BASCOM Patronus—Filtering Designed Specifically for Libraries

Submitted by vendor: dhagan59
Last updated: 07/29/2011
About Company
Company Name: 
BASCOM
Number of URLs Company Has Categorized: 
Over 25 million sites grouped in 90 categories
Links to Third Party Reviews: 
Library References (include Contact Info): 
Suffolk Cooperative Library System (631) 286-1600 Contact: Lou DeRobertis
Additional Comments About Company: 
BASCOM Global Internet Services, Inc, Hauppauge, NY, is an innovative software development and professional services firm specializing in security and curriculum enhancement solutions that ensure the safe and effective educational use of the Internet. Since its founding in 1996, BASCOM has produced patented security and filtering software, Internet curriculum building tools, and community building Web portals for various learning environments, including schools, community technology centers, facilities for at-risk youth (including juvenile justice), and public libraries. BASCOM's Patronus is a flexible Internet filtering solution designed specifically for public libraries. Ongoing input from a large public library system set two design goals: (i) provide a flexible library Internet filter that complies with the Childrens' Internet Protection Act (CIPA); and (ii) provide a simple, non-technical user interface for the library staff to ensure that the filter did not have the negative First Amendment implications of traditional filters (over blocking, limited granularity, difficult on/off filter settings). Patronus accomplishes this by empowering librarians to easily define filter settings (or quickly disable the filter) for all user groups—children, adult patrons, and library staff. Patronus is deployed exclusively as a server-based security appliance that can function as an all-in-one network infrastructure solution. Patronus can also act as a firewall with an optional 2nd network for separate patron and staff computers.
URL to product: 
http://www.bascom.com/solutions/patronus/library-filter.php
Platform and Pricing
Type of Product: 
Network appliance
Platforms Supported: 
Windows 32- & 64-bit XP/Vista/7 Mac OS X (10.4.2 or later) Apple iPad™, iPhone®, and iPod touch®
Does Company Offer Library Discounts?: 
Yes
Cost of One Time Fee (for 50 users): 
$995 (For Filter Appliance Server)
Cost of Annual Subscription (for 50 users): 
$695
Complete Pricing Schedule: 
Discounted Consortium Pricing & Multi-Year Pricing Available. Visit or http://www.bascom.com/solutions/buy-now or contact BASCOM at 1-888-922-2726.
Filtering Technology
Process for Categorizing a Site: 
Percentage of Category Decisions Reviewed by Human: 
Description of Each Content Category with Example URLs: 
http://www.bascom.com/pdf/BASCOM_filter_category_descriptions.pdf
Categories Vendor Recommends for CIPA Compliance: 
http://www.bascom.com/pdf/BASCOM_filter_category_descriptions.pdf(See all categories coded in red for Malicious and Offensive.)
Granularity of Your Block List: 
Block by IP address
Block by hostname
Block by top level domain
Examples of Each Item Selected Above (Granularity): 
Patronus has the ability to block down to a directory or page level. For example, Patronus can block "adult.example.com", "example.com/adults/", or "example.com/adultpic.jpg".
Frequency of Updates to Blocked Site List: 
Every night
Description of How Updates are Applied: 
Automatically overnight
Block Page Displayed or Blocking Transparent to User: 
Displayed
Additional Comments on Blocking: 
Patronus gives librarians the ability to instantly override the filter for a specified period of time using a profile that provides adult access. An adult profile can be created to provide completely unrestricted access or access to everything except malicious sites. This gives Librarians local control so access can be opened for adults as needed. Different levels of access can be provided for workstations used by adult patrons, young adults, and children. A Librarian can also use a web-based interface to remotely change a profile for a workstation. Also, provides peer-to-peer blocking to prevent p2p traffic from clogging up network and using bandwidth. Also, when a site is blocked, the reason for blocking can be shown and the following information can be displayed: Contact Name, Email Address, and Phone Number.
Items that Can Be Included on Block Page (if applicable): 
Password override
Does filter provide dynamic filtering of pages as they are accessed?: 
Yes
Does content filtering work on a weighted system controlled by administrator: 
Yes
Describe how dynamic content filter can be changed by administrator, if applicable.: 
Administrator can assign different levels of access to workstations, users, or groups of users. Patronus has a new Anywhere Filter option that provides security for mobile devices. For additional information on the Anywhere Filter, visit anywherefilter.com
Can filter by file type: 
Can block by extension--applies to all categories
Can block by protocol--applies to all categories
General Administration
Can Have Multiple User/ Filter Profiles: 
Yes
Additional Comments on Filter Profile Options: 
Can create Allowed Sites and Blocked Sites per profile. Can also create specific Block Site Notification screen for profile. Profiles can be used to create customized access settings for children, teens and young adults, adults, and staff. Patronus offers Access Zones to assist librarians with quickly customizing access. Resource Zone is used to limit access to an a single site or group of sites. Can be used for a subscription service and not for general browsing. Kids Zone is a portal of educator-selected sites that can be used in a children’s room to keep children within an “allowed community” for an unsupervised, yet safe, online experience. Filtered Zone provides access to the entire Internet accept those categories librarians choose to block. Can be used to open access to adults while protecting computers from viruses and patrons from Internet scams. Internet Zone gives staff or adult patrons complete, unrestricted Internet access with immediate turn-on/turn-off capability for flexibility.
Admin Can Selectively Enable Categories: 
Yes
URLs in Each Content Category Are Viewable: 
Provide URL Lookup: 
Keyword Blocking: 
Admin Can Disable
Admin Can Remove Sites From Category: 
yes
Users Can Recommend URL Recategorization to Company: 
Yes
Admin Can Modify Categorization of URL: 
No
Admin Can Add New Categories: 
No
Admin Can Add Sites to a Category: 
No
Admin Can Block Images But Not Text Within a Category: 
Yes
Reporting Capabilities: 
Can create reports web sites blocked, allowed, security logs, firewall logs, track by username, track by IP address, most common sites accessed, request by Mac address, peer to peer request, most active workstation, request by category, by profile
Integrates with Directory Service (LDAP, Active Directory or NDS): 
LDAP
Active Directory
NDS
Can import URLs to Always Allow List: 
Must enter URLs manually
Number URLs One Can Add to Always Allow List: 
Unlimited
Overriding
Can Filter be Turned off at the Workstation: 
Yes
Describe Process and Options Available for Turning Off Filter at Workstation: 
Patronus gives librarians the ability to instantly override the filter for a specified period of time using a profile that provides adult access. An adult profile can be created to provide completely unrestricted access to everything except malicious sites. This gives Librarians local control so access can be opened for adults as needed. Different levels of access can be provided for workstations used by adult patrons, young adults, and children. Patronus also offers the option to create a WiFi hotspot on their network. For patrons using their own laptops, an Acceptable Use Policy page displays requiring agreement to Internet guidelines before accessing the Internet. Can also use screen to alert patrons of vital information. The AUP screen can be excluded on specific computers and/or IP ranges of computers.
Blocked Page Can Be Overridden by Admin: 
Yes
Describe Process and Options For Overriding a Blocked Page: 
Can login and temporarily override filter. Can be mapped to Directory Services and have filtering settings applied by object or user type.
Admin Can Turn Filter Off for a Period of Time: 
Yes
Process and Options for Turning off Filter for a Period of Time: 
Can temporarily set the number of minutes for overriding the profile settings. Can set the workstation IP address to a profile and set it back when finished.
Additional Comments on Overriding Options: 
Patronus has a new Anywhere Filter option that provides security for mobile devices. For additional information on the Anywhere Filter, visit AnywhereFilter.com
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