Network Quality Assurance: CIPA Compliance Process

Know your network

The Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA) requires any school or library that receives "E-rate" funding to certify that they have an effective Internet usage policy and control technology in place. CIPA's goal is to prevent minors from accessing inappropriate material on the Internet and provide a safe computing environment.

The primary method of preventing unwanted content are Web filters. Unfortunately, Web filters are not 100% effective. Web filters won't tell you what they missed so an unsafe condition may exist and administrators won't know about it. Most Web filters utilize URL lists and the names of offensive Web sites to block access, but content is often disguised to avoid detection. Filters usually only filter inbound content and ignore outbound threats from email, chat or Spyware. Because CIPA requires providing a safe computing environment for users, you must police both inbound and outbound Internet use.

In order to ensure that children are NOT being exposed to pornography or being exploited, it requires a regular, proactive quality assurance process to identify threats. Congruity Inspector offers the most consistent, easy-to-use and cost-effective way to independently and objectively verify that CIPA policies, internal controls and technologies processes are working effectively:

Congruity Inspector CIPA Compliance Process Benefits:

• One-Click Audit Verifies Security Control Effectiveness Over a 168 Hour Operational Cycle
• Easy-to-understand Executive Report Objectively Document Policy Effectiveness & Source Of Issues
• Automated Self-audit Significantly Reduces Effort & Cost Of Compliance/risk Assessment
• On-demand verification Improves Security Controls, Planning and Troubleshooting

Congruity Inspector CIPA Compliance Features:

• Single, Easy-to-use Windows-based Software Tool (doesn't require database)
• Integrated Content Analyzer Identifies Offensive Words in HTTP, Email & Attachments
• Profiles Actual Usage Trends, Bandwidth Utilization, Web Use, Search Terms And More
• Monitors & Base-lines All Inbound/outbound Internet Use 7 Day Operational Term
• Completely non-disruptive Operation Doesn't Impact Network or Performance
• Device-independent Audit Log: Reports what firewall, filters missed And What Users Were Doing
• Profiles All On-Line Communications Activity: SMTP, POP3, Web-mail, Chat, P2P etc.

Congruity Inspector's one-click, self-audit feature places the control in management's hands offering a consistent and repeatable way to document technical and administrative status and verify security compliance. Congruity Inspector delivers the best cost-performance of any audit/risk assessment solution, providing an objective 168 hour IT security profile for about 1 minute of effort.

One-Click CIPA Compliance

Congruity Inspector simplifies CIPA compliance, automating a review and documentation process that identifies threats that leave IT systems and confidential data exposed.