iPrism’s combination of FreeBSD OS and kernel-level URL content filtering assures a hardened and optimized operating system, better performance and complete interoperability on any platform. iPrism Web Security uses FreeBSD as the basis for its hardened and optimized operating system. FreeBSD was chosen because it offers better performance and more security and compatibility features than operating systems.

Because iPrism’s URL content filtering solution has its own integrated OS, it can provide complete interoperability with any platform you are using. By employing the exceptional stability of the FreeBSD OS, we’ve built a URL content filtering solution that is customized and configured to run uninterrupted on our h-Series appliances, ensuring continuous URL filtering protection from the moment of deployment. Also, as a completely self-contained solution, iPrism Web Security is transparent to the end-user and our URL filtering appliance can be installed into any network without additions to workstations or any added software.

Neither network architecture changes nor alterations to existing firewalls and/or routers are required to operate the iPrism URL content filtering solution in its most common installation, transparent bridge mode. Operating in the less common proxy mode requires minor modifications to network routers and a slightly longer installation time. However, we offer IT administrators the option of multiple deployment modes making it one of the most flexible and extensible web URL filtering solutions on the market.

Kernel-Level URL Filtering Technology

iPrism Web Security’s URL content filtering software is compiled into the FreeBSD OS at the kernel level to deliver near zero-latency URL filtering with 100% traffic inspection and enforcement. Unlike many other URL filtering solutions that process requests from the application layer, our URL content filtering gives you the speed of pass-by with the accuracy of pass-through technologies. When combined with the speed of the h-Series URL filtering appliance, the performance is unrivalled.

In transparent bridge mode, which is the standard deployment, requests for the Internet pass through the iPrism Web filter and go to the Internet. While this is taking place, the Web URL filter is making a decision on whether or not to block the requested URL. As the URL filter request returns from the Internet, if the URL filter is configured to block the website, the user is redirected to an announcement that the page has been blocked and the request itself is discarded. If the site is allowed, then the URL filter allows the site to be passed back to the user.

Since the URL content filtering decision is being made while the remote site is working on the URL request, the Web filter is able to process URL filtering requests with no apparent network slowdown. For users, this means less frustration, fewer help desk calls and more efficiency in enforcing your corporate AUP. iPrism Delivers Hack-Proof Security

Another advantage of a hardened and optimized integrated OS is security. iPrism combines URL filtering software on the URL filtering appliance, which is commonly installed between your firewall and internal systems with all Internet traffic routed through it. This positions our web security solution as your strongest defense against Internet-based threats.

iPrism Delivers Hassle-Free System Upgrades

Another advantage of the integrated OS and URL filtering software, is that administrators do not need to manage OS and software updates separately, which often require more tedious technical tasks and more time.