Secure Computing Webwasher 6.0 is a strong product in almost every regard. We especially liked its ability to perform individual analysis on words, phrases and scanned images. This goes well beyond typical blacklists for URL blocking and keyword lists for filtering. We found ease-of-use excellent and the product contains features, some of which are not usually found in this type application. Webwasher is delivered as an appliance.
Set-up and initial configuration are made easy by Secure Computing’s "set-up assistant." This creates a configuration file that you load into the device. The user interface uses tab style menus that make for easy navigation and intuitive use. While the policy engine has predefined policies, the administrator can easily customize or create new policies using drop-down menus.
Webwasher goes well beyond usual URL blocking and keyword filtering by using pattern matching to adapt filters and to perform analysis on words and phrases. The appliance sits at the network gateway and monitors all inbound and outbound connections. In addition to the URL filter and word analysis filters, the appliance contains anti-malware, anti-virus, anti-spam, content protection, SSL scanning and IM filtering.
Documentation is above average and is provided as several PDF documents. These documents are separated into separate files for the configuration of different components, such as the installation of the appliance, installation of content reporter and system configuration. There also are several user guides which detail the use and the functions of system components.
Support for Webwasher is first rate. The support area of the website includes product activation, patches, upgrades and product documentation. Online support for technical issues, a knowledge base and 24/7 telephone email support also are available.
Pricing for Webwasher is a bit complex and can be somewhat expensive for larger organizations. The appliance has a base price and, in addition, each module is priced as a subscription. Intended for larger organizations, the product comes in three platforms. The smallest platform supports up to 4,000 users while the largest supports up to 16,000. Pricing increases with the size of the platform. Volume discounts provide some pricing improvement for larger organizations.
