DNS Filtering in Schools
Home / DNS Filtering and DNS Security from WebTitan / DNS Filtering in SchoolsA report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that Kindergarten through grade 12 (K-12) schools experienced significant cyber-attacks during 2020 and 2021; these attacks included phishing, DDoS, and ransomware. Lost learning time ranged from 3 days to 3 weeks, with recovery taking 2 to 9 months. Financial costs ranged from $50,000 to $1 million. Many of these attacks originated via phishing emails and the associated malicious websites used to infect devices and steal login credentials.
Blocking, filtering, and monitoring online content is mandated by the CIPA (Children's Internet Protection Act) regulation of 2000 if an educational institution receives E-rate funding for Internet access. CIPA requirements can be enforced using DNS filtering solutions for schools that are used to block malicious websites and filter harmful and inappropriate content. More than ever, schools need to use DNS filtering to keep their institution and students safe.
A DNS or web content filter provides the protection needed to stop cyberattacks and inappropriate content from interfering with the education of students. DNS filters protect students, staff, data, and general educational resources from malicious attacks. They also ensure that students do not view inappropriate or harmful content.
Schools and other educational establishments have been at the sights of cybercriminals for many years. However, some of the most damaging cyberattacks have occurred in recent years. In September 2022, the FBI published a joint Cybersecurity Advisory (CSA) on the hacking group Vice Society as part of its #StopRansomware initiative. The notice states that:
"K-12 institutions may be seen as particularly lucrative targets due to the amount of sensitive student data accessible through school systems or their managed service providers."
The group uses many tactics to infect devices, including incorporating phishing emails that can lead a victim to an infected website. Once a student or staff member enters the site, their device may be compromised, or login credentials and other data stolen to infect the educational establishment with ransomware or other malware.
Schools are also increasingly seen as a pool of identifying and sensitive data that cybercriminals can use. Research has shown that U.S. educational establishments have leaked 28.5 million data records since 2005. The U.K. also has a problem with data breaches in the education sector, which is the second hardest hit by data breaches in 2021.
With the focus on educational data and the variety of tactics used to gain unauthorized access to these data, educational devices, and networks, closing off routes to infection via infected websites is crucial.
Malicious cyberattacks that take advantage of web content are not the only way DNS filtering helps schools. A DNS filtering solution can also help prevent students from accessing harmful or inappropriate content. Take cyberbullying, for example. In the USA, as of 2020, cyberbullying was at an all-time high, with 36.5% of students affected. DNS filters can be part of a holistic approach to stop bullying by preventing students from accessing sites known to harbor bullies, such as social media sites. In addition, if the student uses a school-issued device, DNS filter policies can be configured to prevent access to these sites, even at home.
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Start Free TrialA DNS or Domain Name System is the foundation stone used to match a website domain name to an I.P. address, making the delivery of web content to a browser seamless. A DNS filter works with the process used to match a URL to an I.P. address. The primary method DNS filtering solutions use to block access to a malicious or inappropriate website is to block access based on a ''blocklist'' of URLs. Any student that attempts to navigate to a blocked I.P. address will be prevented from doing so. DNS filtering works on a granular and per-device basis, which is ideal for applying filtering policies to education sector Chromebook users.
Some advanced DNS Filtering solutions, such as WebTitan, use sophisticated AI-driven engines to make use of data from hundreds of millions of end-users as the source to generate a "threat corpora." This vast data set helps to train human-supervised Machine Learning algorithms that actively update lists of dangerous URLs, including emerging URLs, that are not part of known phishing blocklists. AI-driven DNS filters can quickly react to the changing cybersecurity landscape to block malicious content in real time.
The main features of a DNS filtering solution are:
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Book DemoWebTitan is an advanced, AI-driven DNS filter with sophisticated extended features that include easy deployment and configuration. WebTitan receives consistently high client reviews: G2 Reviewers gave WebTitan a "High Performer" for Winter 2023.
The comprehensive, flexible, and powerful features offered by WebTitan are why WebTitan received a "Best-Of Web Security" award from Expert Insights. The researchers at Expert Insights stated that:
"WebTitan is a particularly strong solution for education environments, allowing admins to configure policies to protect students and ensure that educational compliance standards are met."
Schools need sophisticated capability from a DNS Filtering solution alongside value for money and ease of deployment. Some of the key reasons why WebTitan is well-suited to an education environment are:
To see how WebTitan can help protect your school, staff, and students, ask one of our specialists for a free trial. WebTitan only takes minutes to activate and configure, enabling you to control Internet access almost immediately with minimum disruption.
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