Case Study - University Lake School

Background: University Lake School (ULS) is an accredited independent, coeducational, college preparatory school for students in junior kindergarten through twelfth grade. ULS's dedicated, nurturing, faculty forms a partnership with parents to create a school community in which a well-defined curriculum challenges students with interactive learning opportunities at all levels.

In 2001 ULS introduced a one to one technology program designed to give full access to the power of personal computing in the classroom. Each student from sixth through twelfth grade is assigned a notebook computer with wireless Internet access, while the lower grades have access to computers and the Internet through two labs.

Problem: The ULS network was setup with a Cisco router/firewall giving access to the Internet to everyone connected to the LAN. A packet shaper was between the LAN and the Cisco Router providing packet level control of certain content. Although port access could be controlled by IP address and other means, Internet content could not be controlled or monitored.

Solution: To control access to the Internet by content, and to monitor student activity, the ULS network was redesigned. The Cisco was connected to the Internet router. A new "small" LAN was created between the Cisco firewall and a server with two NICs installed, one connected to the firewall (the Internet) and one to the LAN. AllegroSurf was installed on this computer, servicing requests from the LAN and passing off to the Internet. Since ULS uses DHCP to assign IP addresses to client computers, client computer names can be easily identified through a reverse DNS lookup. To monitor and log client computer activity, reverse DNS logging was enabled, providing the student's name in reports, because the student's computer name identifies the student's name.

"AllegroSurf gives us the ability to not only monitor, but control what type of internet content our students have access too. The reverse DNS logging that AllegroSurf does is a fantastic feature that gives us hard facts should a student try to access an inappropriate site here at school. In the past we relied on our teachers to keep an eye on students and if by chance they noticed something, we would inspect that student's laptop and search through their internet history; with AllegroSurf we know within minutes and with 100% accuracy who violated our acceptable use policy, and which site they were trying to get to."

- Craig Bruce, Director of Technology

Benefits: Content Filtering - To a reasonable degree of certainty objectionable web sites and content is automatically blocked by AllegroSurf. When blocked AllegroSurf automatically adds the site to the Banned List, marking who triggered the event, and giving the administrator the opportunity to review the banned site.

Accountability - If a student is found to be violating ULS's content policy, they are held accountable by the ULS administration. With AllegroSurf, reports are generated nightly to provide information about banned access attempts, site access, and time spent on the Internet.

Cost Savings - AllegroSurf's content filtering takes the place of very expensive filters, yet produces reasonable results. In addition AllegroSurf and the new network design has eliminated the need for a packet shaper, and NAT firewall, in fact the firewall could be replaced by a unit 1/10th of the price.

Summary: AllegroSurf is a cost effective solution to uncontrolled Internet access, giving parents and administrators peace of mind, knowing students will follow school policies.

"The staff at RhinoSoft.com, have been wonderful to work with, their support and dedication to helping us in our unusual environment has been second to none. AllegroSurf has been a life-saver for University Lake School this year."

- Craig Bruce, Director of Technology