Lightspeed Filter logo

Lightspeed Filter

by Lightspeed Systems · Since 1999
No reviews yet
ActiveAvailable globallyCloud
Quick facts
VendorLightspeed Systems
Year launched1999
StatusActive
Location12013 Fitzhugh Rd. Austin, TX 78736
Countries servedGlobal
Languages9
Integrations2+
Free tier
Free trial
Contact salesYES

About Lightspeed Filter

Lightspeed Filter is a web filtering software from Lightspeed Systems that helps manage online content access. It offers page blocking, content categorization, and real-time reporting so that organizations can maintain a safe browsing environment. The software is designed to restrict access to inappropriate or harmful websites, ensuring compliance with internet usage policies. Additionally, it provides insights into user activity and the types of content being accessed, aiding in effective monitoring. Key capabilities: page blocking content categorization real-time reporting user activity tracking policy management Best for: educational institutions and organizations that need to enforce internet safety and compliance.

Lightspeed Filter is a cloud-based content filtering solution specifically tailored for K-12 education, providing robust, device-level web and application filtering on and off campus to ensure student safety, regulatory compliance, and focused learning. The platform combines a hybrid enforcement architecture, using SmartAgent for on-device filtering and SSL decryption, with SmartShield DNS-based filtering for agentless devices, delivering comprehensive coverage across ChromeOS, Windows, MacOS, and iOS. Its intuitive, unified web-based dashboard allows administrators to monitor all devices, configure policies by organizational unit, and access real-time activity reports, streamlining policy enforcement and troubleshooting. Lightspeed Filter offers advanced AI-powered threat detection and granular controls for YouTube and social media, enabling educational content while blocking distractions and unsafe material. The system is highly reliable, with a fault-tolerant cloud architecture that maintains enforcement even during network outages and scales efficiently to support small districts as well as some of the largest in the nation.

Pros & Cons

What users like
  • +Directory integration that works seamlessly with Google Workspace and Active Directory for user-based filtering
  • +Education-focused and tailored for K-12 environments providing safe browsing and blocking inappropriate sites
  • +Ease of deployment that scales well across large networks such as 15,000 devices and integrates smoothly with Chromebooks
  • +Teacher-level control that allows educators to manage student digital experiences directly
  • +Filtering reports that are easy to generate and share with administrators
What users flag
  • Deployment hurdles as initial setup can be complex though documentation and support help mitigate this
  • Teacher experience where the interface could be more intuitive and visually engaging especially for elementary-level use
  • Buggy behavior with occasional glitches reported
  • Reporting limitations where reports can lag lack detail and are not easily exportable in polished formats

Features

Key features

Hybrid Layered Enforcement (SmartAgent & SmartShield)
Uses an on-device agent (SmartAgent) for policy enforcement and SSL visibility, paired with DNS filtering (SmartShield) for BYOD/IoT devices.
Zero-Day Threat Protection
Blocks uncategorized domains and new threats by default using live intelligence from multiple threat feeds.
Proprietary YouTube Controls
Offers advanced controls to enforce access to educational content while selectively blocking features like Shorts and comments.
Lightspeed Parent Portal™
Provides families with access to their child's activity and screen time controls outside of school hours.
Full SSL and Search Visibility
Enables viewing exactly what students search, watch, or attempt to access, not just top-level hostnames.
Seamless Chromebook Filtering
Utilizes a silent-install Chrome extension for browser-level filtering, full decrypted visibility, and policy sync via Google Admin console.

Additional features

SmartAgent On-Device Filtering
Provides layered policy enforcement directly on school-managed devices on every network.
SmartShield DNS Filtering
Covers BYOD, guest, and IoT devices with DNS-based protection without needing an agent.
Zero-day Threat Protection
Blocks new, uncategorized domains and threats by default.
Live Threat Intelligence
Uses intel from PhishTank, MI6, vxIntel, and IWF for continuous threat defense.
Alignment to Security Frameworks
Designed to meet the requirements of CIPA, FERPA, and NIST-aligned environments.
Exportable Audit Trails
Provides necessary logs and retention to support compliance and audit requirements.
Long-Term Data Retention
Stores historical data to meet compliance and investigation needs.
Full Coverage for BYOD and IoT
Enforces DNS-based filtering on agentless traffic with the control of an inline system.
Advanced YouTube Controls
Enforces access to specific educational content and blocks distracting features like Shorts and comments.
Parental Access (Lightspeed Parent Portal™)
Gives families access to view activity and pause internet access during non-school hours.
Simplified Curriculum Exceptions
Allows managing access exceptions for curriculum needs without compromising safety.
Admin Roles
Permits giving policy access to school staff or tech leads while maintaining centralized control.
Live Activity Reporting
Provides real-time device activity logging for fast troubleshooting.
Full SSL and Search Visibility
Decrypts and provides full visibility into exactly what students search, watch, or attempt to access.
Drill-Down User Histories
Provides full, identity-linked history for investigating patterns and incidents, including off-campus activity.
System-Wide Insights
Allows building reports for audits, board reports, and stakeholders from a single place.
Chrome Extension Filtering
Provides browser-level filtering with full decrypted visibility for Chromebooks.
Silent Install via Google Admin Console
Enables easy, centralized deployment of the Chrome extension.
Real-Time Reporting and Policy Sync
Policies and reports are synced by organizational unit (OU) or group.
Off-Campus Policy Enforcement
Consistent content filtering stays active off the network without requiring VPNs or tunnels.

Pricing

Free trial
Free version
Request a quote
Promo Offer

Countries & Languages

Global
Countries served
9
Interface languages
9
Billing currencies

Interface languages

EnglishSpanishFrenchGermanItalianPortugueseDutchJapaneseChinese.

Billing currencies

🇺🇸USD🇪🇺EUR🇬🇧GBP🇯🇵JPY🇦🇺AUD🇨🇦CAD🇨🇭CHF🇨🇳CNY🇸🇪SEK

No reviews yet

Be the first to drop a review

Alternatives to Lightspeed Filter

One to One Plus logo

One to One Plus

Built by One to One Plus - One to One Plus, Inc., One to One…

ClickView logo

ClickView

ClickView is a video platform from ClickView that makes it easy for educators to find…

LiveSchool logo

LiveSchool

LiveSchool is a behavior management software from LiveSchool, Inc. that helps educators track and improve…

Serversboon logo

Serversboon

Serversboon is a hosting software from Serversboon that provides web hosting services. It offers features…

School Connect logo

School Connect

School Connect is a communication platform from Mercarue that facilitates interaction between schools, parents, and…

Nokia Network Software Suite logo

Nokia Network Software Suite

Nokia Network Software Suite is a network software platform from Nokia that supports operational efficiency…

Often compared with Lightspeed Filter

Compare any two tools →
One to One Plus logo
One to One Plus
K-12
0.0
ClickView logo
ClickView
K-12
0.0
LiveSchool logo
LiveSchool
Classroom Management
0.0
Serversboon logo
Serversboon
Website Builder
0.0