Aladdin’s eSafe content filter is delivered as software that requires its own dedicated server. It has a comprehensive suite of features including web filtering, anti-virus and anti-spyware protection. It can be implemented as a transparent bridge, proxy or router. eSafe is straightforward to implement and deploy with an intuitive web interface that simplifies set-up, deployment and management. There is a clean dashboard that makes monitoring web traffic easy. Policies may be set up by users and the product filters URLs by category and by content. Filters can be limited to timeframes and days of the week.
Performance is good and we found eSafe Web to be reasonably feature-rich. The product provides anti-spam, anti-spyware and adware protection in addition to web content filtering. Web filtering is by URL, keyword or application.
Documentation is clean with an installation and set-up guide available either in PDF or paper format. Step-by-step procedures, wizards, screen shots and topology diagrams all are part of the documentation set. We liked the level of detail, especially in those sections that related to product set-up. Documentation is available on the website for download. The quality of the documentation offsets, somewhat, the lack of real time access to support.
We found support to be weak. The website has the usual frequently asked questions, documentation downloads and trouble reports, but there is no phone support and the only way to get support is by submitting a trouble report. The website in the "Contact Us" page refers support requests to the "Support and Downloads" page that offers the opportunity to initiate a trouble ticket, but no way to contact a help desk. When users are complaining that they have been cut off from useful browsing, the system administrator needs help now, and there is no way to get help directly. We see that as a weakness.
At about $7.80 per user, the eSafe Web product is in the middle of the pack, but the cost of its own dedicated server raises the cost somewhat. Also, with limited support the cost of ownership can end up being a bit higher than it first appears. Overall, we found value for money to be average.
