The Data Unit's URL Filtering solution provides two primary services: controlling end-user Internet usage and protecting the corporate network from Internet abuse. Through our URL Filtering solution, Data Unit can configure rules to block certain types (categories) of web pages. Customers will determine the appropriate number of filtering groups to properly permit/restrict end-user access. Each filtering group is associated with IP addressing or Active Directory group membership to simplify application of filters against end-users. Filtering allows rules to permit, deny or conditionally allow URL access. "Whitelists" and "Blacklists" assure that filtering categories can be customized to allow or deny access to sites that are considered exceptions to a category. This flexibility blocks unwanted content while all desired content remains accessible.

Data Unit's URL Filtering Solution include the deep inspection of URL, IM and peer-to-peer Internet protocols. This inspection recognizes today's most prevalent Internet threat, the Botnet. A Botnet is a collection of compromised computers that generally uses HTTP or IM protocols for command and control traffic. Botnets also frequently use peer-to-peer communications for distribution of command and control instructions, making them difficult to detect. Virtela's URL Filtering Service can identify HTTP traffic that does not appear to be conforming to recognized standards. We focus significant efforts toward tracking and blocking sites that host malicious code, preventing corporate systems from subversion to a Botnet in the first place.

URL Filtering afford a business their primary goal of focusing Internet use on business activities. Often administrators need not use denial rules to limit user activity, simply knowing that traffic is tracked and recorded will stop frivolous Internet activity. It also prevents a hostile workplace by blocking access to objectionable content such as pornography and hate groups.

The growing security issue that URL Filtering solves is protection against Bot infection. The Botnet risk is not limited to home users on cable-modems as corporate networks are already Bot infected. Criminal hackers prefer corporate systems that are more likely to remain online 24x7. URL Filtering helps recognize, identify and remove infected systems, eliminating the risk that corporate resources will participate in SPAM distribution, DDOS attacks, or unaware host illegal content.

URL Filtering should be deployed at every Internet access gateway. Deployment at the gateway assures that traffic routing to the Internet is reviewed and adheres to defined policy. Data Unit excels in such designs as our Policy knowledge offer highly efficient deployment of URL filters within the Wide Area Network (WAN) cloud. This design consolidates the Internet gateway of multiple regional sites and maximizes the investment in hardware and services. Hardware deployment on premises is also available to accommodate more highly customized configurations at specific sites.

Key Benefits:

• Intuitive Internet access categorization and filtering
• Internet resource control
• Perpetual tracking and updates against the ever-growing list of Internet sites
• Reporting and monitoring of web internet traffic
• Caching of webtraffic
• Malware blocking
• Control of IM and Peer-to-Peer traffic and applications

The Data Unit URL Filtering Solution provides intuitive URL category filtering as well as security protections against malicious websites and Botnets. Services are maintained in real-time to assure the rapid identification and blocking of newly provisioned malicious websites, as well as links to those websites and/or distribution of malicious code through peer-to-peer software.