Web filter newcomers such as Secure Computing, 8e6 Technologies, Tangent and others have joined market veterans such as WebSense and SurfControl. Depending on the vendor, the solutions vary in form and include stand-alone software, software plug-ins that work with other management or security suites, and hardware appliances.

Choosing the right product will depend on a variety of factors specific to each organization, but Shawn McCarthy, program manager for U.S. information technology opportunities in the Government and Education division at IDC’s Government Insights group, offers two general tips to get the ball rolling.

He advises agencies to look for products that have undergone the Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures process review, McCarthy said. Products in compliance with CVE use a standard set of names to describe security problems, which makes it easier for different security and management tools to share information.

“Beyond that, the most competitive companies in this space — and in general — are those that are dedicated, stand-alone products,” McCarthy said.

— John S. Webster