According to the Department for Education, web filtering and digital monitoring are essential components of a school, college or MAT’s safeguarding strategy.
Though often said in the same breath, web filters and digital monitoring systems are distinct technologies with different roles in student safeguarding. While both are essential for creating a safe digital environment, they serve complementary purposes. One focuses on restricting harmful content, while the other helps to detect and respond to potential risks.
Understanding these differences is key to ensuring your digital safeguarding strategy is appropriate and effective for your setting. See the main differences between web filtering and digital monitoring in the table below.
| WEB FILTERING | DIGITAL MONITORING |
| Web filtering is reactive | Digital monitoring is proactive |
| Web filtering only applies to online content | Digital monitoring can apply to online and offline content (in the case of Smoothwall Monitor), e.g., a Word document |
| Web filtering manages access | Digital monitoring manages behaviours |
| Web filtering focuses on content created by others | Digital monitoring focuses on content created by your network users |
| Web filters cannot provide context beyond the category of harmful content that has been blocked | Digital monitoring can provide full context by showing digital activity preceding and following a potential risk |
| Web filtering is traditionally managed by IT staff | Digital monitoring is managed by DSLs |
Web filters and digital monitoring solutions form a solid foundation for your digital safeguarding strategy, helping to keep pupils safe and thriving in their digital lives.