitive operating the tool is, and how well it fits into a budget.
- It is possible to find a WCF solution that is not a tremendous investment and also a strong product. The market is truly competitive in these areas, with some standing out more than others.
Our Advice
Critical Insight- WCF has existed since the 1990s. Since then the products have increased the granularity of their controls on new threat areas like social media. These tools now allow administrators to drill down into employee usage of apps on websites such as Facebook, and micro-block content like stopping the use of individual games.
- Another key growth area in WCF solutions is they acknowledge that employees are becoming more remote than ever, but they still require the same protection. Remote filtering is now an important advanced feature.
- While WCF solutions have become similar in their feature sets, enterprises must still consider support options and vendor stability when evaluating these products. It is imperative that the products be updated on a regular basis through support, and with such a commoditized product, enterprises should consider aligning themselves with a more established vendor.
- Info-Tech’s framework for selecting a delivery method and short-listing vendors will help you save time by ensuring you only evaluate the vendors that fit the organization’s WCF needs.
Get to Action
-
Understand the WCF market space
Identify WCF solutions, their capabilities, and cost.
-
Review WCF solutions
Build a shortlist of best-fit WCF tools for the enterprise.
Related Solution Sets
Related Content
Get the Complete Storyboard
See how all the steps you need to take come together, with tools and advice to help with each task on your list.
BONUS Get access to up to 5 additional free downloads
Download NowProtect your network from threats coming in and getting out.
Companies Who Helped
- Anita Orozco
- SRC Attorneys
- HDS
- GPS
- Grazyna Prouty
- ICM Corp.
- Mailmen Inc.
Solution Road Map
Other Solution Sets in Data Security
-
Build a Data Security StrategyWhen locked doors just aren't enough: security measures that protect your data directly.
-
Vendor Landscape: Web Content FiltersProtect your network from threats coming in and getting out.
-
Vendor Landscape: Data Loss PreventionPlug the leak and protect your intellectual property with the right DLP solution.
or 
2 Comments
Any chance Palo Alto Networks will be added to this landscape in the near future?
Thanks for your comment. Our Web Content Filtering Vendor Landscape is focused on those solutions that offer dedicated capabilities in this area. Palo Alto Networks PA line of appliances do not fit this definition as they offer a far broader set of capabilities. These devices fall into the category of Next Generation Firewalls or Unified Threat Management devices and have been included in that evaluation.