The introduction of iPads in a classroom can transform the learning experience. From sixth graders creating multimedia movies to kindergarteners accessing personalized reading libraries, the opportunities are virtually limitless. But for the IT teams tasked with iPad management, the challenges may feel equally endless.
From ensuring seamless authentication across school and home networks to maintaining CIPA compliance while keeping bandwidth costs manageable, technology leaders face unique filtering challenges when implementing iPads. These challenges aren’t insurmountable, though.
Read on to learn how the right school web filter makes managing school iPads a whole lot easier.
Filtering School iPads Presents a New Set of Challenges
Introducing technology into the learning environment is rarely simple, and implementing iPads is no exception. While laptops present certain challenges, tablets introduce new ones, especially when it comes to K-12 content filtering.
A second-grade teacher may want to provide each student with personalized math lessons, while a middle-school social-studies teacher wants to share YouTube videos as part of a class project. Meanwhile, IT needs to:
- Ensure CIPA compliance
- Manage bandwidth and proxy costs
- Deal with speed and battery issues
- Customize policies for different grade levels and teacher needs
- Maintain cross-platform consistency
As AI tools become more prevalent in education, technology teams also need help enabling safe access to AI tools and providing management and oversight of AI usage.
Limitations of Traditional PAC Files and iOS Agent-Based Filtering
Apple iOS has features in place to mitigate some of these challenges. But they can fall short when it comes to the needs of K-12 technology teams. Proxy auto-configuration (PAC) files are a good example. PAC files use JavaScript functions to determine proxy routing for web traffic. While this approach is widely supported, it isn’t ideally suited for K-12 applications. Its disadvantages include:
- Proxy issues with streaming sites
- Complex allow/deny list maintenance, requiring frequent updates
- Double bandwidth consumption when proxying through on-premises appliances
- Inflexible authentication requirements that are problematic for younger students
Similarly, Apple’s iOS content filtering API enables native “on-device” filtering, which can reduce infrastructure costs. But it also presents challenges for K-12 technology teams, like:
- No URL-level logging or reporting
- No visibility into student browsing for safety monitoring
- Limited policy granularity, e.g., customizing policies for different grade levels
- Device-level authentication restrictions
Simplify iPad Management with Securly Filter Featuring SmartPAC Technology
Securly Filter is a CIPA-compliant, cloud-based web filtering solution designed specifically to address the unique requirements of K-12 education. Featuring patented SmartPAC technology, Securly Filter gives you iPad-friendly functionality to keep students safe and your technology team sane.
With Securly Filter, you get:
- Ultra-lightweight (8KB) deployment that never needs updating or patching
- Consistent filtering across school and home networks
- Browser-agnostic implementation that works across platforms
- Support for modern identity providers, including Google and Azure
- Zero-touch authentication for younger learners
- Flexible and customizable policy management
- Selective proxying to optimize bandwidth usage
- Comprehensive logging and reporting capabilities
The advantages don’t stop there either. Securly Filter also provides the features and flexibility you need to simplify filter management across all devices and operating systems.
Make iPad Management and Content Filtering Easier for Your School
iPads can transform your classrooms, making learning more engaging and accessible for your students. But only if you can also manage them effectively and efficiently. With Securly Filter, you can.
Ready to see how Securly Filter can simplify web filtering for your school? Learn more here.
