Bess Internet Filtering Service

Intelligent Technology Allows Schools to Manage the Internet

A May 1999 study by the independent education market research firm QED found that 52 percent of all US school districts were using some form of Internet filtering software or service. By the end of the 1999-2000 school year, 72 percent of districts expected to be filtering. The same survey concluded that the most widely-used brand of Internet filtering technology was Bess from N2H2. Why Bess? Unlike most Internet filtering solutions, Bess is not a software program installed on individual computers. Instead, Bess operates at the server, or network level, and provides filtering for every computer on the network. The key advantages of server-based filtering are improved security and simplified maintenance. But even among server based options, Bess is far and away the leader in schools. In filtering, quality and accuracy are critical. It may be better not to filter at all, than to do so poorly. Bess' combination of robust artificial intelligence and careful human review provides the means to match the pace of the Web's growth, and to avoid over or under blocking. Each Bess server is configurable locally to provide a level of Internet access, which is appropriate for the educational community. Additional features providing local control include customization of the filtering database, authorized filter override, and a review request function. But perhaps most appealing to the thousands of educators currently using Bess, is the simplicity of the system, and the level of service provided by N2H2. As a complete, turnkey solution including all necessary hardware, software and ongoing maintenance, Bess is convenient and reliable, requiring little, if any effort following setup. Various server configurations are available to accommodate school networks of any size.

ResourceBar

The ResourceBar appears at the bottom of each filtered Web page. The ResourceBar provides your students with convenient one-click access to powerful educational resources and tools. Available whenever students are using the web, the ResourceBar makes the Internet easier to use and more productive for your students.

Searchopolis

Read why educators, parents, and students are raving about N2H2's award winning educational portal, Searchopolis.

N2H2, Incorporated, 900 Fourth Avenue, Suite 3400, Seattle, WA 98164. Tel: 206-336-1501; Fax: 206-336-1556.