Web 2.0 Controls

The latest in web security seems to be what some vendors call Web 2.0 controls, and others call social networking control. Before the new controls, most security companies just offered the basic block and allow of specific categories like "Social Networking", and some even offered the slightly more advanced blocking of sites that match two categories, for example blocking sites classified as both "Social Networking" and "Games", in order to prevent employees from playing "Farmville" and "Mafia Wars" while still being able to use Facebook.

But the new controls are even more advanced, allowing you to prevent uploads to social networking sites, posting to social networking sites, etc. The benefit here, is sort of a read-only capability with social networking sites. Employees can view, but they can't share any information to a social networking site. It's a big change from just block and allow.

Both Blue Coat and Ironport have these types of controls in their latest software. These capabilities give IT admins the ability to allow social networking without having to worry about data leakage, additional wasted time on games on social networking sites, and users spending the day updating their Facebook pages.