You will want to know if you can modify the filter to re-enable blocked sites, or to add sites that you decide are inappropriate for your students but are not blocked through the filter. Another feature some filtering packages offer is control of the local hard disk. This control restricts what students can do on the local machine, from changing desktop settings to bypassing or modifying filter settings. This feature would appeal to schools that would otherwise have to purchase a desktop security product such as Foolproof. Site addresses change frequently as content providers rearrange their materials.
New sites come online daily.
It will take many hours to hand-modify URLs on dozens of computers every time the filter database is updated. There are many pricing options for filtering software depending on the type of filter. Unless you are planning to install a filter on only a handful of computers, you will get the best price by negotiating a group, district, or site license. In negotiating with a filter producer, carefully consider the cost per computer for single, site, or network licenses. The initial cost isn't the only factor to consider.